Bookings
Booking an Appointment Online
How to book an appointment with OpenChair, choose a service, pick a time, pay any deposit, and complete required consultation forms after confirmation.
Last updated 17 August 2026
Book an appointment with your favourite salon or barbershop in just a few taps, choose a service, pick a time, and confirm your booking without needing to call.
TL;DR
- No account needed, provide your name and phone number to book
- Some venues review bookings manually; your booking will show as pending until approved
- Visible booking policies are shown before you confirm; some venues require you to acknowledge them
- Review and payment show one breakdown for the appointment total, amount due today, and amount to pay later
- Most common mistake: not checking SMS or the spam folder if you added an email address
- The confirmation is sent immediately after the venue accepts or confirms the booking
Overview
Online booking lets you:
- Browse available services with prices, durations, and example photos
- Choose a specific stylist or book with any available professional
- See real-time availability and pick a time that suits you
- Pay a deposit securely by card if the venue requires one
- Receive an instant confirmation (or a request acknowledgement if the venue reviews bookings first)
- Opt in to be notified if an earlier time opens up
No account required
You don't need an OpenChair account to book. Just hit the storefront URL and start booking - name, phone, and optional email, done.
Every booking generates a signed magic-link that can be sent by SMS and, if you provide an email address, email. The link is signed with HMAC and bound to your specific booking, so anyone who has the link can:
- See the booking details
- Reschedule (subject to the venue's policy)
- Cancel (subject to the venue's policy)
- Add a saved card on file
- Accept counter-offers
- Opt in to earlier availability
The link doesn't expire - it stays valid for the lifetime of the booking (cancelled / completed bookings naturally retire the link). No password to remember, no account to manage.
See Manage Your Booking for the full management surface.
Before You Begin
To book online, you need:
- The venue's booking link (e.g., openchairpro.com/[venue-name])
- A phone number
- An email address if you want email confirmations or receipts
No account or sign-up is required. You provide your details during the booking process.
Step 1: Choose a Service
When you open the venue's booking page, you will see a list of available services.
- Use the category buttons at the top to filter by type (e.g., "All", "Cutting", "Colouring", "Treatments")
- Each service card shows:
- Service name
- Description (if provided)
- Price (or price range, e.g., "$65 to $95")
- Duration (e.g., "60 min")
- Deposit notice (if applicable, e.g., "$50 deposit · due now" or "$50 deposit · card held, pay at appointment")
- Tap or click a service to select it
- If the service has example photos, a thumbnail strip appears below the card, tap a thumbnail to toggle between the before and after views
- Tap Continue to proceed
Tip
Not sure which service you need? Some venues offer Style Match: an AI-powered tool that recommends services based on a photo of your hair. Look for the "Not sure what you need? Try Style Match" prompt.
Booking Options
After selecting your main service, you may see a "Personalise" screen with optional or required booking options (e.g., a finish, conditioning treatment, or toner). Each option shows its price and extra time. Optional services can be skipped; required choices must be selected before available times are shown.
Some services do not open the time picker immediately. If the venue has set the service to Consultation first or Quote request, the service card shows Start consultation or Request a quote and asks you to send details before the venue recommends the next step.
Step 2: Pick a Time
Choosing a Staff Member
If the venue has multiple staff members, you will see a row of names at the top of the screen. Tap a name to see only their availability, or tap "Any" to see all available times across the team.
For solo-operator venues (one stylist), this step is skipped automatically.
Some multi-service bookings can also show Sooner with the team at [time] and Book team option. This means the venue can split the appointment across qualified team members to offer a valid earlier time.
Choosing a Resource or Resource Type
Some venues let you book a room, chair, machine, pool, or other bookable resource. If staff are not required for the service, the staff step is skipped and OpenChair shows times based on the available resource capacity.
Depending on how the venue has configured the service, you may see:
- Any available: the venue assigns a suitable resource automatically
- Resource type: choose a type such as a room or pool category while keeping the widest availability
- Resource: choose a specific public option, shown with the venue's customer-facing name, capacity copy, and booking instructions
Internal resource names are not shown unless the venue has created a public resource profile for that option.
Some resources are available only to eligible members. If you are not signed in, OpenChair keeps those resources hidden and lets you continue with public options. If you sign in and your membership applies, eligible member-only options can appear without restarting the booking.
Choosing a Date
A horizontal date selector shows the next 90 days. Dates with available times are marked with a green dot. Tap a date to see available time slots.
Choosing a Time
Available times appear in a grid (e.g., "9:00 AM", "9:30 AM", "10:00 AM"). Tap the time you want, the booking moves to the next step immediately.
When you select a time, OpenChair creates a short hold for that slot. The hold lasts 10 minutes while you enter details and pay any required deposit. If you change the selected time, OpenChair releases the old hold and creates a new one for the new time.
The hold covers the staff member, selected resource or resource type, booking location, party size, and any split-staff plan needed for the services. If another customer confirms the same capacity first, you may see "This slot was just taken. Please choose another."
