Opening a salon means buying hundreds of items before the first client sits down. Forget one and you are running to a retail chemist on day one. Buy too much and your cash is sitting on a shelf. This checklist covers what most new hair salons need, grouped the way salon wholesalers sell it, so you can plan orders and compare suppliers.
Key Takeaways
- Open your trade accounts first. Wholesale pricing applies only after approval.
- Buy backbar products in professional sizes and retail stock in smaller quantities until you know what sells.
- Start with one or two colour lines rather than a little of everything.
- Electricals sold in Australia should carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
1. Backbar products
Backbar is everything you use on clients rather than sell to them. It is where wholesale sizes save the most money.
- Shampoo and conditioner in professional sizes (often 1 litre or larger) for different hair types
- Treatments and masks, including bond-building treatments
- Heat protectant, leave-in conditioner and detangler
- Styling products: mousse, gel, paste, wax, texture spray, hairspray
- Scalp treatments and clarifying shampoo
2. Colour room
- Permanent and demi-permanent colour from your chosen line(s)
- Developers in a range of volumes
- Lightener and toners
- Colour bowls, brushes, whisks and digital mixing scales
- Foils, meche or highlighting sheets
- Gloves, colour capes, stain remover and barrier cream
- Colour charts and a record system for client formulas
Most suppliers offer starter packs or opening deals for a colour line. Ask what education and colour charts come with them.
3. Cutting and styling tools
- Cutting scissors and thinning scissors, plus a sharpening plan
- Razors and blades
- Combs: cutting, tail, wide-tooth
- Brushes: round brushes in several sizes, paddle and vent brushes
- Sectioning clips, spray bottles and neck brushes
- Cutting capes and neck strips
4. Electricals
- Professional hair dryers with diffusers and nozzles
- Straighteners and curling irons or wands
- Clippers and trimmers if you offer barbering
- Spare cords, heat mats and tool holders
Check that electricals are designed for Australian power and carry the RCM, and ask about warranty and repair turnaround. A salon cannot work without dryers, so a quick repair or loan unit is worth paying for.
5. Hygiene, towels and disposables
- Towels (dark colours hide colour stains) and a laundry plan
- Disinfectant for tools and surfaces, plus a container for soaking combs and brushes
- Disposable gloves, neck strips and cotton wool
- Bins, bin liners and a hair waste system
- First aid kit
If you offer waxing, skin treatments or anything that breaks the skin, check the health and skin penetration rules for your state or local council before you buy.
6. Furniture and equipment
- Styling chairs and mirrors
- Basins or backwash units (plan plumbing early)
- Trolleys and tool storage
- Reception desk, waiting seating and retail shelving
- Dispensary storage for colour and backbar stock
Furniture is a big-ticket purchase with long lead times. Many salon wholesalers sell furniture directly or through partners, so ask for delivery dates in writing.
7. Retail stock
Retail is products clients take home. Start small: choose a core range that matches your backbar so clients can buy what you used on them, then reorder based on what actually sells.
Quick reference table
| Category | Buy wholesale? | Typical supplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backbar | Yes | General salon wholesaler | Largest savings in bulk sizes |
| Colour | Yes | Brand distributor or wholesaler | Ask about education and starter packs |
| Tools | Yes | Wholesaler or specialist | Buy good scissors once |
| Electricals | Yes | Wholesaler or electricals specialist | Check RCM, warranty, repairs |
| Disposables | Yes | Wholesaler | Reorder little and often |
| Furniture | Often | Furniture specialist | Long lead times |
| Retail | Yes | Brand distributor or wholesaler | Start small, reorder what sells |
How to keep the opening budget under control
- List what you need for your first month of bookings, not your first year.
- Combine orders to reach free freight thresholds.
- Ask every supplier about new salon packages and opening discounts.
- Track backbar usage per service from week one, so your next order is based on real numbers.
Ready to buy? Find suppliers near you in the salon wholesale directory, then read how to choose a salon wholesale supplier.
FAQ
What supplies do I need to open a hair salon?
Most new salons need backbar products, a colour line with developers and lightener, cutting and styling tools, electricals, hygiene supplies and towels, salon furniture, and a small range of retail stock.
Should I buy salon supplies wholesale or retail?
Wholesale. Once you have a trade account you get trade pricing and professional sizes, which cost much less per service than retail packs.
How much stock should a new salon buy?
Enough for your first few weeks of bookings, then reorder based on actual usage. Buying a year of stock up front ties up cash and risks products going out of date.
Looking for a supplier? Search 355 salon wholesalers by state, suburb and specialty.
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