Salon Lighting Ideas to Make Yours Look Great

What, you think you can improve your salon’s lighting?

You’re in luck. We have several salon lighting ideas that could help you.

People go to beauty salons to look and feel good. Salon lighting can have a major impact on this, either for good or bad.

This will affect how much the customer likes the service provided. Proper lighting will make the customer look better in the mirror.

It will also assist the hairstylist to do a precise job. Imagine the disasters that could occur if stylists have to work with poor lighting.

Everything, including placement and types of light bulbs used, will affect the lighting.

Choosing the proper lighting for a hair salon is very important. So what should salon owners look out for?

The Different Types of Lighting Fixtures and Solutions

For hair and beauty salons, there are five main lighting solutions or fixtures:

• ambient
• task
• accent
• vanity
• decorative

Note the different uses for each type below.

Ambient Lighting

This is the first category of lighting fixtures. Ambient lighting includes designs that might not be noticeable right away.

This type of lighting brings a diffused light across a room or the majority of a space of the salon interior.

Task Lighting

Next on the list is task lighting. These fixtures have a specific purpose.

They light regular or high-use areas and help people to see better.

Task lighting fixtures are often used in hallways. A few examples are:

• floor lamps
• pendant lights
• table lamps
• accent Lighting

Accent Lighting

These draw attention to a certain object or area within the beauty salon or spa. This could be a retail display of products or the waiting area magazines and books.

This type of lighting is also known as “directional light.” Some examples of this type of lighting are lamps, small recess lights, and wall sconces.

Stronger lights are used for this kind of fixture to focus attention on a certain area.

Vanity Lighting

Vanity lighting sources are usually placed around mirrors. This lighting fixture should be even all around the mirror, reducing any shadows.

This allows the client to have a clear view of their new look. It also aids professional hairstylists and makeup artists to be more precise.

Decorative Lighting

Decorative lighting is for decoration. This type of lighting design adds a pop of color and personality to the salon.

It provides salon owners with an opportunity to be creative and think outside the box.

Each type of lighting fixture is important and should be fully utilized. They will prove to be very useful in any hair salon, spa, or barbershop.

Rules to Remember

Before adding lights, think about what would complement the interior design. Bad lighting and even too much lighting can throw off the whole look of a salon.

Try to stay balanced without going too “white” or too “warm.” As this is a beauty salon, the interior design should reflect this and be visually attractive.

Placement

Think about where to place the light fixtures. Consider where in the salon each lighting design would work best.

Make sure to keep shadows out of the working and styling areas. There would be nothing worse than having to ask a client to move over to catch better lighting.

Bulb Coloring

Make sure to select light bulbs that give off the right color. Each bulb will give off a different hue, whether warmer or colder.

Look out for these features:

• the best color temperature is 4000-6000 K (or Kelvin), which is a “natural white” or “daylight white” hue
• color rendering index (CRI) should be 86 or more, this is the capacity of a light source to reflect the colors
• Illumination level, depending on the light source and salon type, will vary between 300 and 700 lux

It is best to go for a bulb in the middle of the Kelvin scale, being 3000 to 4000. It should also have a Color Rendering Index of 80 to 85.

It’s important to have natural lighting colors, especially when dying someone’s hair color. If the client walks out of the store with a different color than requested, they won’t be coming back.

So, choosing the right lighting color is a must.

Proper Product Display Lighting

Creating an attractive display will make clients want to buy the displayed products. Using the proper lighting will increase sales with very little effort.

Do not overlook this aspect of lighting. Using a lighting accent to make products pop on the display will attract attention.

Get Rid of Shadows

Position lighting in a salon in a way that removes shadow. The quickest way to eliminate shadow on a client’s face is to position lights on both sides of the mirrors.

This will create even lighting on their complexion.

Overhead lighting or spotty lighting, such as track fixtures, will create more shadows. This will make wall lighting positioned towards the face even more essential.

Separate Lighting Systems

In different areas of the salon, it may be necessary to separate lighting systems. For example, the light at a workstation where stylists cut and color hair should simulate natural daylight (CRI close to 100).

