Beauty & wellness
AI receptionist for hair salons
The short answer
Last updated
For hair salons
Foils in, scissors in hand, and a new client ringing.
Most NZ salons are short on staff, so there's rarely anyone free to answer the phone. When it rings out, new clients just call the next salon.
- You can't stop mid-colour to answer
- "How much for colour?" depends on hair length and history, so it needs a proper conversation
- New colour clients need a skin test at least 48 hours before, and the booking falls over without it
- No-shows and last-minute cancellations leave gaps in the day
How FirstVoice fixes it
FirstVoice answers every call, books the right service with the right stylist, and makes sure skin tests are booked first.
- Asks the service, the rough hair length and the preferred stylist
- Books a skin test before a new client's first colour
- Explains your price ranges and consultation process from the information you give us
- Explains your cancellation and deposit policy, and can text a deposit link
- Tells anyone with swelling or trouble breathing after colour to ring 111, and alerts you
Calls we handle
Calls hair salons get, answered.
Answered day or night, with the caller's details sent straight to you.
- New client booking for a cut, colour or balayage, including "who's free Saturday?"
- Colour consultation or skin patch test booking before a colour
- Reschedule, cancel or running late
- Price enquiries (foils, toner, colour correction, bridal hair)
- Stylist-specific availability and waitlist
- Retail product enquiries and stock holds
- Gift vouchers
Urgent calls
Escalated to you.
These don't wait for the end-of-call summary. You're told straight away.
- Scalp or skin reaction after a colour service: tell the caller to seek medical care, call 111 if severe, and alert the owner.
- Complaint or colour-correction request.
- Bridal-party changes on the day.
- Client stuck in the chair with a stylist absent.
Software
Works with Square Appointments, Zenoti, Phorest, Vagaro and more.
Square Appointments
Books directlyBooks appointments straight into Square Appointments during the call, checking live availability first, using Square's public Bookings API (Australia only).
How it connects to Square AppointmentsZenoti
Books directlyBooks appointments straight into Zenoti and looks up callers by phone during the call, using Zenoti's public API.
How it connects to ZenotiPhorest
Partner accessYes. FirstVoice can connect straight to Phorest to check availability, recognise returning clients and book appointments. Phorest switches the connection on when you ask them.
How it connects to PhorestVagaro
Partner accessVagaro has a public API reference covering appointments and customers, but read/write access requires contacting Vagaro Enterprise Sales.
What a missed call is worth
Typical prices for hair salons in NZ.
Rules we script around
Regulations for hair salons.
General information, not legal advice.
- NZ Privacy Act 2020 IPPs: collect only what's needed and tell the caller why.Source
- NZ Consumer Guarantees Act: services must be done with reasonable care and skill.Source
- No-show and cancellation fees in standard terms can be challenged as unfair contract terms under the Fair Trading Act.Source
- Deposits: send a payment link, never take card numbers by voice (PCI DSS).Source
Does an AI receptionist work with salon software like Kitomba, Timely or Fresha?
FirstVoice books directly into Phorest, Square Appointments and Zenoti. It works alongside Kitomba, Timely and Fresha by texting callers your booking link and emailing you a summary of every call. Vagaro needs partner access.
Will clients mind an AI answering the salon phone?
Some prefer a person, especially regulars and anyone booking a colour correction or a bridal party. But a call that rings out while you're mid-cut is often a lost booking. Use an AI receptionist for the calls you can't get to, and keep complaints and complex bookings with your team.
What does FirstVoice do with urgent calls for hair salons?
It follows the urgent-call rules you set and flags those calls to you straight away, or transfers them live on Growth and Scale. For hair salons that usually means calls like scalp or skin reaction after a colour service, complaint or colour-correction request and bridal-party changes on the day. Life-threatening emergencies are directed to 111.
Does FirstVoice work with Square Appointments?
Books appointments straight into Square Appointments during the call, checking live availability first, using Square's public Bookings API (Australia only). It also works with Zenoti, Phorest, Vagaro and Kitomba.
How much does an AI receptionist cost for hair salons?
Connecting Square Appointments is included from Growth at $597 a month. Starter is $297 a month with calendar booking.
Free 2-week trial for hair salons
Try it free for two weeks, on your real calls.
We set everything up for you and connect it to your calendar and the tools you already use. Then it answers your real customers for two weeks. No credit card, nothing to pay. If it's not for you, walk away.
- 01We build it for youYour greeting, your questions, your prices and your booking rules. You don't touch a thing.
- 02Connected to your systemBookings go into your calendar or job system, and summaries come to you by text or email.
- 03Live on your real callsForward your number and it answers your customers for real, day and night, for two weeks.
- 04No card, no costYou don't pay anything for the trial. Keep it after that from $297 a month, month to month, or walk away.