A lxuriously comfortable salon backwash unit not only gives your clients a better experience, but it can be the reason clients become repeat customers or recommend you to their friends.
When you look at articles about how to choose a stylist, they say it’s good to make a call based on the state of the salon furniture. If you’re on a budget, consider a quality shampoo chair.
The Bella III is for salons or spas that want to thoroughly pamper their clients with a relaxing massage while they have their treatment or wash. There are four Shiatsu massage rollers inside the backrest and vibration massage in the seat for the legs. The massage function, as well as the full-leg reclining footrest, is controlled with a wired hand remote that fits snugly in a built-in pocket by the armrest.
With the press of a button, your clients can put their legs up and with the push of another, be enjoying full-body massage. Let’s be real: if you order this, some of your clients are going to be so relaxed they fall asleep. But there’s no way they’re not also going to tell all their friends about the salon with the massaging chair.
The large ceramic basin has a padded neck rest, a built-in vacuum breaker, and a wide range of tilt to work with different heights. You can order it in white or black, but if you don’t specify in your order notes, it defaults to black.
As far as looks, the fully electric shampoo station looks more like a comfy armchair with a sink on the top than a backwash unit. It comes in black and grey.
If you’re looking to save a little money, the Victoria is a similar unit but without the massage feature.
Dream in Reality is known for their unique design and I’ve featured them in my best esthetician beds article.
Dimensions:
For those looking for a classic, no-frills backwash station, the Shelby by BR Beauty is exactly that. The padded armchair design is a step up from the cheaper, bare chair setups so you get the comfort of a higher quality chair but without going out on an interior design limb. The Shelby is traditional and unobtrusive.
The chair is fixed but slightly reclined and the ceramic basin tilts for client comfort. It’s a good size for smaller salons as it doesn’t take up much space. There’s a built-in vacuum breaker and the chair comes with a one-year warranty.
I love that it’s available in five different colors to match the decor of your space. Beyond the classic black I’m featuring, it comes in Espresso, White, Grey, and Black With Crocodile Patterning.
Dimensions:
The Black Beauty Shampoo Station is a modern, unique-looking unit with a focus on style and comfort. The unit has a salon-style chair and, like a salon chair, the seat can be raised up with a hydraulic pump to suit shorter clients. Its position forward and back can also be adjusted to better fit your clients. This is a feature you won’t find in other units.
There’s no leg rest to recline up making this a good fit for salons that are short on space.
Icarus is a brand known for its innovative and convertible salon equipment. I’ve featured their collapsable nail table in my article on the best manicure tables.
Dimensions:
If you have a lot of aging clients, an electric chair like the Yume Dreaming Electric Backwash Station is the way to go. These stations allow for safe and gentle transitions from sitting to a comfortable reclined position without requiring any strain on the client.
The electric leg rest is controlled by a panel on the side of the chair.
The tilting sink is quality ceramic with an included neck rest. Vacuum breakers can be added for an additional fee. It’s also available in black.
Dimensions:
If you’re looking for a chic European vibe, check out this contemporary Oasis Stationary Shampoo Station. Its blocky lines, durable vinyl upholstery, and skinny legs stand out from traditional plain chairs.
The chair is permanently reclined in a stationary position making it best for salons that cater to a younger crowd though it does have a lot of built-in lumbar support. There’s no leg rest so you don’t have to deal with losing that floorspace in your shop.
It comes with a tilting, adjustable, extra-large basin and a built-in vacuum breaker.
Dimensions:
If your budget is tight, go with the Ainfox Shampoo Station. It’s about as inexpensive as you’re going to find for a chair that won’t leak or fall apart the second you use it. It can’t really compete against the others on the list, but it is the best shampoo station in its price range.
It’s a bit shorter than others which is good for smaller salons and doesn’t have a reclining footrest. The seat itself does slightly recline when you lean back into it so the client can line up their head with the ceramic sink. The chair itself only weighs about 65 pounds so there’s a chance it could feel a little flimsy so you’d definitely want to bolt this one to the floor.
For a cheaper chair, it has some nice extras like included neck rest and vacuum breaker. It will get the job done but if you can afford to spend a little more now, it will save you money in the long run to get a higher quality chair.
Dimensions:
If you’re looking to stand out, this Chelsea Shampoo Station by BR Beauty is unlike most others you’ll find. It’s got a chunky, armchair look to it that is almost 80’s inspired in style.
The non-reclining chair is set at a fixed, slightly slope so folks can comfortably lean back. No footrest means this one is easier to fit in smaller spaces. The large, very round ceramic sink tilts for comfort and comes with all hardware included.
