Salon Color Waste: The Hidden 15% Leak and How Smart Inventory Management Stops It

I'll never forget the morning I walked into my friend Rachel's salon for our monthly coffee catch-up. She was standing in the back room, staring at a wall of color tubes like they'd personally betrayed her. "I just spent $4,000 on inventory last month," she said, shaking her head. "But I'm still running out of the shades I need. Where is it all going?"

That question—where is it all going?—haunts more salon owners than you'd think. You're working your tail off, your stylists are talented, clients are happy... but somehow, the numbers don't add up. Your color budget keeps climbing while your profit margins keep shrinking. You know something's leaking, but you can't quite put your finger on where.

Here's what I learned after digging into Rachel's books and talking to dozens of salon owners facing the same puzzle: the average U.S. salon wastes between 25-40% of its hair color inventory. That's not a typo. For every $100 you spend on color, $25-$40 literally goes down the drain—mixed but unused, expired on the shelf, or over-ordered and forgotten. If you're spending $50,000 annually on color products (pretty typical for a busy salon), you're potentially losing $12,500 to $20,000 every single year.

That's a new hire. That's your marketing budget. That's the equipment upgrade you keep putting off.

In this guide, I'm going to walk you through exactly where that waste is happening, why standard inventory methods miss it, and—most importantly—how smart inventory management can plug that leak without turning your back room into a science lab or forcing you to buy expensive software before you're ready. Whether you're tracking everything on paper right now or you've tried a few apps that didn't stick, I'll show you practical steps that actually work for real salons dealing with real-world chaos.

Let's figure out where your money's going—and how to keep it in your business instead.

So, What Exactly Is the Hidden Color Waste Problem?

The "hidden 15% leak" (though honestly, it's often closer to 25-40%) refers to the hair color product that you purchase, pay for, and then never actually use on a client's head. It's hidden because it doesn't show up as theft or damaged goods—it just... disappears. A little extra mixed here, a tube that expires there, a formula that gets dumped because the client changed her mind mid-service.

Most salon owners I talk to know they're wasting some product. But they dramatically underestimate how much. According to data from salons using precision tracking tools, the average waste cost per color service in the U.S. is about $0.88—and that's for salons that are actively measuring and optimizing. For salons without any tracking system, waste can run 30-40% higher per service, which compounds rapidly when you're doing dozens of color appointments every week.

Smart inventory management stops this leak by introducing three core elements: precise measurement (knowing exactly how much you're using), systematic tracking (recording usage in real-time), and data-driven refinement (adjusting formulas and ordering based on actual patterns, not guesswork). The beauty is, you can start with the simplest version tomorrow morning—no vendor commitment required.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

It's Not Just About the Money (Though That's Huge)

When Rachel and I finally calculated her real color waste—it came out to about $18,000 annually—she went quiet for a long moment. Then she said, "That's more than I paid myself last year."

That hit hard. Because here's the thing: salon ownership is tough right now. You're dealing with 45% annual staff turnover, rising product costs (some suppliers hiked prices 20-30% in the past two years), and clients who are more price-sensitive than ever. Every dollar you're not wasting is a dollar you can invest in retention bonuses for your best stylists, in that Instagram ad campaign that's been sitting in your drafts, or—revolutionary concept—in your own paycheck.

But beyond the raw dollars, uncontrolled waste creates operational chaos. You run out of popular shades at the worst possible moment because you thought you had more inventory than you actually did. You over-order slow-moving colors to "be safe," tying up cash you need for payroll. Your stylists develop sloppy habits because there's no accountability around product usage, which means your newer team members learn wasteful techniques from day one.

And here's something most people don't talk about: waste kills your pricing confidence. When you don't know your true product cost per service, you can't price accurately. You either undercharge (because you're guessing low and eroding your margins) or overcharge (because you're padding for waste and losing price-sensitive clients). Neither is sustainable.

