Neon Sign Ideas for Hair and Beauty Salons

Everyone remembers that one moment when they are sitting in a salon having their hair and nails done. That perfect finish just before they take a picture of themselves in the mirror. That ideal image that you then tag the salon in on your Instagram. That all comes down to one thing… is there anything worth photographing?!

There's a moment in nearly every salon that happens time and time again, and it never fails to make everyone's day. The moment a client finishes their treatment and, staring into the mirror in front of them, can't help but gaze at their reflection. Admiring their newly coiffured hair or glowing complexion, they take a photo and send it off to Instagram, tagging the business in the background of the shot.

Your salon name or logo behind reception

We think that if you're only going to have one sign, then this is the sign to have. The back of the reception area is the first thing that people see when they come into the salon, and it's also the last thing that they see when they leave. Therefore it's a perfect place to put your salon name or logo in neon. It will make a great first impression on your clients and also be the perfect backdrop for photos that your clients can upload to social media after their hair appointments.

These work especially well for salons with logos, as they serve to reinforce your branding and encourage people to recommend you to their friends. We can produce a neon sign from the uploaded artwork of your logo. Alternatively, we can produce a neon of your salon's name written in a clean script.

Neon sign phrases for the styling stations

A few thoughts on neon sign phrases for your salon styling stations. These are generally written and placed above the mirrors where clients sit while their hair is styled. A common location for neon sign wording is above the hair styling chairs in hair salons, and above the treatment beds in beauty salons. However, this can vary, and many salons place neon signs above other services such as brow designing and manicures.

Just a quick note: we don't suggest using a really bright sign directly next to your mirrors for styling. Use something really vibrant on your feature wall, and then a softer light around your mirrors, so you haven't got loads of competing light for your hair colouring and the like.

Turn a wall into a selfie spot

This is one of the ways in which you can ensure your salon gets featured on Instagram. A wall that is large enough for your clients to stand with their back against it and get a full-length shot of themselves is perfect for this. Add a feature sign that is large enough to read from across the room, and you will find that your salon becomes the subject of dozens of stories every week. It's a slow way of promoting your salon, but it's free, so why not?

Think about the wall colour behind your sign as well. A deep, muted colour is perfect as a background to a neon sign, as it will really make the neon stand out. A busy, patterned wallpaper, on the other hand, can make your neon sign look like it has disappeared.

Match your salon's brand colours

So why is it so important to use your salon's brand colours in your neon signs? Well, the simple reason is that they will tie in perfectly with the interior design of your hair or beauty salon, and reinforce your brand to potential clients. People remember a well thought out salon a lot more than they do one that hasn't been given much thought. So a simple neon sign in your brand colours will keep your salon looking consistent and mean that your brand is always being promoted, whether that be around the reception area or in a treatment room.

We go into the colour-temperature side of this in more detail in our guide to beauty salon lighting.

A window sign for your salon entrance

Window signs are great marketing for your salon. An open sign or logo on the shop front will attract passing trade far better than a printed poster, even in the evening when your salon is closed.

Signs for every zone: hair, nails, brows and barbering

Small signs help individual areas of a salon to have their own identity and charm clients as they make their way around. You can have some fun with these, for example: "Lash & Lounge" for the treatment area of your beauty salon, "Nailed it" by the nail area, or "Fresh cuts" in the barbering corner of a mixed hair salon.

And don't forget the loo

An unusual tip, but the loo is often photographed, so add a fun bit of neon to that space too: a word, a heart or your logo. Simple, cost effective, and it finishes the salon off nicely.

A few practical bits before you buy

A few things to consider before ordering:

• Choose warm colours. Soft tones such as soft pink, warm white or amber are best suited for hair and beauty salons. You can use really bright colours on accent walls, but not on walls that will be used for styling around and inspecting colours. These colours can be really harsh and alter how hair colour looks.
• A dimmer makes the sign. Remote dimmers for LED neon signs can really make a huge difference to how your sign is used. Why have a sign that is just fixed at one brightness? A dimmer will let you have a relaxing treatment in a dimmed-down salon and then switch up a gear to brighten the space for styling and photos. A perfect addition to any salon sign. We offer a range of dimmers, including remote dimmer and receiver sets for your salon sign.
• Socket placement. Our signs are powered from safe low voltage and plug into a standard mains socket. Where possible we recommend that signs are positioned close to a socket and that the cable is then run behind the nearest piece of furniture or within trunking.
• Budget realistically. A custom salon neon sign from a UK workshop would start from around £60 for a very small sign. The price would rise depending on the size of the sign and the complexity of the design, so a very large sign for your feature wall would cost more than a small phrase for your door or window.

Ready when you are

Every salon is different, and we're happy to provide inspiration for your individual salon, whether it's a modern hair salon or a relaxing haven of beauty treatments. Browse our business collection for inspiration, or use our text designer to create your very own personalised neon sign for your salon. And if you have a logo already, we can quote for its use on a sign, simply upload it here.