Is a cancellation policy necessary?

If you’ve ever worked behind the chair, you already know this feeling.

You’re standing there, coffee in hand, station clean, color mixed… and then you check your phone.

“Hey, I’m so sorry, I totally forgot , I can’t make it today!”

Or worse, nothing at all. Just a no-show.

For a long time, I told myself it was just part of the job. Life happens. People get sick. Schedules change. I didn’t want to seem strict, or rude, or “not chill.” I wanted to be the stylist people felt comfortable with, the one who was understanding.

But what I wasn’t being was understanding to my business.

Here’s the part people don’t always realize: when a client doesn’t show up or cancels last minute, it’s not just an empty chair. It’s lost income that I can’t get back. That appointment slot was blocked off. I could have booked someone else. I still showed up. I still paid overhead. I still lost the time.

And when it happens once in a while? Fine. When it starts happening regularly? That’s when it hits hard.

I found myself stressing over my schedule, over my bills, over whether I was doing something wrong. I’d stay late on busy days to make up for it, or overbook myself just in case someone didn’t show — which is exhausting and honestly not fair to anyone.

Eventually, I had to be real with myself: I wasn’t setting boundaries. And because of that, my business was paying the price.

So I implemented a 24-hour cancellation policy.

Not because I’m mean.
Not because I don’t care.
But because this is my livelihood.

I was nervous at first. I worried clients would be upset or think I’d changed. But what actually happened surprised me.

Most people completely understood.

Some even said, “Honestly, that makes sense.”
Appointments became more intentional.
People showed up on time.
My schedule felt… calmer.

And the rare times someone does need to cancel last minute? I still handle it with empathy. The policy isn’t about punishment — it’s about respect. Respect for my time, my skill, and the fact that this is how I pay my bills.

The biggest change, though, wasn’t financial (even though yes, that improved). It was mental.

I stopped feeling resentful.
I stopped dreading certain appointments.
I stopped over-explaining or apologizing for having boundaries.

Implementing a cancellation policy taught me something important: being professional doesn’t mean being cold, and being kind doesn’t mean being taken advantage of.

I still care deeply about my clients. I still love what I do. I just love it with boundaries now.

If you’re a stylist who’s been on the fence about this, let this be your permission slip. You’re not wrong for protecting your business. You’re not “ungrateful.” You’re running a career, not a hobby.

And trust me: the right clients will understand.