What should hairdressers wear to work?
The hairdressing industry is built on skill and aesthetics.
When you’re buying uniforms for a salon, having these two things in mind will guarantee you choose the right garments. Staff may spend much of their shift using heated tools, like curlers, straighteners, and blow dryers, washing hair before moving on to colour work.
On hot days, your team needs polo shirts made from moisture-wicking fabrics, but they also need complete freedom of movement to complete highly physical tasks.
For this, tunics with side vents and back pleats are essential, and what about accidental splashes? Workwear must be machine-washable, as chemical spillage is often an unavoidable workplace hazard.
Then, there’s branding - if you want to create a workwear capsule that captures your logo via high-quality embroidery or even screen-printing, you’ll need help from an expert design team.
Stay with Red Oak Corporate Wear as we learn more about hairdresser clothes (and how to take them to the next level).
1. A salon tunic/branded top
Procurers buying for salons should balance the practical features staff need to work comfortably with client expectations.
Both tunics and custom polo shirts serve the same purpose: they give the wearer a wide range of arm movement, which is essential for long hours spent behind the salon chair. But they also need to keep teams cool.
The Premier Ladies Blossom Short Sleeve Tunic is an excellent example - made with easy-care fabric, these garments also have a back pleat and side vents for improved freedom.
In a customer-facing role, machine-washable pieces like this ensure staff always look smart, even after a messy day. Or, if your salon enjoys a more relaxed look, you might shop for pieces like The Premier Ladies Coolchecker® Piqué Polo Shirt.
Manufactured with easy-care, moisture-wicking fabrics, products like these help keep a busy team cool and comfortable.
2. Protective apron
Hairdressers contend with water, dyes, bleach, and a range of salon products, often in a single day.
To protect tunics or branded tops from chemical spills, consider protective aprons as an outer layer (essential for staff who regularly perform colour treatments or jobs where spills are hard to avoid).
Look specifically for waterproof or bleach-resistant fabrics that are easy to care for.
The Premier Waterproof Bib Apron, for example, is made from polyurethane-coated polyester and features waterproof, bleach-resistant fabric, an adjustable neckband and long waist ties.
Aprons are also a great way to echo your branding across the workplace - choose ‘Customise product’ when you’re checking out, and we can add a subtle embroidered logo to the chest or centre of your apron.
3. Protective gloves (when working with products)
Handling salon chemicals without gloves can seriously irritate the skin. In fact, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that hairdressing staff wear disposable, non-latex gloves when shampooing, colouring and bleaching hair.
Be sure to stock up on high-quality puncture-resistant disposable gloves (such as powder-free nitrile) - these will act as a barrier between the stylists’ skin and any harmful products.
4. Stretch trousers
Between bending for equipment and moving through chairs, salon staff spend much of the working day on their feet - sometimes eight to ten hours. Long shifts are where comfort matters just as much as aesthetics.
Procurers should look for trousers made from breathable, flexible fabrics, with features such as an elasticated waistband and practical pockets.
Here, products like the Onna by Premier Ladies Relentless Onna-Stretch Cargo Trousers become an invaluable part of your uniform.
Made from breathable four-way stretch fabric, these pants are also crease-resistant and come with a part-elasticated waistband. You can opt for black or choose trousers in the same colour palette as your salon tunics for a matching ensemble.
5. Practical footwear
A hairdresser’s footwear might just be the most important part of their uniform. Standing for hours at a time on hard salon floors can cause fatigue, as well as lower back and joint pain, if you neglect proper support.
That’s without mentioning that salon floors are often slick with spilt liquids and freshly cut hair - at times, it can be a slip hazard. In these workplaces, supportive, closed-toe shoes with slip-resistant soles are a fundamental health and safety requirement.
Footwear like the Brook Taverner Elsa Trainer, for example, combines a leather upper with an OrthoLite® insole and a rubber outsole with an anti-slip tread. It gives stylists a smart, reliable option for long shifts.
Find the right uniform for your salon with Red Oak!
When your team work hard, they need a supportive uniform to see them through the day.
That’s why, at Red Oak Corporate Wear, we make it simple to source high-quality workwear for your entire salon team. For larger, ongoing orders, we can provide tailored quotes, with in-house printing and embroidery to keep branding consistent.
You’ll also have support from a dedicated account manager throughout the process. Managing multiple locations? Our free, secure procurement portal gives head office centralised control.
Uniforms can be ordered and delivered directly to individual sites, excellent for reducing admin (by 60%). Request a large team quote today, and discover how Red Oak can make your next uniform order easier.