I was running late for a friend's birthday celebration, I was so swamped with work that I didn't have time to fix myself for the event. Salons nearby were starting to close and I was so close to just winging it, showing up at my friend's celebration with my messy bun, uneven winged eyeliner, and unfilled brows. Imagine the horror! Thankfully, an officemate of mine suggested to try Salons In The Loop. It's a website that finds beauty professionals that service clients anywhere and anytime - plus, clients can get these services at an affordable price because they can name their own price! It was a lifesaver. It made me look like a complete 100 from a meager 10 in just minutes without me breaking the bank.

So, how does it work? For professionals, they simply need to sign up and apply through the website. It doesn't matter if you have your own salon space or you're a freelance stylist and only offer home or event services, Salons In The Loop caters to each and every professional and bridges everyone into creating an online community. Just set up an account and input all the possible locations you can possibly reach and service. By signing up, professionals have the option to put their status on “online” mode anytime and anywhere to receive work on a need basis. To start receiving requests, an online/offline feature allows professionals to receive notifications where they can reply and accept requests from nearby clients who are using the website as well. An online status will signal a green light for the clients to identify the professional that will receive the request at the client’s given time.

Salons In The Loop aims to attract more clientele through the "Name My Own Price" feature of their website - even I was enticed to try it! Clients won't have to go through the hassle of lining up and waiting for their turn at a salon when they're in a hurry. They can just sign up on the Salons In The Loop website, select the "Name My Own Price" feature, complete the form with their desired date, time, service description, and upload photos for more reference. After specifying the service and the look that they want to go for, clients will have to name their own price, prepay it online, and submit to the desired area professionals. Online professionals will respond to the client's request and from there, client can choose the professional that they'd like to work with and book the request. The whole process took me just a couple of minutes; just make sure that you already have all the details needed as well as your servicing address if you prefer having your service in the comfort of your own home instead of having it inside a salon, so all you have to do is fill out the form found on the website. In minutes, your desired professional will be on his/her way to you!

Overall, I can say that it was a breeze going through the sign up process, booking a professional, and the actual service which I paid at my own price. The service was even better than what a regular salon would offer. Salons In The Loop is such a life and look saver. Now, I won't have to line up at salons, show up at events like I've just gotten out of bed, or dash my way to the salon and hope I catch it before it closes. With Salons In The Loop, I can look from drab to fab at my own time, at my own place, and at my own price.