What to wear as a salon assistant

Are you a newly qualified salon assistant? Perhaps you are about to start working as an apprentice and are confused about the uniform requirements. Here at Greenbergs, we are to give you the lowdown on what to wear as a salon assistant.

Types Of Salon 

Salons go by their own sets of rules concerning dress codes. Generally speaking, the manager or owner of the salon gets to make the executive decision on what they want their employees to wear. This dress code can include one of three possible choices:

The first is that there is no dress code whatsoever. Salon managers may advise their employees to come to work in presentable attire that tells the customer something about themselves.

A customer may see a salon assistant wearing clothes they would also purchase and think, ‘that stylist will know what I’m looking for!!’ By allowing employees to express themselves, customers can find the stylist that is just right for them,

The second option involves the salon manager asking all employees to wear the same colours. For example, they can tell employees always to wear purple and white or blue and green. Others may just recommend employees dress smartly. 

A colour requirement is a clever way of enforcing a dress code without limiting the employees’ creativity. There is still a degree of uniformity, but nobody will feel uncomfortable. It’s a win-win situation!

In certain salons, managers will provide a uniform that all staff members must wear. This uniform will protect the employee's clothes from the perils of a hair salon, like bleach stains or water spillage. It will also make the workforce look united and professional in their efforts to make everybody’s hair look amazing. 

If you are a salon manager interested in purchasing a set of contemporary uniforms or a stylist looking to buy comfortable smart trousers, visit Greenbergs for all your beauty uniform essentials.

Salon Uniforms

If your salon manager has chosen option three and decided employees will wear matching uniforms, it’s crucial to talk about comfort, quality and design. 

It can be tiresome figuring out what to wear as a salon assistant. But regarding uniforms, we think you should consider what clothes you feel most comfortable wearing.

It is hard to strike a balance between looking fashionable and professional. That’s why many salon assistants wear tunics as their uniforms. With a secure button-fastening and comfortable collar, tunics are a classic way to look good while working.                                                                                                                                                                                          

Pair these with a pair of black trousers: you’ve got a brilliant way to look sophisticated without feeling uncomfortable. Simple! Or, if you’re not a pants person, many salon assistants wear dresses with angled necklines and waists with peplum detail. 

The material needs to be breathable and unrestricted so you won’t feel uncomfortable throughout your day. Salon assistants work long, hard hours. So we understand that comfort and style must go hand in hand. 

Casual Salon Workwear Ideas

If your salon does not have a uniform, you may need to find your own. In this case, you are free to dress as casual as you like. However, you must toe the line between comfortable and professional.

We don’t recommend that you go to work dressed in joggers and a sweatshirt. Far from it! Although that would be nice, it is impractical. Making a good impression on clients is vital in salon assistant life.

Therefore, we recommend a tunic that puts a twist on the classic. A ¾-length V-neck tunic can be a more comfortable, less clinical option than the traditional tunic. You can pair this with your most roomy black trousers or even a pair of black leggings! 

If your salon has a colour requirement and you cannot find a tunic in this style, wearing a fitted t-shirt may do the trick. After all, sometimes tunics with exposed buttons risk getting caught in a client's hair or your own! 

Makeup & Jewellery 

Salon assistants should wear makeup that aligns with the business's image. Beauty salons, for example, will have much stricter makeup guidelines than hair salons. Beauty therapists typically keep their makeup light, erring more on the ‘no-makeup make-up look’ style. 

If this is the case, ensure your foundation colour matches your skin tone. This way, you won’t even look like you are wearing makeup. For a more understated look, match your eyeshadow to your hair colour and apply nude-coloured lipstick.

Salon assistants working with hair should wear as little jewellery as possible. If you wear a long necklace, you could get it tangled in your client's hair. Rings should be limited to wedding rings, as working with water all day may damage your jewellery and skin.