Here is an email I’ve received from one of my customers who is confused about all the different salon shampoo washing systems and shampoo bowl designs available on the market.
“I’m opening a new beauty salon and I really love all the new style beauty salon shampoo stations, but I can’t find the design style information anywhere. I have many questions. What salon shampoo washing system style is the best to buy? Should I stick with the traditional salon shampoo bowl design or the new stylish Euro style shampoo bowls? I’m used to the old fashion beauty salon all-purpose styling chair with a sink. What are the pros and cons of buying each different style? Are some more comfortable than others? Do certain models provide for better water management? Is there anyone who can steer me in the right direction?”
First of all I’d like to say that I love these new Euro-style freestanding shampoo backwash units. The quality and styling of the fiberglass base units combined with the tilting porcelain bowls have created fantastic designs. That said, lets talk about the age-old question that I get asked all the time:
What shampoo bowl should I buy?
What I tell people is buy the one that will make your salon stand out from all the rest if that’s the fashion statement that you want to make! But be aware of the design pros and cons.
Lets talk about the basics of shampoo equipment like water management (water/gravity) and customer comfort. I like to break it down into three styles of shampoo sink design each with their distinct advantages and disadvantages.
1) An Asian style horizontal laying shampoo unit puts 100% of the head and 100% of the water in the bowl with gravity working for you 100%. But speaking from experience, they always seem to be difficult to lay down on (kind of like a big table) and uncomfortable for clients. This shampoo unit probably has the best water management system but not a very big seller, because of the huge lack of customer comfort.
2) So let’s talk about the old fashion American beauty salon with their wall mount shampoo sink. Well think about it, the client is on 45 degrees with the gravity of their head hanging into the sink and the stylist washing from the side. This means lets say 45% of the water with the help of gravity is working with you for water management. But it’s unfortunate that the client’s head is hanging in the bowl or you are holding it. Plus you are forced to stand toward the front side of the shampoo bowl typically wedged against the wall. This causes back strain for the stylist and head strain for the client, but your water management isn’t too bad because the sink is rather large and gravity is somewhat working for you.
3) Now that takes us to the newer Euro style tilting shampoo bowl with more of a sit-up style all in one shampoo unit. These Euro designs are quite comfortable! Basically it’s like, sitting in a chair and this makes your client more at ease plus easier to manage when shampooing. The typical freestanding backwash shampoo unit has quite a few ergonomic advantages for the stylists. First, you can wash hair standing in the rear of the bowl or from either side. This allows the back to remain straight and utilization of both hands can be equal. The bowl will tilt (most units) into the head and shoulders compensating for different heights. Some of these bowls have a tendency of being smaller in diameter so you are closer to your client, which is important for some of the smaller stylist. Most of the bowls have typically a deep neck recess with longer side neck extensions to collect water. This will help your water management with the longer neck extensions since gravity is not working in your favor with this style unit. You will need adequate water pressure but not excessive in combination with good working habits to manage your water around the client. Although, gravity is slightly more of a concern with this style, the advantages of the Euro-style shampoo bowls far outweigh the slight differences from the traditional shampoo units.
To sum it all up, the American market typically trends toward the standard wall mount shampoo bowl (ex. 2) if you don’t have a lot of space and are on a limited budget. But the newer Euro-style shampoo bowls offer huge variety, ergonomic comfort, and provide very economical choices. Plus the fashion statements you can design into your salon are absolutely endless. To be able to offer these Euro-style shampoo systems with porcelain bowls, complete with all the plumbing fixtures installed and a stylish fiberglass non-rusting base at these economics prices is very exciting for us here at Keller International. Check out our various models at Keller International Shampoo Systems.
When updating salon equipment or starting a new business you have to decide which financing option is best for you. Depending on your budget, you have a decision to make; do I lease of finance my new salon equipment? Here at Keller International we get asked all the time about the pros and cons of buying and leasing salon equipment.
Commonly Asked Questions about Leasing Salon Equipment:
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What is the difference between leasing or financing (through a bank) for purchasing my styling chairs and equipment?
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What are the advantages to leasing vs. a bank loan?
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Who do I turn to for leasing equipment and how does it work?
Leasing Salon Equipment is Easy and Affordable
Leasing is not a new option for salon businesses; in fact a lot of salons lease their equipment instead of financing it through a bank. The advantages of leasing are many. Leasing is quicker and easier for most business owners who have limited capital or who need equipment that must be upgraded every few years, while purchasing equipment can be a better option for established businesses or for equipment that has a long usable life.
Advantages of Leasing Salon Equipment
The primary advantage of leasing salon equipment is that it allows you to acquire salon furniture and supplies with minimal initial expenditures and allows you to finance 100% of the equipment costs, shipping costs, taxes, etc. This frees up your cash and other credit for other purposes.
Another financial benefit of leasing salon equipment is that your lease payments can usually be tax deductible, thus reducing the net cost of your lease. In addition, leases are usually easier to obtain. The lease applications are just one page and approvals are usually within 24 hours.
Leases also have more flexible terms and payment structures than bank loans for buying salon equipment. This can be a significant advantage if you have bad credit or need to negotiate a longer payment plan to lower your costs.
We at Keller International, work with several financing institutions that can finance all your salon equipment needs. Highland Financial Group, Quest Resources, Bank of Cardiff and Beneficial Capital are a few that offer great service and an understanding of the salon and barbershop community.