Selecting Quality Salon Apparel

Choosing quality salon apparel that looks and feels great is simpler when you understand your options. Whether you are stocking a new salon or upgrading your existing apparel, knowledge is power. With the right information, you can find everything from a styling apron to a client cape in comfortable yet durable materials. Today’s innovative salon wear can provide a silky touch or a fashionable print in combination with chemical resistance. Highly functional designs are available at affordable prices. Learn more to experience the top trends in salon, spa and grooming apparel.
 

Popular Types Of Stylist Apparel

SALON JACKETS AND VESTS

Water resistant or repellent salon jackets are worn throughout the appointment, as they feature multiple pockets for tools that can assist during the shampoo, cut and style. Salon vests and collared jackets come in various lengths and portray a professional image. 
 

SALON APRONS

Styling, chemical and all-purpose salon aprons come in traditional designs or with a fashionable flair. A chemical apron delivers protection during the color, perm or other chemical service. An all-purpose apron usually means you have one apron that’s ideal for all salon services. Fabric on aprons may be treated with Teflon or other similar special coating, but styling aprons without treatments work well for basic services. Most aprons adjust at the neck and waist via snaps or ties.
 

SALON SMOCKS AND COVER-UPS

A smock is a form of apparel that provides additional coverage of the arms and body. Beauty salon smocks and cover-ups can be lightweight and resist water, wrinkles and even hair. 

Salon apparel leaders provide aprons, vests and jackets for stylists and barbers in classic looks featuring quality construction.
 

Salon apparel leaders, such as Fromm, provide aprons, vests and jackets for stylists and barbers in classic looks featuring quality construction.




 

The Best salon apparel for clients

Premium salon capes and smocks for clients reliably keep clothing and skin free of damp hair, moisture, stains, and in some cases, chemicals. Choosing the ideal coverage for a particular hair or beauty service is vital to comfort. Items such as salon gowns or spa wraps can be woven from materials with a luxurious feel. Client gowns are designed with sleeves and provide extra coverage during the service or spa treatment. Though most are one-size fits all, salon aprons, smocks and capes are available in varying lengths, so consider getting a variety of sizes to properly support your clientele.

Of course, the most essential item for every salon client is the cape due to their versatility and comfort. These are the most common salon capes for your clients:

• Shampoo and styling - waterproof or water resistant; provides a barrier against drips and splashes, as well as shampoo and conditioner.
• Kid-friendly - specially designed for children in size and pattern, these capes should also be made of child-safe materials.
• Chemically resistant - specially treated apparel for perms, highlighting or other salon services.
• Stain resistant - resists general salon stains but not the effects of chemicals.
• All-purpose - may offer the convenience of water and chemical resistance.

In addition to these styles, there are also shorter comb-out capes made strictly for hair styling and larger barber capes made with male clients in mind.
 

The Latest in Salon Apparel Materials and Characteristics

Manufacturers of salon apparel use specific materials to create client and stylist apparel for certain tasks. Ordering the right salon apparel fabrics will ensure the service is enjoyable for the client, as well as the stylist, technician or barber.
 

WATER REPELLED AND WRINKLES RESISTED

Most salon-friendly fabrics will repel moisture to some degree. When water repellent beauty salon aprons are exposed to water, the liquid should simply slip off the material. Wrinkle resistance refers to the product’s ability to crease less or appear free of wrinkles during wear. Crinkle nylon is an example of a versatile fabric that resists wrinkles, as well as water and stains.

 

FABRIC BLENDS AND TREATMENTS

Salon apparel may be constructed from a single fabric or woven into a fabric blend, such as polyester with microfiber. Fabrics are woven together for comfort or to add a feature, such as static electricity resistance. Some salon apron and cape fabrics get their special features from coatings, allowing them to resist water, stains and wrinkles. Fabrics are also treated in order to resist strong solutions, such as hair color, perm solution, bleach, and other salon chemicals. That means a chemical cape could be made from nylon but have an acrylic coating. The strongest chemical proof capes and aprons are often made of waterproof polyurethane and are given the highest level of protection and durability.


