Three levels of availability
A salon's availability is written on three levels. The first is recurrence: the normal hours for each day of the week, which rarely change. The second is the exception: a midweek closure, an extraordinary opening, a day on reduced hours.
The third level is individual blocks: someone in training, an hour set aside for a supplier, an absence. These don't close the salon, they close one resource, and confusing them with general closures is the mistake that leaves the calendar more open than it should be.
When all three levels genuinely exist, holidays become a two-minute job: you enter an exception over the period and public availability stops offering those days. When they don't, holidays become a day spent cancelling slots by hand.
Where mistakes happen most
The chart is qualitative and shows how often each situation causes problems.
Three levels, three tools
The table links each situation to the right way of handling it.
| Situation | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Normal weekly hours | Recurrence | The base of availability |
| Midweek closure | Exception | Closes the whole salon |
| Holidays or a long period | Exception over a period | Closes the whole salon |
| One person absent | Block on the resource | Closes only that diary |
How to set them
Define the recurrences
The normal hours for each day.
Add the exceptions
Closures, reduced hours, extraordinary openings.
Use blocks for people
Absences and individual commitments.
Enter holidays early
Before anyone books inside them.
To keep an eye on
- Enter closures before announcing them.
- Separate individual absences from salon closures.
- Check how far ahead people can book before holidays.
The setting almost everyone forgets is how far into the future people can book. If it's six months and the holidays aren't in yet, somebody will book inside them: the appointment will be legitimate and cancelling it will be down to the salon.
Individual absences should stay separate from general closures for a practical reason too: one person away shouldn't close the salon, and if the only available tool is a full closure you end up losing whole days of everyone else's work.
Recurrences, exceptions and blocks
The Saloria calendar handles recurring availability for each professional, exceptions for closures and extraordinary hours, and individual blocks for absences and commitments. The salon also sets the minimum notice and how many days ahead people can book, so holidays entered in time are never offered online.
Frequently asked questions
How do I handle holidays without cancelling appointments?
By entering the exception over the period before those days become bookable: it depends on how far ahead you accept bookings.
Does one colleague's absence close the salon?
No. It's handled as a block on that resource, not as a general closure, or you lose everyone else's days.
What if someone has already booked on a closing day?
You contact her and offer two concrete alternatives. To avoid it, the closure goes in before it's announced.