If no times are available on your selected date:
- A message appears: "No availability on this day"
- Tap "Find next available day" to jump to the nearest date with open slots
Fully Booked?
If the venue is fully booked across all dates, you can join the waitlist. A form appears where you provide your name, email, date preferences, and time preference ("Any time", "Morning", "Afternoon", or "Evening"). The venue will notify you when a matching slot opens up.
Step 3: Enter Your Details
You will be asked for your contact details:
| Field | Required | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yes | Jane Smith |
| Phone number | Yes | 0400 000 000 (AU) / 07700 900000 (GB) / 021 000 0000 (NZ) |
| Email address | No | jane@example.com |
Below the form, an optional checkbox lets you opt in to receive promotional offers and updates by SMS. Appointment-related SMS (confirmations and reminders) are always sent regardless of this setting.
After entering your details, tap Review booking. OpenChair confirms the price, any offer or discount, and whether a deposit or saved card is required before showing the next action.
Step 4: Pay Your Deposit (If Required)
Some venues require a deposit to secure your booking. If a deposit applies, the payment screen shows:
- Appointment total: the total after an eligible offer or discount
- Due today: the deposit charged now
- Pay later: the balance due at the appointment
An applied storefront offer appears in the same financial summary. Percentage deposits are calculated from the discounted appointment total. For example, a $310 service with a 99% offer becomes $3.10, with a $0.62 deposit due today and $2.48 to pay later when the venue uses a 20% deposit.
Enter your card details using the secure payment form. Apple Pay and Google Pay are also available where supported.
If the venue uses no-show card protection, the screen says No payment today and the action is Add card to secure booking. The card is saved with your consent, but no payment is taken and the full appointment total remains due later.
Cancellation Policy
Expand the "Deposit details" section to see the venue's cancellation and refund policy before paying. This may include:
- A free cancellation window (e.g., "Free cancellation up to 48 hours before")
- What happens if you cancel inside the window (deposit kept, partial refund, or store credit)
Gift Cards
If you have a gift card, tap "Have a gift card?" to expand the gift card field. Enter your code and tap "Redeem". The applied amount is deducted from your deposit.
Packages and Memberships
If you have an existing package or membership, the review/payment step may show whether it can help pay for the selected service. Before you sign in, this stays generic. After identity is confirmed, OpenChair shows exact applicability only when the venue's package or membership rules can verify it.
International Card Surcharge
If you are using a card issued outside the venue's country (e.g., a US card at an Australian venue), a surcharge notice may appear:
- "International card detected"
- A breakdown showing the service total, the international fee (e.g., "+2.5%"), and the total you will be charged
- Tap "Confirm and pay" to proceed, or "Use a different card" to enter a local card instead
Step 5: Review and Confirm
Before your booking is finalised, you will see a summary:
- Service name(s) and total duration
- Date and time of your appointment
- Staff member (or "Any Professional" if you chose any available)
- Price and deposit breakdown (if applicable)
- Booking policies that apply to this appointment, if the venue has made them visible
Patch Test Notice
If the service requires a patch test (e.g., hair colour), a notice appears asking:
- "Yes. I've had a patch test within the valid period"
- "No / I'm not sure"
If you select "No / I'm not sure", a reminder appears after confirmation: "A patch test is required before your appointment for one or more booked services. Please contact the venue if you haven't completed one yet."
Booking Policies
Some venues show booking policies at review. These can include cancellation, rescheduling, no-show, late-arrival, deposit refund, before-visit, or venue-specific notes.
If the venue requires acknowledgement, you must tick "I've read and agree to the booking policies." before confirming. Deposit or saved-card consent appears separately when a deposit or no-show card rule applies.
OpenChair also shows the legal documents required for the booking action. If the policy or legal content cannot load, Reload terms appears and confirmation remains unavailable until the content loads successfully.
Optional Extras
Some venues allow you to:
- Upload an inspiration photo: share a photo of the style you would like (tap "Choose a photo" to select from your device)
- Consent to portfolio photography: agree to let the venue photograph your results for their gallery
Tap "Confirm booking" to complete your appointment.
The booking panel uses headings such as Choose services, Pick a time, Your details, Payment, and Review your booking instead of a numeric step count. Each button names its next action, such as Review booking, Continue to payment, or Confirm booking.
Required Consultation Forms
If any selected service has a required consultation form, the review step shows Forms required before your visit and explains that you will book first, then complete the form before the appointment. The form does not extend the 10-minute hold or block the booking from being confirmed.
What Happens After Booking
Instant Confirmation
Most venues confirm bookings instantly. You will see:
- A green checkmark and the heading "Booked: [Service] with [Staff], [Day] [Time]"
- "A confirmation has been sent" by SMS and, if you added an email address, email
- Payment summary (if a deposit was paid): "Your deposit of $[amount] has been received. The remaining $[amount] is due at your appointment."
- If no deposit: "Nothing is due today. You'll pay at your appointment."
