BLACC + BLOND on growing one of the UK’s first gender and carbon-neutral salons

Salon owner Anil Salhan launched BLACC + BLOND in Birmingham just four months before the start of the pandemic, with the goal of becoming the UK’s first carbon and gender-neutral salon. Fast forward to today and business is booming for BLACC + BLOND. 

"Opening just before the pandemic wasn't what I had in mind, but we used that time to focus on our business ethics, our morals and the culture we wanted to create," says Anil. "Thankfully, we've come out the other side pioneering a new era for the industry."

Creating an inclusive and eco-conscious salon environment

Anil and the team at BLACC + BLOND are breaking new ground for hair salons, with their progressive culture and passion for sustainability. "I always say that we're more of a people and society-focused brand. We like to make people feel good and look good, and we try to do good ourselves by working towards becoming both carbon and gender-neutral. 

"Being gender-neutral is our way of promoting equality within the hair industry. We charge one rate for all our clients, regardless of gender, because we give everyone the same amount of time. Men deserve the same time, and women deserve the same price. Everyone is equal."

BLACC + BLOND are just as committed to their sustainability goals. Last year on Earth Day, they launched a tree-planting initiative called ‘Green is the New Black’ with incredible results. "We set out to plant a tree for every new client, with the aim of planting 1,000 trees in a year. But we shot past our goal and actually planted 3,000 – enough to fill a forest! We’re really proud of this."

The salon’s sustainability efforts have helped them stand out in the industry: BLACC + BLOND was named Green Salon of the Year at the 2022 Salon Business Awards, and they were a finalist for the Sustainability Hero award at the 2022 Creative Head Most Wanted Awards.

Enhancing every client’s experience

Anil credits Fresha’s booking platform with helping to make his salon’s success possible. "Signing up to Fresha was one of the best decisions we've made. I’m a solutions-driven person, so I’m a huge fan of how comprehensive the platform is. It lets the business run itself, which allows me focus on growing the business and our culture."

As a salon owner who’s "constantly coming up with new ideas," Anil finds Fresha’s email and text message marketing tools key to staying in touch with his clients; from appointment notifications and reminders, to promotions and deals his clients love. According to him, Fresha is a crucial part of his clients’ overall experience at BLACC + BLOND.

"The most important thing for us is our clients, and we get great feedback on how easy Fresha is for them. The platform is really interactive, and our clients love that. Fresha lets our clients book anytime they like, however they prefer: whether it’s through Google Reserve, the Fresha marketplace, our website or Instagram."

Protecting the salon from no-shows 

Anil credits Fresha with helping to grow and protect BLACC + BLOND's income during this testing time. "Fresha’s integrated payment system is amazing, as it allows us to take contactless payments. Cancellations are damaging for the business and the team, and they were common before we used Fresha. Being able to set our own cancellation policy has helped the business not just to survive, but to grow. I could count the number of no-shows we’ve had in the last year on one hand, which is not only a testament to our skillset, but also to Fresha."

Winning new clients with Fresha reviews

Anil sees Fresha reviews as a valuable tool for bringing new clients straight to BLACC + BLOND. “Fresha reviews have been really good for us. We get a lot more reviews on Fresha than any other platform, and new clients read them when they’re browsing for treatments.”

To keep up their momentum, Anil and the BLACC + BLOND team are constantly evolving and looking for new ways to promote gender equality and protect the environment. He sees Fresha as a vital partner in their success.

“Fresha is aligned with my way of thinking. They're constantly trying new things, always updating the platform and evolving. We're working together hand in hand and we're both doing really well. I would 100% recommend Fresha to other salons.”