BR Beauty also has a matching salon dryer chair.
Dimensions:
The Beckman shampoo unit is Dream In Reality’s best-selling backwash. It slides in right in the middle of the budget range and has an ultra-modern design without breaking the bank. You get some nice adjustability as the seat can slide back and forth and the sink bowl can tilt to accommodate different body shapes and sizes.
I love the design on this one with the sleek chrome arms and curved base. The adjustable chair has dense memory foam and is covered in stain-resistant vinyl. It’s available in white, black, brown, and the featured grey above. If you like the lighter colors, considered matching them to new white salon chairs.
The bowl is full ceramic and is available in either black or white. It comes with the silicone neck rest, sprayer, faucet, and strainer, but you will need to pick up the hair trap separately.
The unit comes with a one-year warranty and can be plumbed from either the side or back depending on what your space needs.
Dimensions:
If you need something a little more compact but attractive, check out the BarberPub Backwash. It’s slightly smaller than many of the other chairs on the list but still has a comfortable armchair look with curved armrests
The back is pre-reclined and the footrest is a little small, which is an advantage in tight spaces, and the footrest raises all the way up to nearly a 90-degree angle. The cushioning is soft foam and the upholstery is waterproof and stain-resistant. To support your client’s back when reclined, they include a matching, removable lumbar support bolster pillow.
Dimensions:
If you’re looking for something more minimal, modern, and stylish try the Frette Shampoo Unit. Its compact size makes a great for tight spaces that larger shampooing units wouldn’t fit into.
I love the sharp angles of the base mirrored by the chair support. It has a very modern look to it that stands out from more standard boring models. The starkness even makes it seem like having a reclining footrest would be clunky, making the lack of reclining look like a positive while for many it would normally be edging toward a negative.
The ceramic bowl tilts to better align with the client’s neck and includes a vacuum breaker.
If you’re going all-in on this modern look, you may need to update your salon stations to match.
Dimensions:
For ultimate relaxation, check out this Electric Shampoo Station by Skin Act which has electric reclining and roller massage functions.
This is a good choice for a trendy salon with lots of older clients and the motorized reclining is easier on people with mobility issues. Your clients will love the rolling and kneading massage that they can control with the included remote.
The adjustable basin comes with a vacuum breaker built-in.
Dimensions:
Every salon is different and every situation is different so let's break down the biggest factors.
Budget.
This is a big element in your decision-making, but remember that you're investing in your business, and spoiled customers equal word-of-mouth recommendations.
Portable or stationary?
Whether you get a portable shampoo bowl or full backwash station generally depends on space and budget. Portable bowls are cheaper and take up less space. But, if you have the ability to get a stationary unit, is it worth it?
Cue the loud, resounding, "Yes!" from the crowd.
Stationary units are by and large more comfortable, stable, and make your client feel more secure. For the stylist, they're easier to operate and eliminate the risk of bumping or knocking it over.
Space.
Other than budget, this is the other biggest determining factor when deciding on a shampoo station. I find it helps to use painter's or masking tape to block out the dimensions of shampoo stations to see exactly how much of a footprint they'll take up.
Plumbing.
These units need to be professionally installed into your plumbing so be sure to double-check that their positioning aligns with your plumbing. Most units these days tend to have flexible orientation so that they can be plumbed from below, the side, or behind, but not all.
If you can't swing a plumbed unit, you'll want to stick to a shampoo chair like this LCL Beauty Chair and cozy it up to an existing sink.
Ergonomics.
Take note of the height of these stations to make sure they work well with the height of your stylists. For other work safety tips, check OSHA's hair salon page.
Reclining is definitely not a required feature, but it's really nice. It's especially good for older and disabled clients who may find the normal seated backwashes painful for their backs. Lifting the legs helps round out the spine and create a more comfortable position. Just like with lash pillows, a comfortable client is a still client.
Not to mention, it gives a more spa-like relaxing experience for everyone. (Though your very relaxed clients may fall asleep.)
The only reason to skip reclining is the space factor. When you're measuring your dimensions and making your choice, be sure to mark out the length of the chair when reclined. That way you're not in for a surprise when you get the shipment and suddenly the footrest takes up most of your walking space.
The style of a chair is important too. Are you looking for an upscale modern vibe? An opulent spa experience? A bold, unforgettable barbershop with flashy red barber chairs?
No matter what style you pick, they're probably going to feel great. The shampooing is some client's favorite part of going to the salon.
Your hair always comes out looking amazing after it's been washed at the salon. I know scientists have said that the shampoo used at salons contains the same ingredients as commercial shampoos, so it must be some kind of stylist magic.
