Your First Consultation

This guide walks you through a complete in-chair consultation from start to finish: selecting a client, confirming consent, uploading a photo, defining a style, generating a preview, and saving the result.

If this is your first time using SalonVision AI, read Getting Started first to ensure your profile is set up.

Before You Begin

Three things must be in place before the Visualizer will allow you to generate:

1. A client must be selected or created
2. Consent must be confirmed for that client
3. A portrait photo must be uploaded

The Visualizer enforces this order. Upload and generation controls are locked until each prerequisite is met.

Step 1: Select or Create a Client

Open the Visualizer from the main navigation. The first section requires you to identify which client this consultation is for.

To select an existing client:

1. Click the client dropdown in the Visualizer.
2. Search by name or scroll to find the correct client.
3. Select them. Their name will appear as the active client for this session.

To create a new client inline:

1. Click Create Client from the dropdown.
2. Enter their first name (required) and last name.
3. Optionally add notes and tags.
4. Click Save. The new client is immediately set as the active client.

Why this step matters: Every look you generate, every note you add, and every consultation report you run is saved under the active client. Selecting the wrong client here means their history lands in the wrong record. Confirm the name shown before proceeding.

Step 2: Review and Confirm Consent

With a client selected, the consent section becomes available. This step must be completed before photo upload and generation are unlocked.

1. Open the consent notice.
2. Review the language with your client. It explains what their photo will be used for and how it is stored.
3. Confirm consent. The system records this confirmation and creates a consultation session tied to this client.

How long does consent last? The consultation session stays active for 48 hours. If you return to the same client within that window, you do not need to re-confirm consent. If the session has expired, or if you switch to a different client, consent must be confirmed again.

Where can my client review the full privacy notice? Direct them to salonvision.ai/client-consent. This page is publicly accessible and written in plain language for clients, not stylists.

Step 3: Add a Portrait Photo

Once consent is confirmed, photo upload controls become available. Choose the method that fits your setup.

For best generation results:

• Use a clear, front-facing photo
• Even, natural lighting with no harsh shadows across the face
• Neutral or plain background where possible
• No sunglasses or heavy accessories obscuring the hairline
• The client's current hair should be visible and not pinned up or covered

Gallery source labels: When selecting from the gallery, each image is labeled by source type to help you identify the right photo:

• Uploaded -- a photo you or the client added directly
• Generated -- an AI preview image from a previous session
• Final -- a real post-appointment photo you added to complete a look record

Use an Uploaded source image as your portrait baseline. Generated images are not suitable as portrait inputs.

Step 4: Define a Style

With a portrait loaded, the style definition section is available. You can use one method alone or combine methods for tighter control over the result.

For a full breakdown of every option, see Define Style Options. The quick reference below covers the most common in-chair paths.

Quickest path (client is open to suggestions): Click Get AI Recommendations. The system analyzes the uploaded portrait and returns three tailored style suggestions with rationale. Tap Try this Style on any card to apply it and go straight to generation.

Client has an inspiration photo: Use Upload Reference. The AI extracts style direction from the image and generates a descriptive prompt. Review the extracted prompt before generating.

You know the style: Select from Hair Style Presets for a curated baseline, then use Add Details to refine (for example: deeper side part, softer fringe, add face-framing layers).

Style and color together: Select a style preset first, then apply a Hair Color Preset on top. Use "Apply to selected style" mode to combine both directions in one generation.

Step 5: Generate a New Look

Click Generate New Look. The system checks your available quota for the active context (personal or salon workspace), then sends the portrait and style direction to the AI.

Generation typically takes 5 to 15 seconds. A rotating status message displays while the image is being produced.

What counts against your quota:

• Each "Generate New Look" action = 1 generation

What does not count against your quota:

• Get AI Recommendations
• AI Consultation Report

If your quota is exhausted, a prompt will appear with options to purchase a generation pack or upgrade your plan.

Step 6: Review the Result

The result displays as a side-by-side Before and After comparison. Click the After image to open it in full screen.

From the result view you can:

• Generate again -- adjust style details and run another generation. Each attempt uses one generation.
• Request an AI Consultation Report -- available on Pro and Salon plans. Produces a detailed analysis covering face shape suitability, hair type and texture, color transition steps, maintenance requirements, and product suggestions. Does not use a generation.
• Download -- saves the generated image locally with a structured filename.
• Save the Look -- records the result to the active client's history.

Step 7: Save the Look

Click Save Look to store the result under the active client's record.

Before saving you can:

• Add a style name
• Write notes about the consultation or the client's preferences
• Add tags for easier retrieval later (for example: color, balayage, curtain bangs)
• Mark the look as portfolio-ready if you want it to appear on your public portfolio page

Tagging advice: Tags are your primary retrieval tool. A look with no tags can only be found by scrolling. A consistent tagging approach across all clients makes your history searchable. See Best Practices for a suggested tagging system.

Step 8: Add a Final Photo (After the Appointment)

After the service is complete, return to the client record and add a real photo of the finished result. This closes the before/after loop and gives your portfolio the strongest possible visual record.

1. Open Clients from the main navigation.
2. Select the client.
3. Find the Look you want to update.
4. Click the camera icon and upload the final photo.

Looks with a final photo are marked with a camera badge in the client record so you can see at a glance which results have been completed.

What Comes Next

• Define Style Options -- detailed breakdown of every style input method and how to combine them
• Client Management -- managing client records, tags, and look history
• Appointment Prep Links -- letting clients explore styles before they arrive