The Environmental Piece You Can't Ignore Anymore

I'm going to be straight with you—I used to roll my eyes a little when people brought up salon waste and the environment. It felt like one more thing to worry about when I was just trying to keep the lights on.

But then I saw the numbers: U.S. and Canadian salons collectively produce 877 pounds of waste per minute. That's 421,000 pounds every single day, with about 42,000 pounds of that being excess hair color going down the drain. These aren't just abstract chemicals—they're pollutants entering water systems, and clients are starting to ask about it.

In fact, over 50% of salon clients now prefer businesses using organic, sustainable, or eco-friendly products. If you can honestly say, "We've cut our color waste by 30% this year through precision mixing," that's not just good operations—it's a marketing advantage. And honestly? Once you start measuring, reducing waste feels good. It's tangible progress you can see every week.

How Does Salon Color Waste Actually Happen? (The Real Culprits)

Let me walk you through a typical scenario I've watched play out a hundred times.

Your stylist has a client booked for a full highlight. She's done this service a thousand times, so she mixes her standard bowl—let's say 50 grams of lightener and developer. She starts applying, realizes mid-way through that the client's hair is thicker than expected, and she's going to run short. So she mixes a second full bowl. By the end, she's used about 70 grams total... but she mixed 100. The remaining 30 grams—roughly $3-5 worth of product—gets rinsed down the sink.

Multiply that by 20 color services a day, and you're losing $60-100 daily just from over-mixing. Over a month? $1,800-3,000. Over a year? Well, you can do that math.

Here are the biggest waste culprits I see:

Over-Mixing Standard Formulas

Most stylists learn to mix "standard" bowls—40-60 grams depending on the service. It's muscle memory. But not every client needs 60 grams. A root touch-up on fine hair might only need 30. A balayage on thick, long hair might need 80. When you're mixing by habit instead of by actual need, you're building waste into every single service.

According to tracking data from salons using precision tools, the average U.S. salon uses 1.48 bowls of color per service. If your number is higher—say, 1.8 or 2.0—that's a red flag that formulas are bloated.

The "Just In Case" Remix

This is the one that drives me crazy because it's so avoidable. Your stylist is three-quarters done with a color application and thinks, "Hmm, this might not be enough." Instead of carefully checking or mixing a tiny bit more, she mixes another full bowl "just in case." Half the time, she doesn't even use it. That's pure waste.

Expired or Slow-Moving Inventory

You order a trendy new color line because a client asked for it once. It sits on your shelf for nine months. By the time you remember it exists, it's expired. Or you bulk-order a shade because it was on sale, but it's not actually a color your stylists reach for often. Before you know it, you've got $500 worth of product you'll never use taking up space.

Here's a stat that should scare you: about 50% of salons that track inventory manually face product shortages every single month, which often triggers panic over-ordering, which then creates waste. It's a vicious cycle.

Lack of Individual Accountability

When nobody's tracking who's using what, there's no feedback loop. Your most efficient stylist—the one who carefully measures and rarely wastes—gets the same product budget as the stylist who goes through twice as much color for the same services. Without data, you can't coach, you can't celebrate wins, and you can't identify problems before they cost you thousands.

What Does Smart Inventory Management Actually Look Like in Practice?

Okay, so you know you have a problem. Now what?

The good news: you don't need to become a data scientist or invest in a $10,000 software system tomorrow. Smart inventory management is really just a fancy term for measuring what matters, tracking it consistently, and using that information to make better decisions. It scales from "I'm doing this with a notebook and a $15 kitchen scale" all the way up to "I have an integrated app that syncs with my booking system."

Let me show you what it looks like at different levels, so you can start where you are.

Level 1: Manual Tracking with Simple Tools (Start Here If You're Skeptical)

When I first suggested tracking to Rachel, she was... resistant. "I don't have time to weigh bowls," she said flatly. Fair. So we started with the absolute simplest version:

Week 1 audit: Pick your top 10 most-used color products (the ones you reorder constantly). At the end of each day, have your stylists make a quick tally mark next to the services they used each product for. That's it. No weighing, no apps—just "I used Shade 7N for three clients today."

