Your Instagram Highlights are a mini-website. Here’s what the top performers include — and what you’re probably missing.
We recently audited top Korean hair salons in Singapore on their Instagram presence. One pattern jumped out immediately: the gap between top performers and struggling salons often came down to something surprisingly simple — Story Highlights.
The best salon we audited (scoring 47/50) has 10 organized Story Highlights. The worst performers? Most had just 1 or 2 — often with vague labels like “Highlights” or just a Korean word with no context.
Here’s the thing: when someone lands on your Instagram profile, they’re making a decision in seconds. Your Story Highlights are the fastest way to answer their questions without making them scroll through your entire feed.
Let’s break down exactly what the top Korean salons in Singapore are doing — and how you can copy their approach.
Why Story Highlights Matter More Than You Think
Before we dive into the specific Highlights, let’s understand why they’re so important.
When a potential customer visits your profile, they typically want to know:
- What do you do? (Services)
- Are you any good? (Reviews, Before/After)
- How much does it cost? (Pricing)
- Where are you located? (Location)
- How do I book? (Contact/Booking)
Story Highlights are your FAQ section, your portfolio, and your sales pitch — all in one.
In our audit, we found:
- Top performers (40+ score): Average of 8-10 Highlights
- Average performers (25-35 score): 3-5 Highlights
- Struggling salons (<25 score): 1-2 Highlights (or none)
The correlation was clear. Salons with organized, comprehensive Highlights scored significantly higher across all metrics.
The 10 Story Highlights Top Korean Salons Use
Here’s what the best Korean salons in Singapore include in their Highlights — in order of importance.
1. Reviews / Testimonials
What it is: Screenshots of Google reviews, Facebook reviews, customer DMs, and video testimonials.
Why it matters: This is your social proof. When someone is considering a new salon, they want to know other people had a good experience. Reviews build instant trust.
What top salons include:
- Screenshots of 5-star Google reviews
- Customer DMs thanking them for their service
- Video testimonials (even short clips work)
- Before/after photos with customer quotes
Pro tip: Update this Highlight monthly with fresh reviews. Nothing looks worse than reviews from 2 years ago.
2. Services
What it is: A visual menu of what you offer — perms, cuts, coloring, treatments, head spa, etc.
Why it matters: Customers want to see what you specialize in. “Korean hair salon” is vague. “Korean perms, volume rebonding, and scalp treatments” is specific and searchable.
What top salons include:
- Clear categories (Perms, Color, Cuts, Treatments)
- Photos or videos showing each service
- Brief descriptions or captions
- Price ranges (even ballpark figures help)
Pro tip: If you’re known for something specific (like Korean perms or head spa), make that the first thing they see.
3. Pricing
What it is: Your price list or at least price ranges for common services.
Why it matters: This is the #1 question customers have — and the biggest reason they don’t book. If they can’t find pricing, they assume you’re either too expensive or they’ll feel awkward asking.
What top salons include:
- Starting prices for each service category
- Clear “from $XX” format
- Any package deals or promotions
- Consultation pricing if applicable
Reality check: We found that most salons skip this Highlight entirely. The top performers don’t. Even posting “Perms from $150” removes friction and filters for serious inquiries.
4. Before/After Transformations
What it is: Side-by-side or slider-style transformations showing your work.
Why it matters: This is your portfolio. Customers want to see results — especially for services like coloring and perms where the outcome is visible.
What top salons include:
- Clear before/after comparisons
- Variety of hair types and styles
- Captions describing what was done
- Close-ups showing detail and quality
Pro tip: Organize by service type if you have enough content. “Perm Transformations” and “Color Transformations” as separate Highlights works well for high-volume salons.
5. Location / How to Find Us
What it is: Directions to your salon, including MRT station, parking info, and building entrance.
Why it matters: Singapore has hundreds of hair salons. Making it easy to find you removes one more barrier to booking.
What top salons include:
- Google Maps screenshot or pin
- Nearest MRT and walking directions
- Building entrance photos (especially for mall locations)
- Parking information if applicable
- Landmark references (“opposite Takashimaya”, “inside Mandarin Gallery Level 3”)
Pro tip: Include a video walking from the MRT to your door. It seems excessive, but customers appreciate it — especially first-timers.
6. Team / Stylists
What it is: Introduction to your stylists — their specialties, experience, and personality.
Why it matters: Hair is personal. Customers want to know who will be working on them. Featuring your team builds connection before they even walk in.
What top salons include:
- Photos of each stylist
- Their specialties (color specialist, perm expert, etc.)
- Years of experience or credentials
- Personality snippets (hobbies, style philosophy)
The top salon in our audit (Jo:Hwa) takes this further: Each stylist has their own Instagram account, and they cross-promote constantly. This creates a content network effect — 4 stylists = 4x the content and reach.
