All About Lighting for Hair Salons

In brief:

Lighting is mega complicated. To make things as easy as possible, we recommend shopping for lighting here, as the models are always up to date. If you need help, you can get it here. If you would like to see different hairdresser lighting options in person, you can book a visit here. If you would like to learn a whole lot, read on below.

Good lighting is your friend

The first thing a client notices, without realising it, is the light in the room. The colours in the mirror, their own skin tone, the shine in their hair and the atmosphere in the room are determined by the way your lighting distributes lumens, colour temperature and contrast. Even so, lighting often ends up being the last thing to be “fixed”, with a quick webshop order for cheap spotlights from a 100-year-old electrical company offering them at 90% off. Do yourself a favour: buy professional hairdresser lighting.

3 types of lighting in salons

General lighting

General lighting is like the canvas you paint on. It should cover the entire floor area without dark zones, so both hairdresser and client can find their way around. In practice, this means built-in LED panels or slim track models. The Sun LED panel is a popular choice because it delivers over 90 CRI and a neutral colour temperature of 3,000–3,200 K, which suits most salons. Find it under the link at the top. Position the panels in an even pattern, preferably 120–150 cm apart, depending on the ceiling height. Ceiling height affects how far the light reaches and therefore how far apart the panels should be.

Professional lighting

Many hairdressers find that a client’s face suddenly looks “flatter” or their hair colour appears duller with cheap LEDs; the cause is almost always low CRI and a bluish spectrum. Choose fewer, but professional lights instead. Directly above each chair, ideally 100–110 cm from the wall and centred over the chair, hangs your most important light source: a linear LED bar with high colour rendering, such as the Sunbeam LED. Here, you should require CRI > 95, because even the smallest differences in shades and colours between ash blonde and sandy blonde can otherwise be lost. Professional lighting should provide 700–1,000 lux at working height without causing glare. Many people choose spotlighting for the work area, as the LED is more compact and therefore produces a more precise result than an LED bar. The downside of spotlights is that if they are not positioned correctly, they can dazzle the client or yourself, and there is a high risk of harsh, unflattering shadows.

Spotlights / Spotlighting

Once the foundation is in place, create depth with spotlights on a track, for example the Track rail with Sun Spots. Aim the spotlights at product shelves, plants or artwork to draw the eye. The main rule is to place the spotlight as high and as far from the object as the ceiling allows, then angle the light inwards. This minimises harsh shadows and prevents you from dazzling either the client or the hairdresser. Spotlights can of course also be used as professional lighting.

Ambient lighting

Lighting is also about a sense of wellbeing. At reception, in the lounge area or above the washbasins, a decorative pendant light can create calm and identity. Remember to choose a dimmable model, so the light can be turned down during relaxing scalp massages.

Technical details for enthusiasts (and cool hairdressers)

CRI, Colour Rendering Index

CRI indicates how accurately a light source renders colours compared with natural daylight. The scale runs from 0 to 100, where 100 is daylight.

• Below 80 = problems
• 90 = good
• 95+ = really good

For hair colour, we never recommend less than 90, and for advanced colour work, 95+ is ideal.

Kelvin (K), colour temperature

3,000–3,200 K is the way forward. If you go down to 2,700 K, the tone becomes very golden; above 4,000 K, the room feels cool and clinical, which is rarely flattering for the skin.

Lux

• 300–500 lux for general lighting
• 700–1,000 lux in the work area
• 150–300 lux in the lounge/reception area, but preferably dimmable down to 50 lux for a spa atmosphere.

LED vs. halogen

Halogen bulbs and energy-saving bulbs emit approximately 90% heat and only 10% light. LED uses the opposite logic: 90% of the energy becomes light. This means you can reduce your electricity bill by up to 70% by switching fully to LED. A lifespan of 50,000+ hours corresponds to eight years of use. At the same time, you avoid UV damage to colour bottles and product boxes.

Positioning: common mistakes we often see

1. Lamps directly behind the hairdresser. Result: your own shadow covers the client’s hair. Move the light up so it sits directly above the client’s chair.
2. Spotlight pointing straight down into the mirror. Result: the client gets light directly in their eyes. Tilt the spotlight away and let it hit the shelf beneath the mirror instead.
3. Track too close to the wall. Less than 90 cm from the wall creates a tunnel-like shadow behind the client. Keep it 100–110 cm away.
4. One strong pendant as general lighting. Creates pronounced shadows and excessive contrasts.

Maintenance: light fades slowly

LEDs typically lose 15–20% of their lumens during the first 30,000 hours. Do an annual check: Is the general lighting still bright enough? Are all the drivers working? Clean dust from spotlights and panels; a thin layer of dust can reduce the light by up to 10%.

Budget and financing

A complete lighting setup for a medium-sized salon can add up, especially if you also need an electrician to install everything. Many people choose leasing. The monthly savings on electricity can actually cover part of the instalment. At the same time, you get new lamps now instead of making do with old halogen spotlights, which also cost you extra in electricity.

Find your favourite lighting

Good reading helps, but lighting needs to be experienced. In our showroom, we have built fourteen separate interiors: from Scandinavian spa to retro barber shop. Each setting shows exactly how lighting works together with colours, furniture and branding.

Do you have questions about models, technology or positioning?

Contact us right here for professional guidance on how to get as much enjoyment from your work as possible when it comes to lighting in your salon.