After one week, you'll spot patterns. You'll see that Shade 7N moves way faster than you thought, and that trendy rose gold you ordered? Used once. This alone helps you avoid over-ordering slow movers.

Week 2-4: Introduce portion control. Buy a cheap kitchen scale (they're like $15 on Amazon) and a set of small mixing bowls with measurement marks. Ask stylists to start measuring their mixes for just one service type—say, root touch-ups. Have them note how much they mixed versus how much was left over.

Within a month, Rachel's lead stylist realized she'd been mixing 50g for root touch-ups when 35g was plenty. That one adjustment saved about $8 per service, or roughly $800/month once all stylists adopted it.

Tools you need:

• A notebook or simple spreadsheet
• A digital kitchen scale ($15-25)
• Marked mixing bowls or measuring cups ($10-20)
• Five minutes at the end of each day

Cost: Under $50
Time investment: 10-15 minutes daily
Typical waste reduction: 15-20% in the first 3 months

This level won't give you real-time data or automated alerts, but it will give you visibility. And visibility is the first step to control.

Level 2: Structured Tracking with Weekly Audits

Once you've got the basics down and you're convinced this is worth it, level up to a more systematic approach.

Set par levels: For each product, determine your minimum stock level—the point at which you need to reorder. This is usually based on your weekly usage rate plus a small buffer. For example, if you use 10 tubes of Shade 8G per week, your par level might be 15 tubes. When you dip below that, reorder.

Visual audits: Every Monday morning (or whatever day works), do a quick visual check of your color bar. Which products are running low? Which have been sitting untouched for weeks? Snap a photo on your phone so you can compare week-over-week.

Track by stylist: Start recording product usage per stylist, not just per salon. You don't need to be weird about it—frame it as "we're trying to understand our costs better so we can price services accurately." Most stylists are actually curious about their own efficiency once you remove any punitive vibe.

One salon I worked with discovered their most experienced stylist was using 35% less product per service than their newest hire—not because the new stylist was bad, but because she'd never been taught to measure. A single training session closed that gap and saved about $400/month.

Tools you need:

• A simple inventory spreadsheet (Google Sheets works great)
• Weekly audit routine (15-20 minutes)
• Basic usage tracking per stylist

Cost: Essentially free (just time)
Time investment: 30-45 minutes weekly
Typical waste reduction: 25-30% within 6 months

This is the level where you start to see real behavior change, because stylists become aware that usage is being tracked (even informally) and they naturally get more mindful.

Level 3: Technology-Assisted Precision Tracking

Okay, now we're getting into the realm where technology makes a meaningful difference. This is where you'd consider tools like Bluetooth-enabled scales connected to apps, or salon management software with built-in inventory modules.

How it works: You mix a formula, place the bowl on a connected scale, and the app records the weight automatically. After the service, you weigh any leftover product, and the system calculates exactly how much was used. Over time, the software learns your formulas and can even suggest adjustments—"Hey, you consistently have 15g left over on this formula; try mixing 45g instead of 60g next time."

Salons using these systems report cutting inventory purchases by 40% while simultaneously reducing the "we're out of X" emergencies that disrupt your day.

One platform, Vish, shared case studies showing salons dropping their average waste per service to around $0.88 (compared to $1.20-1.50 for non-optimized salons). When you're doing 100+ color services a week, that $0.30-0.60 difference per service adds up to $1,500-3,000 annually.

