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Salon snapshot


Why Sarah Knew She Needed a Better Approach to Skin Testing

When Sarah Butler, owner of Scissors of Eastney, reviewed her insurance arrangements, it became clear that modernising the salon’s approach to skin testing was not just good practice, it was essential.

After speaking with Sentio Insurance, Sarah was introduced to Colourstart. “Sentio were brilliant,” she explains. “They really understood salons and skin testing, and the fact that they recognised Colourstart immediately gave me confidence.”

Scissors initially found that when clients were asked to take skin tests home, completion rates dropped. Clients forgot, delayed the process, or didn’t complete it correctly, creating unnecessary work for the business.

Sarah’s priority was clear: she decided that Colourstart would need complete compliance without adding pressure to an already busy team.

The Simple Operational Change That Made the Difference

The turning point came from a simple operational decision when Sarah delegated Colourstart to the salon’s apprentice, Evie. Evie became the Colourstart expert, learning the process inside out and taking responsibility for client guidance.

Evie now sits with each client, walks them through the process on their phone, and ensures the test is applied correctly. “This has been fundamental to its success,” says Sarah. “The team are busy and simply don’t have the time, but Evie does and clients really appreciate the care and explanation.”

However, Sarah is quick to point out that whilst giving one team member ownership of this project, the participation of the full team has been crucial to ensuring that all their existing clients understand the process and fully support it.

What Scissors of Eastney Did Differently

The Impact on Workflow, Clients, and the Team

Scissors of Eastney has achieved full compliance, improved client understanding, and reduced legal and operational risk, without disrupting the salon’s workflow.

Sarah’s Advice for Any Salon Ready to Make Colourstart Work

Sarah’s guidance for success is simple:

  1. Assign clear ownership
  2. Communicate confidently
  3. Build compliance into the customer experience

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