How do lash artists handle no-shows?
Updated
Lash artists handle no-shows with three habits: a $20–$30 deposit collected at booking (sized to the appointment length), a reminder sent inside the fill window rather than days early, and a plainly worded no-show fee — usually the forfeited deposit — stated before the client ever sits down. Repeat offenders move to prepay-in-full or lose the ability to book online.
Size the deposit to the slot, not a flat number
A lash appointment doesn’t behave like a haircut — there’s no walk-in to slide into a 60- to 90-minute fill slot on short notice, so an empty chair is lost income, full stop. That’s why a deposit works better here than almost anywhere else in beauty: it puts a little of the client’s own money behind a slot that usually can’t be refilled once she skips it. Size it to the appointment, not a round number: $20–$25 for a two-week fill, $25–$30 for a longer three-week fill, $30–$50 for a full set.
| Appointment | Typical length | Suggested deposit | If she doesn’t show |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-week fill | 60–75 min | $20–$25 | Deposit forfeited, slot released |
| 3-week fill | 75–90 min | $25–$30 | Deposit forfeited, slot released |
| Full set | 2–2.5 hrs | $30–$50 | Deposit forfeited; balance charged if a card’s on file |
Remind inside the window, not days ahead of it
A reminder sent three or four days out gets read once and forgotten. What catches a genuinely forgetful client is timing: a confirmation the day before, plus a second nudge two to three hours ahead for short fill slots, since there’s almost no runway to refill that chair if she cancels last minute. Keep both short — a time, a yes/no, nothing that reads like a policy notice.
Say the fee out loud before it ever gets charged
The no-show fee clients accept without a fight is the one they saw coming. Say it in one sentence at booking: “Your $25 deposit reserves this time and is forfeited for a no-show or a cancellation inside 24 hours — it’s applied to your service if you show up.” That framing reads as reserving the seat, not punishing the client, and it names a real number instead of a vague “fees may apply.”
Repeat offenders need a policy, not a grudge. After a second no-show, move that client to prepay-in-full or phone-only booking with a bigger deposit — an honest acknowledgment that her booking has cost you two real slots, not a punishment for its own sake.
Deposits only work if collecting them isn’t your job
Rebiza’s AI booking assistant quotes from your real menu, requests the deposit through the payment link you already use — Stripe, Square, or PayPal — and won’t confirm the slot until you’ve one-tap approved it, then runs reminders automatically and flags repeat no-shows to you. Flat $149 a month; currently onboarding founding studios from a waitlist.
Frequently asked questions
Is $20–$30 too much for a lash deposit?
Not for most markets — it’s a small fraction of the fill price, and clients booking a $60-plus service rarely balk at a $20–$25 hold. Pushback is usually about clarity, not amount: state the number and policy at booking rather than surprising her later.
Should I still book a client who’s no-showed before?
Once, with grace — everyone has a bad week. Twice, and it’s reasonable to require prepayment in full or move her to phone-only booking with a firm deposit rather than extending free access to a third open chair.
Is it legal to text automated no-show reminders?
Yes, with consent captured up front, an instantly honored STOP, and sends kept to reasonable daytime hours — the core requirements under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The FCC’s consumer guide covers the plain-English version worth reading once.