Advanced features to look for:

• Automated reordering alerts: System notifies you when stock hits par levels
• Formula refinement suggestions: AI analyzes leftover patterns and recommends smaller mixes
• Stylist performance dashboards: See who's efficient and who needs coaching (in a supportive, data-driven way)
• Integration with booking systems: Predict color needs based on upcoming appointments

Tools you need:

• Bluetooth scale ($100-200) or app-connected scale
• Subscription to inventory management software ($50-150/month)
• Time for initial setup and staff training (2-4 hours)

Cost: $600-2,000 first year (equipment + subscription)
Time investment: 5-10 minutes daily after initial setup
Typical waste reduction: 35-40% within 6-12 months
ROI timeframe: Most salons break even in 3-6 months

Here's the thing about tech solutions: they're only worth it if you're actually going to use them. I've seen salons drop $2,000 on fancy systems that sit unused because the owner didn't build the habit into their workflow first. That's why I always recommend starting at Level 1 or 2—prove to yourself that you'll stick with tracking before you invest heavily.

What Are the Main Benefits of Smart Inventory Management (And the Honest Drawbacks)?

Benefits: Why This Is Worth Your Time

1. Immediate Cost Savings

Let's just start with the obvious one. Cutting waste by even 20% on a $50,000 annual color budget saves you $10,000. That's real money. Money you can see in your bank account, not just on a spreadsheet.

Rachel used her first year's savings to hire a part-time social media manager, which brought in enough new clients to pay for itself three times over. That cascade effect—where the money you save gets reinvested into growth—is the real magic.

2. Fewer "Oh Crap, We're Out" Moments

You know that sinking feeling when a stylist comes up mid-service and says, "We're out of 9A and the client is half-done"? Smart inventory management pretty much eliminates that. When you're tracking usage and setting par levels, you reorder before you hit zero. Your stylists work more confidently, clients don't experience delays, and you're not making emergency runs to the beauty supply store at 6 PM.

3. Data-Driven Pricing

Once you know your true product cost per service—not a guess, but the actual number—you can price with confidence. You can build in a reasonable product allowance (say, $8 for a root touch-up, $15 for a full highlight) and know you're covered. You can also identify which services are secretly unprofitable because you've been underpricing them.

One salon owner I know discovered her "signature balayage" was actually losing money once she factored in true product cost and time. She raised the price by $25, and you know what? Not a single client complained, because the service was still competitively priced—she'd just been undervaluing it.

4. Stylist Development and Accountability

When you track usage by stylist (in a supportive, non-punitive way), you create opportunities for coaching. You can celebrate your most efficient team members and help newer stylists learn better habits. It's not about shaming anyone—it's about giving everyone the tools to succeed.

Plus, when stylists see that their efficiency is noticed and valued, it builds pride. I've watched stylists get genuinely competitive (in a good way) about reducing their waste numbers.

5. Environmental Credibility

Like I mentioned earlier, clients care about this now. Being able to say, "We've reduced our color waste by 30% over the past year through precision formulation" is a differentiator. It's especially powerful with younger clients and in areas where eco-consciousness is high.

Drawbacks: Let's Be Real

1. It Takes Discipline

This is the big one. Any tracking system—manual or automated—only works if you actually do it consistently. It's easy to start strong and then let it slide when you get busy. I've seen it happen dozens of times. You have a crazy week, tracking falls by the wayside, and suddenly you're back to guessing.

The solution? Build it into your existing routines. Make it part of your weekly manager checklist. Assign ownership to one person (yourself or a lead stylist) who's responsible for keeping the system alive.

2. Initial Time Investment

Setting up any new system—even a simple manual one—takes time. You need to do an initial inventory count, establish your par levels, train your team, and build the habit. For the first month, expect to spend an extra 30-60 minutes per week on this.

The good news: once it's running, maintenance is minimal. But you do have to push through that initial hump.

3. Potential for Team Resistance

Some stylists will love tracking and see it as a professional challenge. Others will grumble that it's "extra work" or worry (even if you're super clear that it's not punitive) that they're being watched. You need to manage the rollout carefully—explain the why, emphasize that this helps everyone, and lead with curiosity, not criticism.

4. Upfront Cost (If You Go Tech Route)

If you jump straight to Level 3 with connected scales and software, you're looking at $600-2,000 in year-one costs. That's not nothing for a salon operating on thin margins. However, most salons break even within 3-6 months through waste reduction. Still, it's a hurdle.

