Beauty Salon Lighting Ideas
Hair and beauty salon lighting is the most important aspect of setting a tone in space while ensuring an effective work environment.
There are four main lighting solutions in any given space.
Ambient lighting: includes all the fixtures that we may not notice immediately, but it gives us a diffused light across the entire or majority of a space.
It generally lights the entire space with an even, diffused light.
Picking the right ambient light is important as this is the most noticeable type of lighting – even if people don’t directly see or notice the fixtures.
When picking the ambient lighting for your salon, consider the color temperature you desire. Warm tones are comforting but can look stuffy when too extreme, and cool tones look clean and crisp but can create a greenish tinge on the skin when too cool.
Another point to consider is: how high are your ceilings?
If your ceilings are very high, your lights need to be stronger to reach down and fill the space.
- Track lighting fixture can either be installed during construction to be flush with the ceiling or purchased after construction and installed then.
The post-construction fixture will not be flush with the ceiling. So, installing one of these will make the lighting slightly more noticeable if your ceilings are not very high.
Having one track over the wash stations, another along with the chairs, and so on will be very helpful in blocking out the different areas of your salon.
- Recessed lighting is commonly found in retail establishments, as it provides powerful lighting without being intrusive.
The main thing to be aware of with recessed lighting is where you are locating the lights. A dense cluster of lights may be too bright in an enclosed area (like your retail area), but you want to have enough lights to brighten the space.
Spacing the recessed lighting around your salon and ensuring you’ve covered every area your customers and staff use will completely transform your salon with this lighting system.
- Chandeliers: A Good Way to Blend Ambient Lighting with Decorative. A good chandelier could be the perfect element in your reception area to help set the tone of your salon.
Chandeliers come in all sorts of styles nowadays too. Modern styles with sleek silver finishes or classic chandeliers.
Don’t be afraid to play with the number you have, too. One dead center on your ceiling may make a great statement, but consider how two or three in a line above the styling chairs would also look.
Task lighting: has a specific purpose: to help us see better in high-use areas, not just a hallway.
These lights are much more direct and oftentimes brighter in a more concentrated spot than the ambient lights above.
There are many tasks that go on in a salon, so many task lights must be considered. Below are some examples of salon task lights to consider as you plan your salon.
- Salon Mirror with Lights: Not only do your stylists need to see what they’re doing, but your clients also want to watch and make sure you are both on the same page regarding their hair.
A mirror with lights around the edges helps provide direct light to your client and your workspace.
The salon lighting solution included below also has an added benefit: the fixture can show three different types of lighting temperatures. This is a huge benefit as it will show how colors look in different lighting situations, such as warm light versus daylight.
Showing color in the correct color temperature is paramount when dyeing hair or applying makeup, two activities that will almost certainly occur in your salon!
- Pendant lights are also a great way to enhance your salon’s aesthetic. Simple, sleek designs abound, as do more complex and bohemian styles.
Hanging a pendant light directly over the chairs can also provide crisp, direct light.
Be sure to get the correct length of the pendant for your ceiling, as some cannot be adjusted.
Estheticians need direct, bright light when delivering facials, peels, and other skin treatments. Additionally, your colorists will thank you for providing crisp, bright lighting at the mixing station.
Being able to see exactly what colors they’re mixing and how accurate they are prior to applying them to the client can go a long way toward a satisfied customer rather than an angry review.
- Salon Reception Lighting: A well-lit reception area sets the entire tone for a client’s visit. A long bar light behind your reception desk will help block off your waiting area and clearly visualize where to check in for your arriving customers.
Accent lighting can draw people (and customers!) to a specific area. For a salon, this will most likely be the retail area, which is often adjacent to the reception and waiting area. Led Strip Lights can be an ideal solution that flushes with the shelves. Nowadays, there are LED strip lights that can be cut to fit any length.
Decorative lighting is just that. It adds more personality to the space.
While the rest of your lighting should be cohesive and fit the theme and aesthetics of your salon, decorative pieces can tie it all together.
These pieces do not serve major lighting purposes; those needs have been fulfilled by the categories above. Rather, decorative lighting can be mainly about aesthetics, and the lighting element is secondary.
Salon Sconce Lighting is a wonderful way to add personality to your lighting is a sconce. These wall-mounted fixtures provide style and can go so many places. Putting one on either side of a doorway or styling station will fill out a room.
Conclusion
Picking out salon lighting is about more than just aesthetics.
The right lighting can make or break the atmosphere of your salon, improve essential business functions, and make your staff’s jobs much easier and more efficient.
