Your Profile: Get Seen, Get Booked

Your ESA profile is your digital portfolio and public talent listing. It shows your bio, real work, skills and experience, so salons can find you, judge your work and contact you directly.

Your profile is the first thing a salon sees before they ever meet you. Here's how to set it up so it works for you, how discovery works behind the scenes, and how to use ESA's jobs, network and events to move your career forward.

Build a profile that sells your work

Think of it as a LinkedIn page built for beauty professionals. It includes:

  • Bio: your story, your specialties and what makes your work yours.

  • Portfolio images: real photos of your own work, never stock images.

  • Skills: the specific techniques you're strong in, such as balayage, keratin, bridal HD makeup, nail extensions or precision men's cuts.

  • Experience: where you've worked, your role, and any training or certifications.

Salons look at these details before deciding to reach out. A profile with a clear bio, recent photos and specific skills gives them far more reason to contact you than an empty one.

Tips for a stronger profile:

  • Show range and your speciality: for example, two bridal looks, two colour transformations and one everyday style.

  • Keep it current: add new work every month or two. Salons notice when photos are out of date.

  • Use before-and-after shots, with the client's permission.

  • Name your products and techniques where you can, such as "Olaplex treatment" or "airbrush makeup". Salons often search for exact skills.

How you get found

Once your profile is complete, you're listed automatically in ESA's public Talent Directory, which can be searched by city, state and skill. Salons looking for your speciality in your area can find you without you doing anything.

Your public profile page is also your shareable link. Put it in your Instagram bio, add it to your WhatsApp Business profile, or send it to a salon you'd like to work with.

How search ranking works
When someone searches the Talent Directory, results appear in this order:

  1. Premium talent profiles first.

  2. Everyone else, ordered by rating.

If you're not on a premium plan, a complete, well-reviewed profile is your best way to rank higher. If you rely on salons finding you, rather than applying for jobs yourself, upgrading to a premium profile is the direct way to reach the top.

Find and apply for jobs

You don't have to wait to be discovered. Salons post openings on ESA Jobs, and you can browse roles by state and city.

  • Check new listings regularly, especially before the wedding and festive seasons, when salons hire quickly.

  • Apply with your profile: your portfolio and skills do the talking.

  • Apply only for roles that match your skills, and add a short note about why you'd suit that salon.

[Confirm how applications work on ESA, for example whether you apply in one click or contact the salon directly, and add that here.]

Network: build relationships, not just a profile

ESA's Find Network lets you connect with salons and other professionals, much as you would on a professional network:

  • Send and receive connection requests with salons.

  • Let your portfolio pitch for you. When a salon views your profile, your work makes the case.

A good approach: pick 3–5 salons you'd genuinely like to work with, and send each a connection request with a short, specific note. For example: "I specialise in bridal HD makeup and love your salon's bridal work. I'd be glad to do a trial if you're hiring for the wedding season." A tailored message gets a much better response than a generic one.

Keep learning with ESA Events

Salons want people who keep their skills current. Use ESA Events to find workshops, masterclasses and industry meetups near you. Once you've completed a course, add the new skill and some photos of the work to your profile.

Quick checklist

  • Bio written and up to date

  • At least 4–6 strong, recent portfolio images

  • Specific skills listed (not just "hairstylist")

  • Experience and training filled in

  • Profile link added to your Instagram bio

  • Applied to at least one relevant job on ESA Jobs

  • Sent at least one personalised connection request to a salon

  • Checked ESA Events for a workshop in your city

Ready to get discovered? Create or update your talent profile at elitesalonalliance.com.