Booking & Payments Glossary

Booking Deposit

An upfront payment collected at the time of booking to secure an appointment — protects businesses from no-shows and late cancellations.

BIAB Nails

A builder gel applied directly over natural nails — more flexible than acrylic and popular with nail technicians looking to offer a gentler, long-lasting enhancement.

Nail Infill

A maintenance appointment where a nail technician fills in the gap between an existing nail extension and the cuticle — typically booked every two to four weeks.

Acrylic Full Set

An initial nail appointment where acrylic is applied to all ten nails from scratch — longer and higher-value than a routine infill appointment.

Skin Fade

A haircut where the hair is tapered down to skin level at the sides and back — one of the most consistently requested styles in UK barber shops.

Beard Trim

A barbering service where facial hair is shaped, outlined, and cut to a consistent length — often booked as an add-on to a haircut appointment.

Barber Deposit

An upfront payment collected by a barber when a client books — protects against no-shows and is especially common for longer appointments or group bookings.

Balayage

A freehand colour technique where tones are painted onto the hair to create a natural, grown-out gradient — typically a long, high-value hairdressing appointment.

Colour Appointment

A hairdressing service focused on changing or enhancing hair colour — covers tints, highlights, balayage, toners, and glosses.

Hair Consultation

A short meeting between hairdresser and client to discuss style goals and assess hair condition before a significant cut or colour appointment.

No-Show Protection

The process of reducing financial loss from customers who book an appointment and don't show up — usually achieved through upfront payment.

Booking Website

A public-facing page where customers can view services, check availability, book an appointment, and pay — without contacting the business directly.

Cancellation Window

The minimum notice period a customer must give to cancel an appointment before a penalty, fee, or deposit forfeit applies.

Cancellation Policy

The rules a business sets for how much notice a customer must give to cancel an appointment and whether a refund or credit applies.

No-Show Policy

Rules that define what happens when a customer fails to attend a booked appointment without giving adequate advance notice.

Booking Link

A shareable URL that takes a customer directly to a business's booking page to view available times and book an appointment without back-and-forth.

Credit Pack

A bundle of appointment credits purchased upfront — customers use credits automatically when booking, and the business can track what's remaining.

Online Booking

The process by which customers book appointments through a digital system rather than by messaging, calling, or visiting a business in person.

Payment Link

A URL that takes a customer to a payment page where they can pay for an appointment or pack online, without the business issuing a manual invoice.