- A booking reference code (e.g., "A1B2C3D4")
Request Pending Approval
Some venues review bookings before confirming. In this case, you will see:
- A clock icon and the heading "Request sent: [Service] with [Staff], [Day] [Time]"
- "Your request has been sent to [venue] for review." You'll receive a message once it's confirmed or if the venue suggests an alternative time.
- "The venue aims to respond within [X] hours." If that response window passes, the request stays pending and the venue can still approve it, offer another time, or decline.
The venue may approve your request, suggest alternative times, or decline it. You will be notified by email and/or SMS in each case.
After Confirmation
From the confirmation screen you can:
- Complete form now: opens each required consultation form in turn after the booking is confirmed
- I'll do this later: keeps the booking confirmed and leaves the form in Manage Booking and My Bookings
- Add to Calendar: downloads an
.icscalendar file with the appointment details - Done: closes the booking panel
If you start a form but cannot finish it, choose Save and finish later. Your draft remains unsigned and can be resumed from the secure Manage Booking link or My Bookings. Submitting the final form signs it; deferring or saving a draft never cancels the appointment.
If your card was saved during payment, a notice confirms: "Card saved for future appointments" with your card type and last four digits.
Earlier Availability Notifications
If your booking is 14 or more days away, you may see a prompt after confirmation:
"Want us to let you know if an earlier spot opens up?"
You can set your preferences:
- Staff preference: your booked stylist only, or any available staff member
- Time preference: "Any time", "Morning", "Afternoon", or "Evening"
Tap "Notify me" to opt in. If an earlier slot opens up, the venue will contact you. Your original booking remains confirmed either way.
You can also opt in later using the link in your confirmation message.
Managing Your Booking
After booking, you will receive an SMS and, if you added an email address, an email with a link to manage your appointment. From this link you can:
- View your booking details
- Reschedule to a different time (subject to the venue's notice period policy)
- Cancel your booking (subject to the venue's cancellation policy)
- Accept or decline counter-offers if the venue suggests alternative times
- Complete or resume required consultation forms
No login is required, the manage link is unique and secure.
Counter-Offers
If your booking requires approval and the venue cannot accommodate your requested time, they may suggest up to 3 alternative time slots. You will receive a message with the offered times. Each slot shows the date, time, and staff member, with an "Accept This Time" button.
- Tap "Accept This Time" on your preferred slot, the booking is confirmed at the new time
- Tap "No Thanks, Cancel Request" to decline all offers and cancel your request
- If you do not respond before the deadline (typically 24 hours), the offer expires and any deposit is refunded
Reconfirmation Messages
Some venues send a "Can you still make it?" message before your appointment (typically 24 to 72 hours before). This is a reminder to confirm your attendance, tap the confirmation link in the message to let the venue know you will be there.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| No time slots available on any date | The venue may be fully booked. Join the waitlist to be notified when a slot opens, or try selecting a different staff member or "Any". |
| "That time was just taken" error | Another customer booked the same slot. The calendar reloads, pick a different available time. |
| "Your held slot expired" error | The 10-minute hold expired before the booking was confirmed. Choose the same time again if it is still available, or pick another slot. |
| Policies or terms did not load | Select Reload terms. You cannot confirm until the required policy and legal content is available. |
| Deposit payment failed | Check your card details and try again. If using an international card, a small surcharge may apply. Try a locally issued card if the surcharge is unexpected. |
| Did not receive confirmation | Check your SMS messages. If you added an email address, check your spam or junk folder too. |
| Cannot reschedule or cancel | The venue's cancellation policy may restrict self-service changes inside a notice window (e.g., within 24 hours of the appointment). Contact the venue directly. |
| Counter-offer expired | The offer had a time limit (usually 24 hours). Contact the venue directly to rebook. |
| Patch test warning after booking | Some services (e.g., hair colour) require a skin patch test beforehand. Contact the venue to arrange one before your appointment. |
| Gift card code not accepted | Check the code is entered correctly and has a remaining balance. Gift cards are venue-specific and cannot be used at other locations. |
FAQ
How do I book an appointment online?
Open the venue's booking link, choose a service, pick a date and time, enter your name and phone number, add an email address if you want email confirmations, pay any required deposit, and tap Confirm booking. You will receive a confirmation message after the booking is accepted or confirmed.
Do I need an account to book online?
No. No account or sign-up is required. You provide your name and phone number during the booking process, with email optional for email confirmations and receipts. These details are used to send you confirmations and reminders.
What happens if the venue is fully booked?
You can join the waitlist. Enter your name, email, service preference, and time preference (Any time, Morning, Afternoon, or Evening). The venue will contact you when a matching slot opens up. Your original waitlist request remains until you book or cancel.
What is a counter-offer?
If a venue reviews bookings manually and cannot do your requested time, they may suggest up to 3 alternative slots. You receive a message with an Accept This Time button for each offered slot. If you do not respond within 24 hours, the offer expires and any deposit is refunded.
How long is my selected time held?
When you select a time, OpenChair holds that slot for 10 minutes while you finish the booking. If the hold expires before confirmation, choose the time again if it is still available or pick another available slot.