Hairdressing chairs, styling chairs, and salon stools – what is the difference?

The Salon Stool – It’s Your Chair

The salon stool is the one you sit on while you work. It has wheels so you can move around the customer without standing up. In Denmark, we are actually the only country in the world that uses salon stools with backrests. In most places worldwide, hairdressers sit on a saddle stool instead. The backrest is usually used to push the chair, not to lean against. The most important things to look for in a salon stool are:

• That the wheels roll easily and have hair-proof covers so hair doesn’t get tangled around them
• That the seat height can be adjusted so you work at the right height
• That the seat supports your body so you don’t tense your shoulders

Our honest recommendation: try a saddle stool if you haven’t already. The curved seat gives your lower back a natural tilt that makes a noticeable difference after a long workday. See our salon stools here

The Styling Chair – It’s the Customer’s Chair

The styling chair is the large, padded chair by the mirror – the one your customer sits in while you cut. It swivels and can be raised and lowered with a hydraulic pump under the seat. Many call it a hairdressing chair. That’s not wrong, but it causes confusion online.

The most important thing about a styling chair is not that it looks nice – although that obviously matters. The most important thing is that it can be pumped down low enough. A good rule of thumb is that the chair should be able to be lowered to about 38-42 cm seat height. If you are short and your styling chair can’t go low enough, you raise your shoulders to reach the customer, and that’s where injuries start. The test we always recommend: roll your salon stool up to the styling chair and sit right up to it. Can you work comfortably without tensing up? Also test if you can stand behind the customer and think “wow, this is a good spot where I can relax.” Then it’s the right chair. See our styling chairs here

Hairdressing Chairs – The Overall Term

“Hairdressing chairs” is actually a collective term for both types. When people search for “hairdressing chairs” online, they sometimes mean the salon stool, sometimes the styling chair, and sometimes the wash chair. At Just Add People, we divide them into two separate categories precisely because they serve two very different purposes. That makes it easier to find the right one.

Which One Should You Buy?

It’s rarely an either-or. You need both, but they are used very differently. For yourself, we always recommend starting with ergonomics. Choose a salon stool you can sit on all day without feeling it in your back, rather than one that just looks good. The best thing you can do is visit our showroom in Viborg and try them out. Just like showing your mom how fast you could run in your new shoes before taking them home – the same goes for salon stools. For the customer, we recommend choosing something that lasts many years and fits your salon’s style and customers. The styling chair is the first piece of furniture the customer notices, and it sends a signal about who you are as a hairdresser.

Not Sure?

Call us. We have helped hairdressers find the right furniture for more than 30 years, and we know the difference between what works in everyday life and what only looks good in pictures. It’s not to sell you something expensive – it’s to make sure you get the right chair.

Phone: +45 32256060
Monday to Friday
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM