be authentic 

“Start small—post what you love and what resonates with you,” says Alifia Young, Sr. Manager, Education + Training at K18. 

Your social media should reflect your authentic self. You don’t need full glam or some groundbreaking hot take to make a video. “Some of the most successful stylists I’ve seen have learned to create content from their day-to-day experiences in the salon.” The everyday can be extraordinary (not to mention relatable). 

consistency matters

“Aim to post regularly, even if it’s just a few times a week,” says Young. “Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages; building a community is just as important as the content itself.” 

Virality is alluring, but for most stylists, it’s better to have a few hundred extremely engaged followers versus hundreds of thousands of uninterested followers that scroll right past your content.  

schedule it out

There are a few approaches to integrating content creation into your day. “One is to capture raw footage during your salon hours and then build your content around what you were able to capture,” says Young. “The magic often comes in the editing process, where you can layer in the information you want to share.” 

Play around with it, you can’t perfect something that doesn’t exist! 

And for the planners out there, a content calendar is key. “Especially if you don’t have an assistant to help with recording. I recommend dedicating specific days or times for content creation,” says Young. “You might choose to film a few services on a less busy day or schedule a block of time after work to edit and post content.”

set boundaries

It can feel like a lot if every appointment becomes a content opportunity. To avoid this, create some boundaries for yourself and your clients. “Always prioritize your client’s comfort and consent,” says Young. “Before filming, have a conversation with them about how they feel about being featured on social media.” The idea here is to create a system that is sustainable, versus churning out a million videos a day until both you and your clients are burnt out. 

collaborate freely

It can be tempting to move through social media singularly focused on your own account, posts, and reach, therefore constantly looking at other stylists as competitors. But if you take a step back, you’ll find that there are so many opportunities to collaborate with other stylists and work together to help each other achieve goals. “Other stylists can provide support, share ideas, and inspire you,” says Young. “Collaboration can be a great way to amplify your reach and keep the creative juices flowing.” 

If it feels impossible and embarrassing and nerve wracking to start but try it anyway. The magic usually happens when we remove the expectations that we need to be perfect and polished online. Show us your tangled cords, messy floors, and dye-stained jeans—that is the kind of content we can all see ourselves in.