The holiday season in a beauty salon: why December needs planning in October

December is the peak month of the year in the beauty industry: office parties, celebrations, New Year's Eve, photo shoots. Demand rises so sharply that the usual problem isn't a lack of clients — it's that regulars can't get a slot, and you start January completely drained.

Most of these problems go away if you plan December at the end of October.

1. Open your December calendar now

Clients who plan ahead start looking for December slots in November. If your calendar only opens two weeks ahead, they'll book somewhere else.

Check how far ahead you let people book. By the end of October, at least the first half of December should be visible; by mid-November, the whole month.

2. Decide when you'll work more — and when you won't

Before opening slots, plan December for yourself:

• which days you'll work longer (usually the last two weeks before the holidays);
• which days you won't work — public holidays, and at least one day off a week even at the peak;
• when you'll take time off between the holidays or in early January.

Open extra hours on specific days without changing your usual weekly schedule, so you don't have to undo it in January.

3. Priority for regular clients

Regulars keep you going all year — in December they shouldn't have to compete with one-off clients. A simple approach:

1. At the end of October, message your regulars: "December slots are now open — I'm writing to you first, while there's still availability."
2. A week later, announce it publicly.

Same offer, but the client feels noticed — and you know how much time is left for new people.

4. Deposits on peak days

In December a no-show is at its most expensive: you could have filled that slot with at least three other people. For pricier and longer services, it's worth introducing a deposit for December even if you don't ask for one the rest of the year. More on deposits and cancellation policies in our article on no-shows.

5. Shorter services on peak days

A three-hour treatment on a peak day takes up the space of three clients. You can:

• offer long treatments in mid-December only on certain days;
• have a quicker "holiday" version (e.g. polish without nail art, styling without a wash).

6. Stock and materials — in November

Suppliers have their peak in December too. Order your most popular colours, disposables and seasonal decorations by mid-November. Running out of the favourite red on 20 December is a common and entirely avoidable situation.

7. Plan your own rest too

A December of 60-hour weeks turns into illness or burnout in January. Put rest into your calendar, not just work: at least one day off a week, a lunch break on peak days, a few days after the holidays. Block these times in advance — otherwise they'll get booked.

A waiting list for cancellations

Cancellations are inevitable in December, but a freed slot can be filled within an hour if you have someone to offer it to. When someone wants a slot that isn't available, add them to a list with a note saying "wants an earlier slot". When a slot opens up, it takes one message.

How to do it in edapi

• Booking horizon (how far ahead people can book online) can be set from 7 to 60 days — check it in your salon settings.
• Extra hours on a specific day are opened directly in the calendar; your weekly template stays the same.
• Holidays and time off are closed as exceptions — clients see no free slots on those days.
• Deposits can be switched on separately for each service.

What to do tomorrow

1. Plan December: working days, long days, holidays, time off.
2. Check how far ahead your calendar is visible.
3. Write a message to your regulars about December slots.
4. Decide which services will need a deposit in December.
5. Note down what you'll need to order from suppliers in November.