All About Lighting for Professional Hair Salons

Quick version

Salon lighting can get complicated fast. The simplest path is to buy dedicated fixtures here (the range is always up-to-date). Need help? Get it here. Want to see different set-ups live? Book a showroom visit here. Ready to dive deeper? Keep reading.

Good lighting is your silent partner

The first thing a client senses – without realising it – is the light in the room. Skin tone in the mirror, the gloss in freshly blow-dried hair, even the overall mood are dictated by how your fixtures handle lumens, colour temperature and contrast. Yet lighting is still what many salon owners “fix” last, with a bargain basket of spots from a century-old electrical wholesaler running a 90% sale. Do yourself a favour: invest in professional salon lighting.

Three core lighting types in a salon

General lighting

Think of general lighting as the canvas you paint on. It should blanket the entire floor area so neither stylist nor client ends up in shadow. In practice that means recessed LED panels or slimline track fixtures. The Sun LED panel is a popular choice because it delivers a CRI above 90 and a neutral 3000–3200 K that flatters most interiors. Space panels in a regular grid, typically 120–150 cm apart, depending on ceiling height – the higher the ceiling, the wider you can spread the panels.

Task lighting

Ever noticed a client’s face looking oddly flat or a blonde turning muddy under cheap LEDs? That’s low CRI and a bluish spectrum at work. Mount a dedicated task fixture – ideally a linear LED bar such as the Sunbeam LED – 100–110 cm from the wall and dead-centre over each chair. Demand a CRI greater than 95 so subtle tone differences (ash-blonde versus sand-blonde) stay visible. Aim for 700–1000 lux at hair height without glare. Some stylists prefer compact track spots for ultimate beam control, but mis-positioned spots can dazzle clients and cast hard, unflattering shadows.

Spot lighting

Once the base is in place, add depth with track spots – Track rail with Sun Spots, for example. Aim them at retail shelves, artwork or greenery to draw the eye. Mount the spot as high and as far from the target as your ceiling allows, then angle it in; you’ll soften shadows and avoid blinding either client or stylist. Spots can also double as task lights where needed.

Ambient lighting

Light shapes emotion, too. Over the reception desk, in a lounge corner or above the shampoo area, a decorative pendant calms the room and defines your identity. Choose a dimmable model so you can dial it down during relaxing scalp massages.

Tech talk for lighting nerds (and serious stylists)

CRI (Colour Rendering Index)

How accurately does the lamp reveal colour compared with daylight?

• Under 80 CRI: colour trouble

• 90 CRI: good

• 95+ CRI: premium
  Never drop below 90 for colour work; reserve 95+ for advanced services.

Kelvin (K)

A 3000-3200 K range hits the sweet spot – warm enough for comfort, neutral enough for accuracy. Warmer than 2700 K looks golden; above 4000 K feels clinical and rarely flatters skin.

Lux targets

• 300–500 lux for general light

• 700–1000 lux on the work zone

• 150–300 lux in lounge/reception, dimmable down to 50 lux for spa mode

LED versus halogen

Halogen converts roughly 90% of energy into heat, only 10% into light. LED does the reverse. Switching fully to LED can slash energy costs by up to 70 %. With 50.000-hour lifespans (about eight years of daily salon use) you also avoid UV fade on colour bottles and retail boxes.

Common placement mistakes

• Fixture behind the stylist’s head. Your own shadow blankets the client’s hair. Move the light directly over the chair.

• Spot aimed straight at the mirror. Client squints the entire service. Tilt it away and let the beam hit the shelf below.

• Track too close to the wall. Less than 90 cm leaves a tunnel-shadow behind the client. Keep 100-110 cm.

• Single powerful pendant as general light. Dramatic shadows and harsh contrasts – never flattering.

Maintenance – LEDs fade slowly

Most LEDs lose 15-20% of their output by 30.000 hours. Once a year, check whether the room still feels bright enough, clean dust off lenses and housings, and replace any failing drivers; a thin dust film alone can steal 10% of your lumens.

Budget and financing

A full lighting package for a mid-sized salon can be a solid investment, especially once you factor in professional installation. Leasing is popular, and monthly energy savings can cover a sizeable chunk of the payment – so you benefit from first-class light today instead of limping along with hot, power-hungry halogens.

See your future lighting live

Reading helps, but light must be experienced. Our showroom features fourteen fully furnished salon vignettes – from Scandi spa to retro barber – each demonstrating how fixtures, colour and furniture work together. Sit in the chairs, note how CRI 95 flatters hair, and decide which atmosphere best fits your brand. Have questions about models, specs or placement? Get in touch for professional guidance and maximise both your working comfort and your clients’ experience.