14 Essential Items to Buy from Hair Salon Equipment Suppliers
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Opening a new salon, or refitting one that’s starting to look tired, comes with a long salon equipment list.
It’s not just chairs and scissors. It’s basins, trolleys, capes, towels, spray bottles and a dozen small tools that quietly keep a busy salon floor running on time. If you get the list wrong, you’ll be making emergency trips to the supplier every second week. In contrast, if you get it right, your team can focus on cutting hair, not chasing equipment.
We’ve put together this list of 14 essential pieces of equipment based on what actually gets used in Perth salons day to day, not just what looks good on a showroom floor.
Here’s what to buy from your hair salon equipment suppliers, and why each item earns its place.
Large Hair Salon Furniture and Fixtures
Hairdressing Styling Chairs
Barber styling chairs are the single biggest investment on this list, and for good reason.
A stylist can spend eight hours a day standing beside one, and a client can spend an hour sitting in it. Comfort and adjustability matter more than looks alone. When you’re comparing options, look for:
- Hydraulic pump base with a smooth, controlled swivel
- A solid recline lock that doesn’t slip mid-service
- Upholstery that wipes clean without cracking within a year
Cheap vinyl might save money upfront, but it splits along the seams faster than you’d think, especially with regular colour and product exposure.
Shampoo Units and Backwash Basins
A shampoo unit needs to do two things well: support the client’s neck comfortably and drain properly without leaking. Backwash basins with an adjustable headrest reduce the number of complaints you’ll get from clients with long necks or sensitive backs. Ceramic and ceramic-composite basins tend to outlast the cheaper acrylic versions, particularly in salons that run colour services all day.
Hair Salon Styling Stations
Styling stations are where the daily grind happens, so storage matters as much as the mirror.
A good station gives each stylist a dedicated spot for their tools, colour swatches and client products without clutter building up on the bench. Wall-mounted stations save floor space in smaller salons. Double-sided stations tend to work better for larger teams who need to face clients toward natural light.
Hair Salon Reception Desks
Your reception desk sets the tone before a client even sits in a chair. It needs to fit your salon’s layout, give staff enough bench space for the till, appointment screen and retail display, and still look like part of the same design as the rest of the room. A cramped or mismatched desk makes even a beautifully fitted-out salon feel unfinished.
Essential Hairdressing Tools for Cutting and Styling
Professional Hair Shears and Scissors
Good shears cut cleanly through hair without pulling or crushing the strand. That’s the real test of quality, not the price tag alone.
Convex-edge shears suit dry cutting and give a smoother finish, while a solid pair of straight-edge scissors will handle almost everything else in a barber or salon setting. At Red One Perth, the Hexapro Scissors are built from high-grade steel for exactly this kind of daily precision work, without putting strain on the hand over a long shift.
Hair Salon Blow Dryers
A blow dryer needs enough airflow to cut drying time down, without being so loud or heavy that stylists dread using it by 3 pm. Ionic technology helps reduce frizz and speeds up drying on thicker hair types, which matters a lot in a fast-turnover salon.
The Supa Dryer 1800W by Wahl is a solid pick here, with enough power for full blowouts back to back without overheating.
Flat Irons, Hair Straighteners and Curling Irons
Ceramic and titanium plates heat more evenly than basic metal ones, which means fewer hot spots and less damage to the client’s hair. Look for adjustable temperature settings, since fine hair needs far less heat than coarse or coloured hair to style safely. A straightener that reaches temperature quickly also saves real time during a busy Saturday shift, when every extra minute per client adds up.
Professional Hair Clippers and Trimmers
Clippers and trimmers are non-negotiable, whether you’re running a full salon or a barbering section within it.
Cordless models give stylists freedom to move around the chair, but battery life and motor strength vary a lot between brands, so it pays to check both before buying. The JRL Onyx Clipper uses smart-clip technology that automatically adjusts motor speed under resistance, so it won’t drag or stall mid-cut. For detail work and clean edging, the American Barber ZeroGap Trimmer is another reliable option worth having in the kit.
Hairdressing Brushes and Combs
Every stylist has a favourite comb, but a well-stocked salon still needs a proper range of hairdressing tools on hand:
- Wide-tooth combs for detangling wet hair
- Fine-tooth combs for precision cutting and sectioning
- Guide combs for consistent clipper-guided lengths
The #1 Guide Comb Red is a handy addition to that last category, especially for fades and skin-tight cuts.
Essential Hair Salon Supplies and Accessories
Salon Rolling Trolleys and Carts
A trolley keeps a stylist’s tools within arm’s reach instead of scattered across the station bench. Look for one with a lockable wheel base so it doesn’t drift while in use, and enough tiered storage to separate clean tools from ones waiting to be sanitised.
Magnetic surfaces, like the Wahl Magnetised Tool Mat, are a small addition that makes a real difference. They keep clippers, shears and combs from rolling off the trolley mid-cut.
Client Hairdressing Capes and Aprons
Capes need to do more than look sharp on the client. They need to seal well at the neck, resist water and stray hair, and hold up to daily washing without the fabric thinning out. The Star Barber Cap Black is easy to wipe clean or machine wash between clients, which matters a lot when you’re running back-to-back appointments.
Salon Towels and Anti-Fatigue Mats
Towels get used constantly, so buy more than you think you need, in a colour that hides stains from colour and product.
Anti-fatigue mats belong at every styling station too. Stylists are on their feet most of the shift, and standing on bare tile all day takes a real toll on the back and knees. For hygiene between clients, single-use towels are worth stocking, and a Hot Towel Cabinet is a nice touch for services that call for warm towel treatments.
Hair Salon Spray Bottles
A reliable spray bottle should give a fine, even mist rather than a heavy stream that soaks the client’s collar. It sounds like a minor detail until you’re using one fifty times a day. The Water Spray Mist range gives a consistent, controlled mist that makes wetting sections down far less fiddly during a cut.
Salon Cleaning and Sanitation Equipment
Sanitation isn’t optional in a salon. It’s a legal requirement as well as a basic trust issue with clients.
Every station should have a hospital-grade disinfectant on hand for tools, along with a jar or container tall enough to fully submerge combs and shear blades between uses. Building this into your daily routine, not just a weekly deep clean, keeps both staff and clients protected.
Looking for the best hair salon equipment supplier in Perth?
Find the Right Hair Salon Equipment at Red One Perth
Sourcing everything on this list from one place saves time. It means your gear is consistent, easy to reorder, and backed by people who actually understand salon and barbering work.
At Red One Perth, we supply hair cutting tools, styling equipment and salon accessories to professionals across WA. Moreover, we provide Australia-wide delivery.
So browse our full range of quality barber supplies, or drop into our store in Yokine to see the tools in hand before you buy.
FAQs
Do salon shampoo units need plumbing and professional installation?
Yes. Most fixed shampoo units require plumbing for water supply and drainage, so confirm installation requirements and plumbing access before purchasing.
What should I check before buying a professional salon chair?
Check the hydraulic pump, stability, weight capacity, upholstery, reclining mechanism, comfort, warranty and availability of replacement parts before buying.
Do hair salon equipment suppliers provide replacement parts and repairs?
Many suppliers offer replacement parts or warranty repairs, but availability varies. Confirm spare parts, repair support and warranty coverage before purchasing equipment.
How can I tell if salon equipment is professional grade?
Look for durable commercial construction, reliable components, suitable weight capacity, manufacturer specifications, warranty coverage and readily available replacement parts.
What salon equipment is best for a small salon?
Choose compact styling stations, wall-mounted storage, mobile trolleys and multifunctional equipment to maximise floor space without compromising workflow.