How Beauty Salons, Spas & Clinics Can Get More Online Reviews

Whether you run a hair salon, nail bar, spa, barbershop, aesthetics clinic or beauty room, your online reputation is a huge part of how new clients find and trust you. Potential clients check Google, Facebook and booking platforms long before they pick up the phone or click “Book”.

If you have dozens or hundreds of strong, recent reviews, clients arrive already confident in your skills. If you only have a few old reviews – or none at all – they hesitate, or choose another salon down the road with a stronger profile.

The good news is that you don’t need to be a marketing expert to change this. You need a simple, repeatable review system that fits around your appointments and doesn’t overload your team. In this guide, we’ll show beauty businesses how to get more online reviews and how Think Local Reviews can help you automate most of the heavy lifting.

Why reviews are crucial for beauty businesses

Beauty services are personal and visible. Clients trust you with their appearance, confidence and sometimes their health. Reviews speak directly to that trust.

Strong reviews help you:

• Be discovered: Google uses ratings and review count as signals when ranking local businesses in search and maps.
• Stand out: In areas with many salons and clinics, reviews are a key deciding factor when clients compare options.
• Convert more bookings: Detailed, positive reviews reduce fear and hesitation, especially for higher-value and first-time treatments.
• Retain clients: When clients feel heard and valued, they’re more likely to rebook and recommend you to others.

Reviews turn everyday appointments into long-term marketing assets that keep working for you, even when the salon is closed.

Step 1: Audit your current reviews and online presence

Start by getting a clear picture of your current reputation. Look at the main platforms where clients can leave reviews:

• Google Business Profile: Check your rating, number of reviews and recency.
• Booking platforms: Treatwell, Fresha, Booksy or any system you use – look at overall rating, common comments and how often clients review.
• Facebook: Recommendations and reviews on your business page.
• Other directories: Any local or niche sites relevant to your industry.

Make basic notes: how many reviews you have, what your average rating is, and what clients mention most often (both positive and negative).

Step 2: Polish your profiles so they’re worth sending clients to

If you start directing clients to review you, they’ll be landing on your existing profiles. Make sure those profiles show you at your best.

• Accurate details: Check business name, address, phone number, website, opening hours and social links.
• Good photos: Show your space, stations, treatment rooms, reception area and examples of your work (hair, nails, skin, etc.) with client consent.
• Clear services: List your main treatments, specialisms and any unique selling points (e.g. curly hair experts, acne facials, advanced aesthetics).
• Clean branding: Use consistent logos, colours and descriptions so clients know it’s the same business across platforms.

A strong profile makes every new review you collect more impactful.

Step 3: Decide which review platforms matter most

Trying to grow reviews everywhere at once can be confusing for both your team and your clients. Choose your top one or two platforms to focus on first.

For most beauty businesses, the priorities are:

• Google: Essential for “near me” searches and first impressions.
• Your main booking platform: Reviews on Treatwell, Fresha or Booksy help you stand out when clients compare providers on those apps.
• Optionally Facebook: If your audience is active there and you use it to build community.

Decide where your in-salon QR codes will point (often Google) and where your automated booking messages will encourage reviews (often your booking platform).

Step 4: Understand the client journey in your beauty business

To build a review system, map out your typical client journey:

1. Client discovers you on Google, Instagram, a booking platform or via word of mouth.
2. Client books an appointment (online, app, phone or walk-in if you allow it).
3. Client receives confirmation and a reminder before the appointment.
4. Client arrives, checks in and has a consultation.
5. Client experiences the treatment.
6. Client checks the result in the mirror, pays and maybe rebooks.
7. Client receives aftercare advice and a follow-up message.

The strongest points to ask for reviews are when they’re most happy with the result and when they’re back on their phone later the same day.

Step 5: Give stylists and therapists simple review scripts

Your team has the closest relationship with clients. If they feel comfortable asking for reviews, your review volume will increase dramatically. Provide short, easy scripts they can adapt to their own style.

At the mirror, when the client is clearly happy:

“I’m really glad you like it! If you get a spare minute later, we’d really appreciate your honest review on Google – it really helps new clients find us.”

At the till while rebooking:

“Great, we’ll see you again on [date]. You might get a quick message asking for a review – if you have a moment, we’d be really grateful for your honest feedback.”

Encourage staff not to push if a client seems rushed or stressed – you’re inviting, not pressuring.

Step 6: Use in-salon visuals to remind clients about reviews

Clients often feel genuinely happy in the moment but forget to review later. Remind them gently with visual cues placed naturally around the salon or clinic.

• QR codes at reception: Pointing directly to your Google review page so clients can scan while they pay.
• Mirror decals or small cards: “Loved your visit? Review us on Google” with a QR code or short link.
• Aftercare cards: Include your review link on printed aftercare instructions given after treatments.
• Loyalty cards: Add a small note: “Your honest review helps us grow. Thank you!”

None of this has to be flashy or intrusive. Simple, clean designs that match your brand work best.

Step 7: Automate post-appointment review requests

In-person asks are powerful, but many clients still won’t review without a reminder. That’s where automated follow-ups make a big difference.