That's why I advocate starting simple and scaling up once you've proven the value.

When Should You Use Smart Inventory Management? (Spoiler: Probably Right Now)

Here's my honest take: if you're spending more than $20,000 annually on color products (which most salons are), you should have some form of inventory tracking in place. Period.

You're a perfect candidate if:

• You frequently run out of popular shades unexpectedly
• You discover expired product on your shelves more than once a quarter
• You have no idea what your true product cost per service is
• Your color budget keeps increasing but you can't pinpoint why
• You're trying to improve profitability without raising prices
• You're preparing to scale (add chairs, open a second location)

You might want to start extra simple if:

• You're a solo stylist or very small salon (under 5 stylists)—manual tracking is probably enough
• Your color services are a small part of your business (under 30% of revenue)
• You're already overwhelmed with other operational challenges—start with just a weekly audit

You should probably skip this (for now) if:

• You're doing fewer than 10 color services per week—the juice might not be worth the squeeze yet
• You're about to undergo a major transition (moving locations, changing ownership)—wait until things stabilize

That said, I've yet to meet a salon owner who regretted getting better visibility into their inventory. Even if the financial impact is smaller for you, the operational calm of knowing what you have and what you need is worth something.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid With Inventory Management?

I've watched a lot of salons try to implement tracking systems, and I've seen some common pitfalls that tank the effort before it gets off the ground. Let's make sure you don't repeat them.

Mistake #1: Trying to Track Everything at Once

The fastest way to burn out on inventory management is to decide on Day 1 that you're going to track every single product in your salon—color, retail, styling products, tools, everything. That's way too much.

Start narrow. Track your top 10-15 color products (the ones you reorder constantly) and nothing else for the first month. Once that's running smoothly, expand. I promise, the discipline you build with a small set transfers easily when you're ready to scale up.

Mistake #2: Making It Punitive

If your team feels like tracking is about "catching" them wasting product, they'll resist or, worse, fudge the numbers to look better. This has to be framed as a team effort to improve the business, which benefits everyone.

Rachel made this mistake initially. She got so excited about the potential savings that she came in hot with, "We're wasting too much and we need to fix it NOW." Her stylists felt blamed and got defensive. We recalibrated with, "Hey, I want to understand our true costs so I can price better and invest more in the team—can you help me gather some data?" Totally different response.

Mistake #3: Ignoring the Data Once You Have It

Tracking for tracking's sake is pointless. If you're collecting usage data but never actually reviewing it or making decisions based on it, you're wasting your time.

Set a recurring calendar reminder—every Friday at 3 PM, or whatever works—to review your week's data. Look for patterns. Celebrate wins ("Hey Sarah, your waste is down 20% this month—nice work!"). Identify opportunities ("We're consistently running low on 7N by Thursday; let's adjust our par level").

Mistake #4: Buying Expensive Tech Before You've Proven the Habit

I said this earlier, but it's worth repeating: don't drop $1,500 on a fancy system until you've proven to yourself that you'll actually stick with tracking. Start manual. Build the habit. Then upgrade to tech that makes the habit easier, not tech that you hope will create the habit for you.

Mistake #5: Forgetting to Train New Hires

You get your system humming, everyone's on board, and then you hire a new stylist who has no idea about your tracking process. She reverts to her old habits (over-mixing, not measuring) and your waste creeps back up.

Make inventory tracking part of your onboarding. Show new hires the system on Day 1, explain why it matters, and build it into their first week's checklist.

Step-by-Step: How to Implement Smart Inventory Management (Starting Monday)

Alright, enough theory. Let's get tactical. Here's exactly how to roll this out, assuming you're starting from zero.

Week 1: Baseline Audit

Monday morning (30 minutes):

• Do a complete count of your color inventory. Write down every product and how many units you have. Yes, it's tedious. Do it anyway.
• Identify your top 10-15 products by usage (the ones you know you reorder constantly).
• Take a "before" photo of your color bar.

