# 5 AI shortcuts for salons and beauty businesses > Five client messages salons, barbers and spas send all the time, each with a prompt you can copy into any AI chat. You check every line before it goes out. - Page: https://hoursaved.com/for/beauty/ - Covers: hair salons, barbers, nail techs, estheticians, massage therapists ## 1. Apply your no-show policy kindly Shortcut id: beauty/no-show Use it after a missed appointment, when your booking policy says a fee or lost deposit applies. Skip this if you're still deciding whether a no-show fee is fair or legal, or if the client never agreed to get texts from you. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) both followed the rules. One run is not proof, so still check. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [salon / barbershop / nail / massage] business. A client missed their appointment. Client: [first name]. Appointment: [date, time, service]. My policy: [your no-show and late-cancellation policy, in your words]. Deposit taken: [amount, or "none"]. First time or repeat: [first / repeat]. Am I waiving anything: [no / yes, what]. Write one short, kind, firm text that applies my policy and invites them to rebook. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - No guilt-tripping. Keep it under 80 words. ``` **Check before you send:** - The fee matches terms the client saw and agreed to (not just your current policy). - Any waiver is one you chose. - It invites them back. - If you send it by text, only text people who agreed to get texts from you, and stop if they ask you to. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/appointment-reminder-no-show-messages/ ## 2. Write appointment and cancellation reminders Shortcut id: beauty/reminders Use it once to set up the reminder texts your booking app sends. Only text clients who agreed to texts. Skip this if clients never agreed to get texts from you, or if you want to add promotions; reminders stay to appointment facts. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) slipped: The same-day text says the deposit is kept without making that conditional on cancelling or moving with less than 24 hours’ notice; Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) followed the rules. Check closely. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [salon / barbershop / nail / massage] business. I want reminder messages for my booking app. Main services: [list]. When reminders go out: [for example 48 hours and 2 hours before]. My cancellation policy: [in your words]. How to reschedule: [link, phone or reply]. Opt-out: [my booking app adds it / the exact words to add, for example "Reply STOP to opt out"]. Anything clients must do before: [for example arrive with clean hair, or a patch test under your own policy]. Write: 1. A 48-hour reminder text. 2. A same-day reminder text. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - Keep each text under 50 words; count them. If I gave opt-out words, end each text with them exactly. If my app adds it, add no opt-out line. ``` **Check before you send:** - Your policy is stated as you wrote it, matching terms clients saw when they booked. - The reschedule link or number works. - Clients agreed to get texts, and there's a way to opt out. - No offers or promotions in a reminder. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/appointment-reminder-no-show-messages/ ## 3. Reply to a client who's unhappy with their result Shortcut id: beauty/unhappy-result Use it when a client complains about a cut, color, nails or treatment, before you decide what to offer. Skip this if they mention a reaction, injury or health problem; reply yourself and suggest they see a doctor. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) both followed the rules. One run is not proof, so still check. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [salon / barbershop / nail / spa] business. A client is unhappy with their result. Their complaint, in a short non-medical summary: [for example "the color is darker than we agreed"]. What we did: [service, and anything agreed before]. My redo or refund policy: [in your words]. What I'm offering: [redo, partial refund, or "not decided yet"]. Write a short, warm reply that takes them seriously and says what happens next. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - Don't admit fault I haven't admitted. No medical claims. - Don't promise any next step, reply, call or help I didn't list. - If a fact says "not sure" or "not decided yet", write UNCLEAR there instead of working it out. ``` **Check before you send:** - Any redo or refund is one you decided on. - No medical claims. - It takes their feelings seriously without admitting fault you haven't. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/reply-to-angry-customer-email/ ## 4. Reply to a review, good or bad Shortcut id: beauty/review-reply Use it for Google, Yelp or booking-app reviews. Keep client details private. Don't use this when the review mentions injury, a reaction, safety or a threat to sue, or while you're still angry; reply yourself and get advice. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) followed the rules; Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) slipped: It publicly attributes the wait to staffing information from the owner's records and assumes the unidentified reviewer visited that day. Check closely. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [salon / barbershop / nail / spa] business. I want to reply to a public review. The review: [paste it]. Stars: [number]. What I know about the visit: [facts, or "can't tell who this is"]. Anything I want to offer: [for example a call, or "nothing"]. Write a short public reply. If it's negative, keep it calm and invite them to talk privately. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything; I'll post it myself. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - Don't share the client's details or argue. - This reply is public. You may refer briefly to the complaint points the reviewer made in public (for example the wait), but never name the client, the service or treatment they had, the appointment, or any health or personal detail, even if the review mentions it. Nothing from my records. ``` **Check before you send:** - No client name, service, appointment or health details in the reply. - Calm, even if the review isn't fair. - Anything offered is real. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/reply-to-online-reviews/ ## 5. Tell clients about a price increase Shortcut id: beauty/price-increase Use it a few weeks before new prices start, so regulars hear it from you first. Skip this if the people on your list never agreed to hear from you or unsubscribed, or if you'd be texting clients without their consent. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) both followed the rules. One run is not proof, so still check. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [salon / barbershop / nail / spa] business. My prices are going up. Old and new prices: [each service: old price, new price]. Start date: [date]. Reason, if I want to share one: [for example product costs, or "no reason"]. Existing bookings: [kept at the old price / no change]. Write a short, warm email for regular clients, with an honest subject line. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - Don't over-apologize. Don't add discounts I didn't give you. - End the email with these two lines: [your business postal address] and [how to unsubscribe]. - Don't add promises about quality, service or care. ``` **Check before you send:** - Only send to people who agreed to hear from you, and leave out anyone who unsubscribed. - Your email includes your business postal address and a working unsubscribe link. - The subject line says honestly what the email is about. - Every price, the start date and what happens to existing bookings are right. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/monthly-customer-email/ ## Questions salon, spa and beauty business owners ask **Can AI write my salon's cancellation and no-show messages?** Yes, from your own policy. It should never invent a fee, so check the amount against what clients agreed to when they booked. **How should I reply to a bad salon review?** Short, calm and in public, then move the details to a private conversation. Never share the client's details. **Can AI answer questions about allergic reactions?** No. Any question about a reaction or skin problem goes to a doctor. AI can help you write a kind message that says so. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. Check every message before you send it.