 

WEIGHT AND BREATHABILITY

Lighter weight fabrics, such as nylon, keep wearers cooler and more comfortable. The term “breathable” differs from “lightweight.” It refers to the fabric’s property of allowing moisture vapors - such as perspiration - to be released, making wearers feel cooler. These types of materials are often used to make hair styling capes. With salon fabric innovations, even chemical-proof apparel can be lightweight and breathable.
 

PATTERNS AND SOLIDS

Due to their ability to hide stains, black, brown and burgundy salon apparel are considered staples, but sometimes fabrics are chosen to highlight a salon’s personality instead. Patterns, prints, and unique designs are readily available. Reversible salon capes can provide two colors in one, and may also have sides designed for different uses, such chemical resistance and styling.
 

Choosing Between Velcro© and Snap Closures

Beauty salon apparel does present adjustability and closure considerations. Items may be secured by magnetic, hook-and-loop, tie, snap or Velcro© closures. In the case of beauty salon capes, Velcro© and snaps are commonly chosen.
 

VELCRO^©

Having Velcro closures for salon apparel is a popular choice. Velcro designs offer a significant amount of adjustability, and are both fast and reliable. However, hair and debris can get caught in Velcro and be difficult to clean. 
 

SNAPS

Some professionals prefer the security of snaps for their salon apparel, which are also fast and reliable. Snap designs offer adjustability but can be less adjustable than Velcro. On high-quality beauty apparel, durable metal snaps are sewn carefully into the fabric so they are less likely to detach from surrounding material. However, if a snap becomes broken, the apparel may require replacement.
 

Quick Care Tips for Salon Apparel

Your hair and beauty salon apparel will last longer and provide maximum protection when it is washed and dried according to the manufacturer’s care instructions for salon apparel. The following tips may help you keep your apparel in top form longer.
 

READ THE CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Each item will have unique care guidelines based on its materials, construction and treatments. For example, chemical resistant salon apparel can usually be washed in a machine but may need a cold water cycle. When fabric is treated to resist water, stain and wrinkles, it will have specific care instructions to maintain these capabilities.
 

KNOW THE EFFECTS OF HEAT

Specially treated materials are often no-iron fabrics. Other beauty salon apparel items may require ironing on low temperatures to prevent damage. Chemical aprons and capes can come with instructions for air drying or using delicate dryer cycles. Over-drying lightweight fabrics may affect the product’s appearance or cause a fabric coating to crack.
 

CONSIDER THE COLORS

The shimmer of metallic fabrics and the beauty of color will last longer when apparel is washed according to manufacturer instructions. Some fabrics may require sorting so that similar fabrics or colors are washed together.
 

BE AWARE OF BLEACH

Many salon capes, vests and wraps cannot be washed with bleach. Even chemical resistant fabrics may have instructions to avoid bleach during the wash. Other fabrics will specify the use of non-chlorine bleach.
 

THINK ABOUT CLOSURES

A manufacturer could instruct you to wash an item with the closure strips detached or to hang dry apparel with snaps. Belts that are not sewn into a garment may need to be washed separately.

Check the instructions when your new apparel arrives, even if it is from a familiar brand. Caring properly for salon wear will save you time and money in the long run!

 

Shop Marlo Beauty Supply’s Selection of Quality Salon Apparel

Here at Marlo Beauty Supply, we pride ourselves on providing salon professionals with not only great options for quality salon apparel, but with wholesale pricing and educational resources tailored specifically for professionals.

If you have any additional questions about what salon apparel to purchase for your beauty or hair salon, contact our expert customer care team for assistance! Additionally, shop our wide variety of salon capes, aprons, vests, salon stylist smocks, spa apparel, barber apparel, and other salon necessities all at wholesale prices.