A few key factors to consider when choosing towels for your salon

When a customer visits a salon, they come away with an experience. If they like it, they will be back! As many are aware, it is sometimes the little things that make a difference, and perhaps one of the most overlooked things in a salon is the humble salon towel. Certainly a functional object, but when you see it as an opportunity to enhance the client’s experience and reinforce your branding, the choice of salon towel takes on a new light.

When choosing towels for you salon, you should be mindful of the specific qualities of the material, the durability of the towel, its absorbency, size, and aesthetic qualities to ensure they meet the demands of the salon environment and exceed client expectations.

The choice of material

Many salon owners opt for 100% cotton towels, which have been a staple of the industry for time out of mind. Offering softness and high absorbency they provide a luxuriant feel for clients. Popular varieties of cotton towel for those looking for superior quality include Turkish and Prima cotton. In modern times, Microfibre towels have made significant inroads into the market. This trend for the use of a polyester/nylon blend is fuelled by the fact that these towels are highly durable, extremely absorbent, light, fast drying and crucially, resistant to most chemicals. Their properties mean that Microfibre towels are particularly well suited to the rigours of a busy salon. One caveat with these two types of towers is worth bearing in mind - you should avoid using fabric softeners with both materials as their use actually coats the fibres of the salon towels and negatively impacts their absorbency over time.

Their durability and resistance to chemicals

Perhaps the number 1 hazard facing a towel in a salon is bleach! Anyone who has visited a salon in their best clothes only to come away with a tell-tale splash of unexpected colour will agree. Choosing bleach-proof or bleach resistant towels is a smart move. Essential for colour and chemical treatments to prevent staining, fading and damage to towel fibres, these towels are manufactured using a specialist dyeing process that locks in the colour. Features to look out for are strong construction e.g. tight high quality stitching, double-turned edges and advanced hemming. These features allow salon towels to endure frequent wash cycles in the salon environment.

Towel weight and absorbency

A technical definition to help you make your choice: GSM (grams per square meter) is the standard measure of towel density; Mid-range GSM (400-600) offers a good balance of plushness, high absorbency, and practical drying times, suitable for most salon needs; Higher GSM (600+) provides a thicker, more luxurious, spa-like feel, but they are heavier and take longer to wash and dry.

Towel size and practicality

Perhaps the most obvious guideline it to match the towel size to the specific treatment or service it is intended for. The standard size of around 16" x 27" is common for hair services, while larger bath towels or sheets might be needed for spa treatments. Don’t overlook the fact that towels (especially cotton ones) can shrink in the wash, with cotton towels typically shrinking down by about 10% after the first wash.

An easy way to emphasise your brand

White towels add too the mood of cleanliness, and can give a spar ambiance, dark colours like black an charcoal are great at hidings stains, but to add to the branding of your salon, why not consider choosing towels in distinctive salon colours? Another benefit beyond simple branding by choosing coloured towels would be to enable colour coding of towels for different uses (e.g., one colour for hair, another for nails) can help prevent cross-contamination and streamline laundry organisation. On top of this, for the brand conscious salon owner, why not add the extra touch of custom embroidery with your salon's logo can enhance your professional image and branding.

At Direct Salon Furniture we have been supplying the whole spectrum of salon towels to UK salons, spas, barber shops and care homes for over 20 years. Visit the salon towel department of our online store to find out more!