With Think Local Reviews, you can set up review requests that go out automatically after each appointment:

• SMS review requests: A short text a few hours after the appointment with a direct link to your Google or booking-platform review page.
• Email review requests: For clients who prefer email or for longer aftercare messages that include a review request.
• Timing rules: For example, send 3 hours after the appointment for hair and nails, or next day for skin treatments where results develop overnight.

Automation ensures every eligible client gets a polite invitation to review – without your team having to remember who to follow up with.

Step 8: Write SMS and email review templates that feel on-brand

Whether you use SMS, email or both, keep your messages short, friendly and clearly connected to your brand.

Beauty SMS review template

“Hi [First name], we hope you’re loving your [hair/skin/nails] from your visit at [Salon/Clinic Name] today. If you have a moment, we’d really appreciate your honest review on Google: [short review link]. Thank you so much!”

Beauty email review template

Subject: Thank you for visiting [Salon/Clinic Name] 💛

Hi [First name],

Thank you for visiting us at [Salon/Clinic Name] – we hope you’re loving the results of your treatment.

If you have a minute, we’d really appreciate your honest review on [Google / booking platform]. It helps new clients feel confident choosing us:
[direct review link]

Your feedback also helps us keep improving our service.

Thank you again,
[Name / Team at Salon/Clinic]

Good practice for follow-ups:

• Only send one review request per visit.
• Respect clients who don’t respond – don’t chase aggressively.
• Offer opt-out options for SMS (“Reply STOP to opt out”) where required.

Step 9: Respond to every review to show you’re listening

Replying to reviews shows that your beauty business is human, attentive and caring. It also gives potential clients a sense of your personality and values.

Replying to positive reviews

• Use the client’s name if visible.
• Mention specific details (stylist, treatment, colour, skin concern).
• Invite them back or mention future services they might like.

Example:

“Thank you so much, Sarah! We’re really happy you love your balayage, and we’ll pass your kind words on to [Stylist Name]. We can’t wait to see you again when you’re ready for a refresh.”

Replying to negative or mixed reviews

• Stay calm, even if you feel the review is unfair.
• Acknowledge their feelings and experience.
• Apologise if you fell short or if communication wasn’t clear.
• Invite them to contact you directly to discuss a solution.

Example:

“Hi Alex, we’re really sorry to hear you didn’t leave as happy as we’d hoped – that’s not the experience we want for our clients. We’d really like to understand what went wrong so we can put it right. Please contact us at [email/phone] and we’ll be happy to talk this through with you. Thank you for your feedback.”

New clients will pay close attention to how you handle criticism. Professional, kind responses can actually increase trust, even when the review isn’t perfect.

Step 10: Centralise your reviews with Think Local Reviews

As reviews start to grow across Google, booking platforms and Facebook, logging into each one separately becomes a headache. Think Local Reviews can bring everything into one place.

From a single dashboard you can:

• See all recent reviews, regardless of platform.
• Filter by rating, date, location, stylist or treatment type.
• Reply to reviews faster because you’re not jumping between tabs.
• Track overall trends in feedback over weeks and months.

This keeps you organised and ensures no review is ignored – even during busy periods or staff changes.

Step 11: Use review insights to shape your treatments and training

Reviews are a constant source of real-world feedback. Pay attention to recurring themes:

• Which stylists or therapists are mentioned most positively.
• Which treatments clients rave about – or rarely mention.
• Comments about waiting times, atmosphere, music or cleanliness.
• Concerns about patch testing, consultation, or aftercare clarity.

Use this information to:

• Recognise and reward staff who consistently delight clients.
• Offer extra coaching where needed, based on specific feedback.
• Adjust your service menu or pricing to match what clients value most.
• Improve communication around appointments and aftercare.

Over time, your service improves because you’re listening closely – which in turn leads to even stronger reviews.

Step 12: Put a simple review system in writing

To make reviews part of everyday salon life, create a short written process:

• Who asks for reviews in person and when.
• What scripts staff use at the mirror and reception.
• How and when automated SMS/email review requests are sent.
• Who checks reviews each day or week.
• Who replies and how quickly you aim to respond.
• How you share review feedback with the team.

Share this with everyone – from junior staff to senior therapists – so reviews become “just how we do things”, not an add-on.

Quick review growth checklist for beauty businesses

To recap, here’s a practical checklist you can follow:

1. Audit your existing reviews on Google, booking platforms and Facebook.
2. Update your profiles with fresh photos and accurate details.
3. Choose your primary review platforms (e.g. Google + Treatwell/Fresha).
4. Map your client journey and identify natural review request moments.
5. Train your team with simple in-chair and at-reception scripts.
6. Place QR codes and subtle review prompts around the salon or clinic.
7. Set up automated SMS and/or email review requests via Think Local Reviews.
8. Reply to every review in a timely, professional way.
9. Use a central dashboard to track feedback and spot trends.
10. Make at least one service or process improvement each month based on review insights.

When you follow this system consistently, your beauty business builds a strong, trustworthy review profile. New clients feel safe choosing you, existing clients feel heard, and your treatments and service quality continue to improve over time – powered by real feedback, not guesswork.