7. FAQ
What it is: Answers to common questions before customers have to ask.
Why it matters: Every question a customer has to DM you is friction. Answer them upfront and you’ll convert more visitors into bookings.
Common questions to answer:
- “Do I need to book in advance?”
- “How long does a perm take?”
- “Do you do consultations?”
- “Can I see the stylist’s portfolio?”
- “What’s your cancellation policy?”
- “Do you accept walk-ins?”
Pro tip: Every time you get a DM with a question, add the answer to your FAQ Highlight. Over time, you’ll build a comprehensive resource.
8. Press / Awards / Features
What it is: Any media coverage, awards, or notable features your salon has received.
Why it matters: Credibility. If VOGUE, TATLER, or Her World has featured you, that’s powerful social proof.
What top salons include:
- Magazine features and articles
- Award certificates
- Influencer collaborations
- Brand partnerships
The pattern we noticed: The top-scoring salons (Jo:Hwa, Suchehwa by Ted) prominently feature their awards — not just in Highlights, but in their bio. If you’ve won something, don’t bury it.
9. Membership / Packages
What it is: Information about loyalty programs, membership benefits, or package deals.
Why it matters: Encourages repeat visits and higher-value bookings.
What top salons include:
- Membership tiers and benefits
- Package deals (e.g., “3 treatments for $XX”)
- First-time customer offers
- Referral programs
Pro tip: Even if you don’t have a formal membership program, you can create a “Deals” Highlight with current promotions.
10. Behind the Scenes / About Us
What it is: A peek into your salon culture — your space, your team at work, your story.
Why it matters: Builds emotional connection. Customers want to support businesses with personality, not faceless brands.
What top salons include:
- Salon interior and ambiance
- Team events and celebrations
- Day-in-the-life content
- The founder’s story or salon history
- Fun moments with customers (with permission)
The Minimum Viable Highlights: Start With These 4
If setting up 10 Highlights feels overwhelming, start with these four. They answer the most critical questions:
- Reviews — Builds trust immediately
- Services — Shows what you do
- Pricing — Removes the biggest friction point
- Location — Makes it easy to find you
These four alone will put you ahead of most salons we audited.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Based on our audit, here’s what NOT to do with your Highlights:
❌ Vague or untranslated labels
We found Highlights labeled just “하이라이트” (Korean for “Highlights”) or single Korean words with no context. Remember: your audience includes non-Korean speakers. Use clear English labels.
❌ Only 1-2 Highlights
This signals low effort and gives visitors almost no information. Even 4-5 well-organized Highlights makes a significant difference.
❌ Outdated content
Reviews from 2022. Pricing from pre-COVID. Promotions that expired months ago. Check your Highlights quarterly and remove anything stale.
❌ No Highlight covers
The default is a zoomed-in screenshot from your Story — which often looks messy. Create simple, branded covers with consistent fonts and colors.
❌ Too much in one Highlight
Don’t dump 50 Stories into “Services.” Break it up. “Perms” / “Color” / “Treatments” is better than one overwhelming Highlight.
How to Audit Your Own Highlights
Open your Instagram profile right now. Ask yourself:
- Can a visitor find out what services I offer in 5 seconds?
- Can they see proof that I’m good at what I do?
- Can they find pricing (or at least a range)?
- Can they figure out how to book?
- Can they find where I’m located?
If the answer to any of these is “no,” you have work to do.
The Bottom Line
Story Highlights are the most underutilized feature on Instagram for salons. They require upfront effort but almost zero ongoing maintenance (unlike daily posting).
The best Korean salons in Singapore treat their Highlights like a mini-website:
- Reviews = Testimonials page
- Services = Services page
- Pricing = Pricing page
- Location = Contact page
- Before/After = Portfolio page
- Team = About page
If you do nothing else after reading this, go add a Reviews and Pricing Highlight today. Those two alone will differentiate you from 80% of salons.
Quick Reference: Highlight Checklist
| Highlight | Priority | What to Include |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | Must-have | Google reviews, DMs, testimonials |
| Services | Must-have | Visual menu of offerings |
| Pricing | Must-have | Price ranges, packages |
| Location | Must-have | MRT, directions, parking |
| Before/After | High | Transformation photos/videos |
| Team | High | Stylist intros and specialties |
| FAQ | Medium | Common questions answered |
| Press/Awards | Medium | Media features, certificates |
| Membership | Optional | Loyalty programs, deals |
| About/BTS | Optional | Salon culture, story |
This post is based on our audit of 30+ Korean hair salons in Singapore. Want a personalized audit for your salon? Visit glamingo.ai or DM us on Instagram @myglamingo.
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