Makeover nomination
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Facebook and Instagram
- Concept
- Ask followers to nominate someone who deserves a day of pampering, like a busy parent or a night-shift nurse. A small panel picks the winner from the stories. The post is about the nominee, not about you.
- How to enter
- Comment the person's first name and a few lines on why. The panel scores the stories, then contacts the chosen person privately before announcing.
- Prize idea
- A cut, color and blow-dry (about $150 to $250 in salon value).
- Avoid
- Don't post the before and after without the winner's written consent. Ask before the appointment, not after.
Product bundle draw
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram
- Concept
- Give away a bundle of the products you use and sell: shampoo, conditioner and a styling product. It shows off your retail shelf and costs you less than retail. Build the bundle for one hair type or let the winner choose.
- How to enter
- Comment your hair type and your biggest styling question. Draw one winner at random from the comments.
- Prize idea
- A product bundle (about $60 to $90 at retail).
- Avoid
- Don't promise the products will fix a problem. Name the items and let the winner try them.
Stylist of the month
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram
- Concept
- Feature one stylist each month and give away a service with them. Followers get to know the team, and the stylist meets new clients. Rotate so everyone gets a turn.
- How to enter
- Comment a question for the stylist on the feature post. Draw one winner from the comments, and the stylist answers the questions in Stories.
- Prize idea
- A cut or a manicure with the featured stylist (about $40 to $80).
- Avoid
- Don't give away a booth renter's time without their agreement. Agree who pays for the service before you post.
Open house prize wheel
Difficulty: MediumBest on: In the salon
- Concept
- Hold an open house evening with mini services, snacks and a prize wheel. Every guest spins once. It brings in new faces who might be nervous about booking.
- How to enter
- Come to the open house and spin once. No booking or purchase needed.
- Prize idea
- Small prizes like $10 off or a travel-size product, plus one $100 service voucher (about $200 for the night).
- Avoid
- Don't hide the odds. Put a sign next to the wheel showing each prize's chance.
Vote on the stylist's new color
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram Stories and feed
- Concept
- Let followers vote on a stylist's next hair color in Stories, then do the color on camera. Everyone who comments on the reveal post enters a draw. Your team becomes the show.
- How to enter
- Comment on the reveal post with what you think of the result. Draw one winner at random from the comments.
- Prize idea
- A gloss or toner service (about $50 to $80).
- Avoid
- Don't let the vote push a stylist into a color they don't want. Offer only options they've agreed to.
Bridal party package
Difficulty: HardBest on: Instagram and Facebook
- Concept
- Before wedding season, give away hair and makeup for a bride and two attendants. Wedding parties often book together, so one win puts you in front of a whole group. Limit it to dates you can actually staff.
- How to enter
- Comment the wedding month and the town. Draw one winner from entrants with a wedding in your area and on a date you can cover.
- Prize idea
- Bridal hair and makeup for three people (about $300 to $500).
- Avoid
- Don't leave the dates open. Say in the rules which months qualify and when the date must be booked.
Nail art design contest
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram
- Concept
- Ask followers to sketch or describe a nail design. Your nail techs pick the best one with set criteria and offer it as the design of the month. The winner gets the design done first.
- How to enter
- Comment a description or a photo of a sketch. The nail techs score designs on creativity and wearability.
- Prize idea
- A gel manicure with the winning design (about $50 to $70).
- Avoid
- Don't accept a design copied from another artist. Ask for original work and credit the winner when you post it.
Guess the product
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram
- Concept
- Show a close-up of a product's texture and ask followers to guess which product it is. Right answers go into a draw. People learn what's on your shelf while they guess.
- How to enter
- Comment your guess on the feed post. Draw one winner at random from the correct guesses.
- Prize idea
- The product in the photo plus a matching item (about $40 to $60).
- Avoid
- Don't make it impossible. If nobody gets it after a day, post a hint.
Local business swap
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram Collab post
- Concept
- Swap prizes with a business that shares your clients, like a gym, a boutique or a café. You give away their voucher, and they give away yours. Both of you reach new local customers.
- How to enter
- Comment on the Collab post with your favorite thing about either business. Draw one winner from the comments.
- Prize idea
- A $50 salon voucher and a $50 voucher from the partner (about $100).
- Avoid
- Don't skip the paperwork. Write down who draws, who contacts the winner and when the vouchers expire.
Bring a friend vouchers
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram and Facebook
- Concept
- The winner gets two vouchers, one for themselves and one for a friend. It reaches two people without asking anyone to tag. The friend may become a new client.
- How to enter
- Comment who you would bring and why, using a first name only. Draw one winner at random.
- Prize idea
- Two $40 service vouchers (about $80).
- Avoid
- Don't make tagging the friend a rule. A first name is enough and keeps you within Facebook's rules.
Holiday gift card week
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram
- Concept
- In the weeks before the holidays, give away a small gift card each day for a week. It reminds followers that salon gift cards make good presents, right when they're shopping. Each daily post is a gentle nudge.
- How to enter
- Comment on each day's post to enter that day's draw. Earlier winners are left out of later draws.
- Prize idea
- Seven $25 gift cards (about $175 in total).
- Avoid
- Don't let gift cards expire quickly. Check your local gift card rules and allow several months at least.
Questions and answers
Can we post before and after photos from a giveaway?
Only with the client's written consent, given before the appointment. Keep the signed form, and let them change their mind before you post.
Can a salon give entries or prizes for reviews?
No. Google's review policy doesn't allow businesses to offer incentives such as free services or discounts for reviews, and it removes incentivized reviews. Ask happy clients for honest reviews separately, with no prize.
What salon prize gets the best response?
A service people would book anyway, like a cut and blow-dry, or a product bundle they can see. Services cost you time rather than cash, so book the winner on a quieter day.
How do we handle booth renters in a giveaway?
Agree in writing who provides the service, who pays for it and when it must be booked. Name the provider in the rules so the winner knows what to expect.
How do we pick a winner fairly?
Copy the comments into the Instagram comment picker, remove staff and duplicates, and draw. For judged contests, use a judging scorecard with at least two judges.