Best Salon Shampoo Bowls Ideas For 2024

Having the right salon shampoo bowls will set the tone for the rest of a client’s appointment, and they’re often one of the first stops in a salon. Before you open a hair salon, it’s essential you choose its shampoo bowls carefully.

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1. Why Does Your Salon Need Shampoo Stations?
2. Salon Shampoo Bowl Station Ideas
3. Small Salon Shampoo Station Ideas
4. Conclusion

Why Does Your Salon Need Shampoo Stations?

Salon shampoo bowls and chairs might not seem like the most exciting part of a salon’s interior, but by having comfortable, durable chairs, and the right shampoo bowls, salon hair washing stations can become a client’s favorite spot- it’s where most clients start an appointment, and it can keep them coming back.

Having the right shampoo bowls for salon stylists is important, too. Hair washing sinks should be easy to use and ergonomically designed for your hardworking team.

Here are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing shampoo bowls for salons.

Comfort: A backwash shampoo bowl needs to be comfortable, especially if used for long periods of time. Choose a salon shampoo chair and bowl that fit together well- many units even have a built-in shampoo bowl neck rest. If they don’t look for something with rounded edges that won’t put pressure on people’s necks.

Accessibility: Can clients get in and out of the salon shampoo bowl chair easily, even if they have limited mobility? And can stylists reach the shampoo bowl faucet and maneuver around the salon sink?

Unless you’re using a portable shampoo station (more on this later), you’ll need to think about this.

Style: The salon shampoo bowl and chair that you choose should compliment your salon’s decor.

Whether you’re looking for the best shampoo bowl for home salon setups or purchasing multiples for a large salon, consider whether you want your hair salon shampoo bowls to stand out as statement pieces or blend into the background, what material and color the bowls, chairs and shampoo cabinetry should be, and how much floor space you can use.

Design: You can buy shampoo chairs and bowls separately, or you can invest in a combination salon chair and shampoo bowl unit. Choose a model that’s durable and easy to wipe clean- black is often the best choice for this reason, but some salons go for brighter shades.

Of course, there are also portable shampoo bowl options, and you can even get an inflatable shampoo bowl if you’re pressed for space or serving clients with reduced mobility).

Layout: What is your salon’s layout like, how much space can you devote to shampoo chairs, and do you want these to be visible or semi-private? All of these considerations will influence the type of shampoo bowls you’ll select.

Pro Tip: A good rule is to have one shampoo station for every two styling chairs. This helps to ensure that you always have available space to rinse or wash a client’s hair when necessary.

Price: When it comes to finding the right shampoo bowl and chair for sale, salon budget will impact your decision. A shampoo station for salon clients can cost anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, so make sure to shop around for the best price.

You can buy salon shampoo bowls wholesale (especially if you’re ordering multiple items) and some salons will sell their individual bowls, chairs and shampoo bowl station combo units online when they upgrade or renovate.

If you’re trying to find a used shampoo station for sale, check your local Facebook marketplace and websites like Spreeberry and Shprock to get an idea of the selection available.

We recommend you to check out our post on small hair salon design.

Salon Shampoo Bowl Station Ideas

There are many different types of shampoo bowls for hair salon setups, and your salon’s setup and clientele will have a big impact on the model that you choose. Here’s an explanation of each model and some ideas to help you choose the best one.

Backwash Unit: This is one of the most common salon stations with shampoo bowl included- both it and the chair are a single unit. This makes the setup very user-friendly, since everything is measured and fitted together. That said, these units can have a larger footprint than smaller chairs, and they can be expensive if you need a lot of them.

These units can be simple (in basic black), or they can be include elegant chairs in a bright color, fitted with modern salon shampoo bowls to make a statement, like this one:

Wall-Mounted Shampoo Bowls: Another classic shampoo bowl for salon spaces, these can be purchased alone and paired with a reclining chair of your choice. They come in a variety of styles and colors (white and black being the most common), and are an aesthetically-pleasing choice. The price is often a bit lower than that of a full backwash unit, too. Unfortunately, their design makes it hard to add storage underneath. You’ll also need access to plumbing along the wall to install a drain underneath.

Shampoo Bowl/ Cabinet: This is a space-saving model with a cabinet underneath. These can be paired with movable chairs so that stylists have extra storage for products and towels- if you don’t have room for a shampoo refill station, having extra bottles on hand will save valuable time. These units can be a bit difficult to install, and you’ll need to make sure that you can keep the cabinet doors clear of obstructions.

Portable Shampoo Bowl with Water Tank: Here’s a shampoo bowl, no plumbing needed. It’s a bit more complex than an inflatable shampoo bowl, but these shampoo stations are still easy to move around the salon and contain a portable water tank and drainage tank.

They’re great if you have clients with limited mobility, or don’t have the right plumbing setup for backwash stations. On the downside, these units have to be drained and refilled, and moving them around from station to station can be time-consuming. You may want to choose a dark color model to keep them looking their best and minimize the appearance of wear and tear.

Luxury Shampoo Bowl Station: The most glamorous salon station with shampoo bowl included, many of these often resemble reclining shampoo beds with a fitted basin. These are extremely comfortable (especially for clients with a lot of hair to wash) and will make a salon look very upscale. As you might guess, they’re quite expensive and have a large footprint.

Pro Tip: No matter which setup you choose (unless you’re going with the shampoo bowl portable unit), make sure to request a shampoo bowl plumbing diagram during installation. This will save you a lot of time and stress if you need to fix a clogged drain or troubleshoot any issues later on.

Always be aware of local rules and requirements. Because salons deal with a lot of chemicals, some areas require that a salon shampoo bowl vacuum breaker be installed on each unit to prevent backflow. Make sure to check your state or town’s website before you shop.

Do not miss our post on hair salon plumbing requirements.

Small Salon Shampoo Station Ideas

Square footage is often limited in a small salon, and choosing the right shampoo bowl for your salon’s space can make all the difference. Here are some small salon shampoo areas’ ideas that can help you to make the best use of your space.

Corner Stations: If you have a very small salon, tucking your shampoo bowl and chair into a corner of the main area can save space and minimize the risk of splashing/ mess. You can mount storage on the wall beside or above it within easy reach.

360 Degree Access: If you need to install multiple shampoo stations, pedestal-style shampoo bowls can be paired with chairs that have a small footprint and moved away from the wall to allow stylists to move around them easily.

Colors that Pop: Who says that shampoo area needs to be tucked away? You can choose an attractive tiled wall or bright chairs and make this area the statement piece of a tiny salon space. This is a great way to make the most of a small space and can add a lot to an open layout.

Convenient Shelving: If you don’t have a lot of room to work with, use the area above your shampoo station to store items like products and towels. This will save stylists time and keep the floor free of trolleys and cabinets.

Keep It Simple: Wall-mounted shampoo bowls are inexpensive, easy to install, and don’t take up a lot of room. You can pair these with either reclining chairs or chairs on wheels that can be moved easily. This makes it easy to maximize the amount of floor space that’s kept free.

Do not miss our post on hair salon supplies.

Conclusion

As with any other part of your salon, the shampoo area should be both functional and comfortable- and it should also reflect the salon’s style. All of these factors together are what will keep your clients coming back.

There are many factors involved in choosing your salons shampoo bowls. Before you decide, consider a couple of options and what would look best in the space. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

Citations

Design for wearability
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/729537/

Design basics
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Jeo8

Handbook of control room design and ergonomics: a perspective for the future
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=DR9UyqLkgH8C&o