What does the use of A.I. mean for your business? We invited Kate Woods at KOR Digital to give us her view. Kate had worked in the hair, beauty and wellness businesses since 2007. Her watchful eye and curiosity for seeking out more efficiency and productive ways to grow business can be to your advantage! Tap into her thoughts on how to get found and strengthen trust through being online. This is what she told us:
The advent of A.I.
Not so long ago, Facebook Groups were the go-to for clients looking for a new salon or hairdresser. They might ask a local group for recommendations, and a handful of names would pop up prompting a decision on where to go next. In the years since, people have turned to Instagram and TikTok for inspiration and to check out salons’ work. Then in 2025, a new oracle emerged: AI.
Unlike other sources, AI makes salon recommendations with a confidence that feels like a statement of fact: ‘This is the go-to salon in your town’.
A.I. changes the search for hair salons
The way people search online has been evolving for some time. Rather than entering keywords into Google and other search engines, now we all use more conversational language.
This goes further when using Chat GPT or AI Mode. Clients ask direct questions that are specific to their exact needs e.g.
- “Where should I go for a good balayage in [insert specific town]?”
- “Who’s best for cutting curly hair in my area?”
- “What is the best salon in [town] for colour correction”
And, when they do ask generic questions, such as ‘what is the best salon in my Town?, A.I. may even respond with questions of its own. For instance, ‘whereabouts in the Town?’ ‘what is your hair type?’ or ‘what service do you want?’ before making its recommendations.
This creates a new challenge for salons! How are you going to be the business that is recommended by both Google and A.I.?
Be the recommended salon in 2026
Fortunately, A.I. relies on a lot of the same signals as traditional search. This means, if you have an existing website that is properly structured and well optimised, along with a well-maintained Google Business Profile, you are in a strong position.
So get to it! These are other ways to make sure you’re a favourite with AI:
Clear expertise and positioning:
A.I. favours salons that clearly explain what they do and who they’re for. Have clear service menus with the language people use rather than marketing buzzwords. Having individual pages for each of your key services – rather than a one-off pricing page – is almost essential if you want to appear near the top.
Specific answers to real client questions:
A.I> doesn’t just need to know that you offer a service… it needs to understand that it’s right for the person searching. A client considering creative colour may be weighing up time, commitment, maintenance and reversibility. Salons that clearly explain the process, timings, longevity and future options make it far easier for A.I. to match the right client to the right salon. If this doesn’t flow in your service pages, FAQs can be a great way to get you cited in A.I.
Consistent information across the web:
Your salon name, address and contact details should be consistent everywhere they appear. Check they do… from your website to your Google Business Profile and directories. If you haven’t checked your directory listings recently, now is a very good time to do so!
Client sentiment, not just star ratings:
A.I. looks beyond Google reviews alone. It scans what clients say about your salon across multiple platforms and considers the words used and the services
Wider trust signals:
Being referenced elsewhere matters. Social is still crucial, but that extends to Linkedin, Reddit and YouTube, too. Local features and collaborations are great for building trust. If you’re able to work with PR, then Awards and coverage in the trade media all add credibility.
What this means for salons in 2026
As search shifts towards A.I.-led recommendations, owning your digital presence matters more than ever. A well-built website, clear service pages and a properly maintained Google Business Profile are no longer ‘nice to have’. They are the foundations that A.I. and search engines rely on to decide who gets surfaced and who doesn’t.
However, visibility alone isn’t enough.
A.I. doesn’t just look at what you say about your salon. It looks for evidence that backs it up. If your Google rating is sitting below 4.7, address this as a priority. If reviews are thin on the ground or you don’t have a steady stream of them coming in, ask yourself why? – and what can be improved to change that?
The salons that show up – through Google or A.I. tools and browsers – will be those that combine a clear, well-structured online presence with the fundamentals done properly. A strong salon experience, happy clients, and a reputation that stands up to scrutiny.
Call to action
Kate Woods runs KOR Digital and has a formidable history of building success for hairdressing business. Expect practical, straight-talking guidance. Whatever your size business, get found online, build trust through your websites, and adapt to how clients actually make decisions today.
Contact:
www.kordigital.co.uk
Follow:
@kor_digital
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