Ratings, reviews, and photos are only half the story. Five signals to check before you book, plus the questions worth asking on your first call.

Anyone can pick a salon that looks good in photos. Picking one you actually come back to is a different exercise. Here are five things to check before booking your next appointment, in the order that matters.

A 4.8 average built over three years tells you less than the last ten reviews. Ownership changes, staff turnover, and busy periods all show up in the recent tail before they move the average. Filter for the last 90 days and read three or four in full.

Every salon gets the occasional unhappy review. What separates good salons is whether the owner writes back thoughtfully, not defensively. A pattern of “we're sorry, come back and we'll make it right” tells you the person in charge cares. Silence tells you the opposite.

A salon can have a brilliant colourist and an average cutter. Look at individual stylist profiles and reviews on GlamBook and book the person, not just the venue. If a salon doesn't list stylist profiles at all, that's a signal in itself.

Salons that open late (11 AM+) and close early (6 PM) are catering to a lower-volume clientele, usually a good sign for quality but a bad one for last-minute availability. Salons that run 9 AM to 8 PM will fit you in but the same stylist may be doing their tenth cut of the day when you arrive. Pick the pattern that matches how you like to book.

Salons that require 48 hours notice and charge a fee for no-shows are the ones running a tight book. That usually correlates with punctuality when you actually arrive. A no-questions-asked cancellation policy is convenient for you but can be a signal that the salon has open chair time and less pressure on quality.

“How long will the service take?” helps you plan and signals a stylist who's realistic. “What products do you use for a keratin/colour/treatment?” tells you if they know the brand or read from a list. “What's the aftercare?” a good stylist has an answer ready.