Everything about lighting for hair salons

In short:

Lighting is super complicated. To make it as easy as possible, our recommendation is to shop lighting here, since the models are always up to date. If you need help, you can get it here. If you want to see different salon lights in real life, you can book yourself here. If you want to learn a whole lot, read on below.

Good lighting is your friend

The first thing a client notices — without realizing it — is the lighting in the room. The colors in the mirror, their skin tone, the shine in the hair and the room's atmosphere are determined by how your lighting distributes lumen, color temperature and contrast. Yet lighting often ends up being the last thing that's “fixed” — with a quick webshop order of cheap spots from a 100-year-old electrical company that has them at 90% off.Do yourself a favor: buy professional salon 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 the Hairdresser and the client can orient themselves. In practice, that means recessed LED panels or slim track models. The Sun LED panel is a popular choice because it delivers over 90 CRI and a neutral 3.000–3.200 K color temperature, which suits most salons. Find it under the link at the top. Place the panels in a uniform pattern, ideally 120–150 cm apart, depending on ceiling height. Ceiling height affects how far the light reaches and therefore how much spacing you need between the panels.

Professional lighting

Many Hairdressers find that the client's face suddenly looks “flatter” or the hair color more dull with cheap LED; the reason 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 centered over the chair — hangs your main light source: a linear LED bar with high color rendering, e.g. Sunbeam LED. Here you require CRI > 95, because even the smallest nuance and color differences between ash blonde vs. sand blonde otherwise get lost. The task light should provide 700–1,000 lux at hair working height without causing glare. Many choose spot lighting for the work area, since the LED is more compact and therefore gives a more precise result than an LED bar. The downside of spots is that if they're not positioned correctly, you can blind the client or yourself and there's a high chance of harsh — not flattering — cast shadows.

Spot light / Spotlighting

When the base is in place, create depth with track-mounted spots, e.g., the Track rail with Sun Spots. Aim the spotlight at product shelves, plants, or art to draw the eye. The main rule is to position the spot as high and as far from the object as the ceiling allows, then point the light inwards: this minimizes harsh shadows and avoids dazzling either the customer or the Hairdresser. Spots can of course also be used as Professional lighting.

Accent lighting

Lighting is also a feeling of well-being. At the reception, in the lounge area or over the wash station a decorative pendant can create calm and identity. Remember to choose a dimmable model so the light can be turned down during relaxing scalp massages.

Tech for nerds (and cool Hairdressers)

CRI – Colour Rendering Index

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

• Under 80 = trouble
• 90 = good
• 95+ = very good

For hair color we never recommend below 90, and for advanced color work 95+ is ideal.

Kelvin (K) – color temperature

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

Lux

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

LED vs. halogen

Halogen and compact fluorescent bulbs emit roughly 90% heat and only 10% light. LED uses the opposite logic: 90% of the energy becomes light. That means you can cut the electricity bill by up to 70% with a full LED switch. The lifetime of 50,000+ hours corresponds to eight years of operation. At the same time you avoid UV damage to color bottles and product boxes.

Placement – mistakes we often see

1. Lamps right at the hairdresser’s neck. Result: your own shadow covers the client's hair. Move the light up just above the client chair.
2. Spot pointing straight into the mirror. Result: the client gets light directly in their eyes. Tilt the spot away and let it hit the shelf under the mirror instead.
3. Track too close to the wall. Less than 90 cm from the wall creates tunnel-like shadowing behind the client. Keep 100–110 cm.
4. One strong pendant as general lighting. Creates pronounced shadows and exaggerated contrasts.

Maintenance – lights die slowly

LEDs typically fall 15–20% in lumen output in the first 30,000 hours. Do an annual check: Is the general light still bright enough? Are all drivers working? Clean dust from spots and panels; a thin layer of dust can remove up to 10% of the light.

Budget and financing

A complete lighting setup for a medium-sized salon can add up — especially if you also need an electrician to install it all. Many choose leasing. The monthly savings on electricity can actually cover part of the payment. At the same time you get new fixtures now, instead of settling for old halogen spots that also cost you extra on electricity.

Find your favorite light

Good reading helps, but lighting must be experienced. In our showroom we have built fourteen separate setups: from Scandi-spa to retro-barber. Each environment shows exactly how light works together with colors, furniture and branding.

Do you have questions about models, tech or placement?

Contact us right here to get professional guidance on how to get the most joy from your work when it comes to lighting in your salon.