Whereas, in a massage room, a much dimmer lighting system is preferable. In a massage room, consider using electronic candles or dimmed lights.

Energy-Efficient Bulbs

To make an overall saving, invest in energy-efficient bulbs.

One of the best energy-efficient salon lighting options is to use LED light bulbs. Wherever possible, use this type of lighting.

LEDs are ideal because there is a wide variety of color and hue options. Although they cost more, they provide long-term savings.

LED bulbs last much longer than typical bulbs and they use less energy.

General Illumination and Overhead Lighting

Overhead task lighting provides general lighting in a room or area to perform tasks. With good placement, it will provide enough light for stylists to perform all their tasks.

It may even eliminate the need for separate task lighting systems.

Other key salon lighting ideas:

• Use enough primary lighting to perform tasks. Having other light fixtures, like lamps, may make the space seem cluttered.
• Make the most of natural light, while respecting client privacy. Clients won’t want to be exposed to a busy street.
• Use a variety of lighting styles, creating a complete lighting design.
• Light within the law. Use unique lighting fixtures if desired, but make sure they are in line with regulation.
• Use salon space wisely. For a small hair salon, use the mirror and light placement to make the space seem bigger.

Salon Lighting Design Ideas

Warm lighting

Well-lit and warm-lit workstations make for a positive environment.

Warm temperature bulbs are more flattering to the client and the hair salon itself. It gives a more realistic natural glow to the design of the hair salon or spa.

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights are a great opportunity to change the aesthetic of a hair salon. Owners can use a simple or complex design.

This is one to be more creative with and that can add decorative flair to a beauty salon. Hanging a pendant light overhead is also a good option to provide direct light to a chair.

Salon Sconce Lighting

This is another great way to add personality to a hair salon’s interior design. These are wall-mounted fixtures that can be added almost anywhere.

Putting them on both sides of a styling workspace or a doorway is a good decorative option. To bring the place together, use a matching nesting table or lamp.

But do make sure that everything from the lighting to the cabinetry matches.

A Quiet Corner

This type of lighting design gives off minimal but enough light to the workspaces. A focused dim lighting design coupled with exposed brick and beams gives a unique atmosphere.

An “abandoned warehouse” design gives the customer a sense of secrecy and exclusivity. The lighting should give off the same aesthetic as the retro and industrial decor.

Metallic and rustic lighting designs reflect the raw nature of the hair salon and bring the whole design together.

Luxurious Finish

This design is different from the one above and shows how creative owners can be. There is no end to the possibilities.

The curtains give privacy while allowing some natural light in. The metallic accents on the furniture and walls add to the luxurious design.

The whole design of the room fits together very well.

Effective Lighting

Effective lighting can be dependent on many things, including ceiling height. To have proper lighting while using ceiling lights, the ceiling has to be low.

However, this example shows that there’s always a solution. Remember to consult with an expert for the best advice.

Simple but Effective

Most of the time, it’s the small details that make the difference.

This minimalist style uses an exposed brick wall and a few extra decoration designs. The cage lights hung above fit with the design.

When designing and picking lighting designs, try mixing functionality and luxury.

Barbershop Lighting

A barbershop interior is somewhat different from a beauty salon. However, the lighting designs should follow the same principles.

Note the creative light designs in this example.

On Both Sides of the Mirror

Positioning lights on both sides of the mirror flatters the client’s complexion. It also keeps the lighting even.

Ending thoughts on these salon lighting ideas

Picking hair salon lighting designs involves more than the aesthetic. Lighting fixtures can bring the whole salon interior together.

With these salon lighting ideas, owners can bring personality to their business.

Remember, lighting should allow professional hairstylists to work comfortably. Make sure that each workspace is well-lit and that the light hue is as neutral as possible.

If you enjoyed reading this article on salon lighting ideas, you should also read this one about the salon cancellation policy.

We also wrote articles about similar subjects like how to get more clients in a salon, salon dimensions, salon insurance, how much salon owners make, spa quotes, hairstylist quotes, and spa menu examples.