GET ME

Curating an app to get your hair needs taken care of the first time.

Overview

Summary:

We created a mobile app that filters the user’s individual needs for their hair care/hair type using a self-taking quiz, that will curate salons and stylists near them that can take care of their individual needs.

Problems:

Unfortunately, many salons don’t know how to handle hair that is over roughly 3A type hair (curly-coily hair). It’s also hard to find salons in big cities that are reliable. Finally, we are addressing the lack of trust between the client and the stylist.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Sole UX/UI Designer on the project

Independent project- research, develop, test, and iterate an App

Audience:

Age range 17-55

20 respondents

Pulled from viewers of an Instagram and Reddit public post who took my google forms survey.

The Process

Information Architecture

Conducted research using surveys and completed a SWOT analysis using an app that is similar to the one developing in this project. After this, we created user stories, user personas, and user interviews to further develop the app and get a better understanding of what users wanted.

Competitive Analysis

Strengths:

  • The UI is strong on the home pages of the app
  • The selection of services is done really well.
  • App is well-informed about the variety of clients.

Weaknesses:

  • Clear website adaptation rather than an app
  • Search bar feature needs work. Very messy, and can look better.
  • Information heavy when introducing a salon or stylist.

Threats:

  • Really well built out.
  • Popular and unique, will need to compensate in marketing my own app.
  • Much more information on their side of the tracks

Opportunities:

  • The app needs a lot of simplifying.
  • Implementing a "quiz" style to make more of an experience for the user
  • Make the filter bar simple and easy to read.

STYLE SEAT

User Survey

Over half of the users wanted to have access to the people/places that specialize in their particular hair type. This allows people to feel more confident in who they are going to and creates an easier way to have a more refined search for the user.

Almost the entirety of users wishes to see a salon/individual’s portfolio before booking. This is what happens in job searches, and makes sense to include it when booking hair appointments as well. It makes the client more confident in booking and gives the salon/individuals a chance to show their skills to browsing clients.

The majority of users express that trust between them and the stylist is the most recurring issue that they experience when going to get their hair done. Hopefully, the development of this app will help dwindle down that number.

Key Takeaways:

  • The most common theme that is being shown by users, is trust in the stylists. This can cause hesitation and frustration among clients when looking for an appointment.

  • There isn’t a commonplace that advertises multiple stylists’ talents and this causes much more work on the client’s part to locate the right place and people for them.

  • Clients need access to more information when booking an appointment for their own personal hair needs. Things such as portfolios, and the ability to view what hair type range an individual can handle can filter their search exponentially.

User Personas

User Stories

"As a client, I want to be able to walk into my appointment, knowing my stylist can handle my hair type."

"As a client, I need an easy way to scan all hairstylists near me, and see what they offer to make a calculated choice the first time I walk into an appointment."

User Interviews

User 1: Ashley Stevens | Female | 24 | 1c Hair (straight)

User 2: Anya Thorn | Female | 25 | 4a Hair (coily)

What do you feel could make your experience regarding your appointments easier or better for you personally?

User 1: Aside from the price getting lowered, the drive to my salon is 45 minutes away when there's traffic, it feels like a whole day process when I get my hair done.

User 2: I love my stylist, she’s the best. But I wish I could’ve found her earlier, I found her Instagram about a year ago. It could’ve saved me a lot of frustration.

How did you find your salon/stylist?

User 1: I asked my friend for a reference, she happened to have one that I ended up loving too

User 2: I found mine on Instagram, she advertises her services there.

Key Takeaways:

  • Due to the lack of platforms for stylists asides from Instagram, leads people to work off of referrals and have to drive out far to a new stylist. Though the client might be satisfied with their current stylist, there isn’t incentive or motive to look through stylists in closer proximity for the client.

  • Many stylists market themselves off of Instagram, and though this can be effective, an app dedicated to stylists and salons would make a more constructed way of finding stylists near you.

Creation Stage

Here we will dive into the user flow, site map, wireframes, and style guides.

Key Takeaway:

For the user flow and sitemap, it has a simple guide map. The main focus will begin on the quiz at the beginning of the app to curate stylists/salons near you. There is an easy navigation system to work in bookings and overview the portfolios of stylists nearby.

Styling

Key Takeaways:

The brand personality for this app is all centered around neutrals. Most inspiration was taken from people around the world. The different hair textures, colors, lengths, and styles took over the board and we wanted to work with the neutrals of the world. This app is very personal and individualized, so we wanted an app that reflected the same morals. The app is clean and simple, we wanted it to be effortless for the user and make the process of their experience enjoyable and painless.

Sketching and Wireframes

Wireframes

Sketches

Iterations through User Testing

A small change was suggested here. We added an Instagram hyperlink for stylists and salons to include their social media to navigate to for the clients. Many people have already created a huge following or have more photos than possible to include in the app, so adding in the hyperlink will give the best of both worlds.

Upon user testing, it was suggested to include a filter feature AFTER the quiz has been completed. The user should be able to have free reign of the filters even after going through the quiz, without having to actually retake the quiz. The quiz is important but mainly plays to the user experience of it all.

After user testing, I got another suggestion to include a favorites tab on the home page of the app. Once you book an appointment with a stylist, you have the option to favorite your selection so in the future you are able to have easy access to your previous stylist that you have already had a connection with. The app will shift to a reliable save and communication point between you and your stylist.

Final Cuts

Jump into the full clickable prototype below

Key Takeaways

  • One of the main takeaways is the acknowledgment that this app will be a partner app with the app from the stylist's point of view. Something similar to a “Tasker” and “Taskrabbit” situation.

  • Seeing this problem from a first and second-hand experience, I can’t change that cosmetology schools don’t work on all types of hair, but I hope this app can help manage that issue.

  • Creating a platform for stylists to work and market themselves on can give clients one app to really put their all into and give people access to one point of contact for all stylists out there.