During the week (5 minutes daily):

• Have stylists make a simple tally mark next to each product every time they use it. A piece of paper taped to the wall works fine.

Friday afternoon (20 minutes):

• Review the tally marks. Which products moved fastest? Any surprises?
• Compare to what you thought your usage was. (You'll probably be surprised.)

Week 2-4: Introduce Measurement

Order supplies:

• Kitchen scale (digital, measures in grams)
• A few small mixing bowls with measurement marks
• A simple notebook or start a Google Sheet

Monday team meeting (15 minutes):

• Explain that you're starting to measure product usage to understand costs better. Frame it positively—"This helps us price accurately and invest more in the team."
• Show everyone how to use the scale and record data.
• Start with just one service type (e.g., root touch-ups). Measure how much you mix and how much is left over.

Daily habit:

• Stylists weigh their mixes (before) and leftovers (after) for that one service type.
• Record in the notebook: Date, stylist name, service type, amount mixed, amount used, amount wasted.

End of Week 4 (30 minutes):

• Analyze a month of data for that one service type.
• Calculate average waste per service.
• Identify who's most efficient (celebrate them!) and who might need coaching.
• Adjust standard formulas based on actual usage (e.g., if you're consistently leaving 15g, reduce your standard mix).

Month 2: Expand and Refine

• Add 2-3 more service types to your measurement routine.
• Establish par levels for your top 15 products based on actual usage data.
• Set a weekly audit day (e.g., every Monday at 9 AM) to check stock levels and reorder if needed.
• Start tracking usage by stylist (in your spreadsheet).

Month 3: Optimize and Decide on Tech

• By now, you should be seeing measurable waste reduction (15-20% is common).
• Calculate your savings so far. (It's motivating!)
• Decide if you want to upgrade to tech-assisted tracking or stick with manual. If your savings are significant and the habit is solid, tech can scale you further.
• If going tech, research options, start free trials, and pick one that integrates with your existing workflow.

Ongoing: Make It Routine

• Weekly audits become second nature (15 minutes).
• Monthly review of overall waste trends (30 minutes).
• Quarterly deep-dive: Are there any products you're consistently over-ordering? Any new waste patterns emerging?
• Annual cost-benefit analysis: How much did you save this year? Where did you reinvest it?

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

Q: What causes the most hair color waste in salons?

Over-mixing standard formulas is the biggest culprit—stylists habitually mix 40-60g per service when many clients only need 30-35g, leaving 25-40% unused. Mid-service shortages also trigger full remixes that go partially unused. Track by reweighing bowls after each service to identify and eliminate excess immediately.

Q: How much does color waste cost a typical U.S. salon annually?

At 25-40% waste on a $50,000 annual color inventory, you're losing $12,500-$20,000 yearly—equivalent to a full salary or your entire marketing budget. Salons using precision tracking average $0.88 waste per service; without it, costs run 30-40% higher, compounding across hundreds of appointments.

Q: Can I reduce salon color waste without buying expensive software?

Absolutely. Start with a $15 kitchen scale, marked mixing bowls, and a simple spreadsheet. Weekly audits of your top 10 products and training stylists to measure per-service formulas can cut waste 15-20% in three months. One salon achieved 30% reduction using just visual checks and portion control before ever touching software.

Q: What's a realistic waste reduction target for the first year?

Aim for 20-30% reduction in Year 1 with consistent tracking and training. Salons using basic manual methods hit 15-20%; those adding tech-assisted tools reach 35-40%. The key is building sustainable habits—start small, prove the process works, then scale up your tools and targets as the routine sticks.

Q: How do I get stylists on board with tracking product usage?

Frame it as a team win, not surveillance—"This helps us price accurately and invest more in you." Start by tracking just one service type, celebrate efficient stylists publicly, and use data to coach (not punish). When stylists see their individual efficiency improve and understand it benefits everyone, resistance drops fast.

Q: Should I track inventory manually or use software?

Start manual to build the habit and prove ROI—notebook, scale, and weekly audits cost under $50. Once you've sustained tracking for 2-3 months and see measurable savings, upgrade to software ($50-150/month) for automation, real-time alerts, and formula optimization. Tech amplifies discipline but won't create it.

Q: How often should I audit my salon color inventory?

Weekly visual audits (15 minutes) catch low-stock and slow-moving products before they become crises. Do a full physical count monthly to reconcile against your tracking system. Quarterly deep-dives identify seasonal patterns or emerging waste sources. Consistency matters more than perfection—pick a day and stick to it.

Q: What are salon inventory par levels and how do I set them?

Par levels are your minimum stock thresholds—when you hit that number, reorder immediately. Calculate by taking weekly usage (from tracking data) and adding a small buffer (usually 1.5-2 weeks' worth). For example, if you use 10 tubes of 8G weekly, set par at 15-20 tubes to avoid stockouts.

Q: Does color waste really affect salon profitability?

Yes—untracked $0.88/service waste erodes margins silently across hundreds of appointments. When you don't know true product costs, you either underprice (losing money per service) or overprice (losing clients). Accurate tracking lets you build realistic product allowances into pricing, protecting margins while staying competitive.

Q: What inventory mistakes do new salon owners make most often?

Bulk-buying slow movers "on sale" ties up cash and leads to expirations. Skipping par levels causes constant stockouts and emergency orders at higher prices. Tracking everything at once overwhelms—start with your top 15 products. And forgetting to train new hires on your system lets waste creep back in quickly.

Bringing It All Together: Your Next Steps

Look, I get it. You opened a salon because you love making people feel beautiful, not because you wanted to become an inventory analyst. The thought of weighing bowls and tracking spreadsheets probably sounds about as fun as doing your taxes.

But here's what I've learned from watching dozens of salon owners go through this process: once you start seeing the numbers—once you realize you're saving $1,000, $2,000, $5,000 a month—it stops feeling like busywork and starts feeling like power. You're taking control of a part of your business that's been quietly draining resources for years.

Rachel, the friend I mentioned at the beginning? She's 18 months into her inventory journey now. She started with a notebook and a $15 scale. Six months in, she upgraded to a connected scale and simple app. Her color waste is down 32%, she's saved over $24,000, and—this is the part that makes her happiest—she hasn't had a single "we're out of X" emergency in four months. Her stylists are calmer, her clients don't experience delays, and she just hired a second social media manager with the savings.

She's not special. She's not more organized than you or more tech-savvy. She just decided to start.

Here's what I want you to do this week:

If you're completely new to tracking:

• Spend 30 minutes doing a baseline count of your top 15 color products
• Tape a piece of paper to the wall and have stylists tally their usage for one week
• Review the data next Friday and identify your fastest-moving products

If you've tried tracking before but it didn't stick:

• Figure out what killed it last time (too complicated? no time? team resistance?)
• Pick the simplest version you can sustain—even if it's just a weekly visual audit
• Set a recurring calendar reminder so it doesn't fall through the cracks

If you're ready to go all-in:

• Order a kitchen scale and marked bowls today
• Set up a simple Google Sheet to track usage by service type and stylist
• Schedule a 15-minute team meeting next week to explain the process and why it matters

You don't need to be perfect. You don't need to track everything. You just need to start measuring something so you can stop guessing.

And if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the operational pieces of running a salon—inventory, scheduling, client communication, staff management—you're not alone. A lot of owners I talk to are juggling too many disconnected systems and it's exhausting. That's actually where tools like DINGG come in handy. It's designed specifically for U.S. salons and spas to bring all those pieces together—automated booking, client reminders, staff scheduling, and yes, inventory tracking—into one place that actually makes sense. It won't do the work for you, but it can make the work a whole lot easier once you've built the tracking habit.

The hidden 15% leak (or 25%, or 40%—whatever your number is) has been quietly stealing from your business for years. You can't fix what you can't see. But once you shine a light on it? You'll wonder why you waited so long.

Start small. Start Monday. Start somewhere.