Should Salons Have A Dress Code?

Three salon owners discuss whether uniforms are a thing of the past

1 CHRISTEL BARRON-HOUGH, FOUNDER STIL SALON

“For us the STIL Front of House team plays a vital role in first impressions when a client walks into the salon. We want our customer service to be friendly, relaxed and professional so we therefore felt that the stylists’ dress code should be smartcasual to reflect the feel of the salon, but for the Front of House team we wanted to have a difference in the way they dress and the way the stylists dress. The smart-casual element makes the team approachable and professional, but also allows for individual personality and expression in the way they dress and that’s exactly what we love to strive for. Hairdressers generally have an individual style; fashion has come such a long way and it can be celebrated at any age. We believe that there are no boundaries to fashion therefore we would like our hairdressers to wear what they like. Generally, as a brand when you have an image you will naturally attract like-minded people that like what you stand for, and that is often the case with people’s sense of style as well. The culture and brand image of our business is often reflected in the way our hairdressers dress. STIL is Swedish for style, so I would say that most of the staff have a slight Scandi element to their fashion choices.”

2 LINDA STEWART, FOUNDER, RAINBOW ROOM INTERNATIONAL

“Yes, we have a uniform and guidelines for our team, ensuring we always maintain professionalism and portray our brand correctly to those who visit the salon or pass by. We have a uniform for our trainees, which is currently a white shirt and black tie. Girls wear black skirts and black tights, boys wear black trousers and both wear black shoes. They look very smart and professional, and clients are forever commenting on how good they look. We allow our stylists to express their individualism through their dress sense and they do not wear a uniform. However, we do have some rules: no trainers, jeans or overly casual attire. We encourage the team to dress up every day as we are part of a fashion industry and should be inspiring our clients through hair and image. For those using colour, we have special tint aprons, which have our logo and our design on them, making it recognisable to clients and when any member of staff is applying colour they wear aprons to protect their clothing. To us, the benefit of wearing a uniform is that you can make sure the brand is always on-point and professional standards are upheld. Across the board our team both respect and understand the protocol when it comes to our uniform policy. We continue to keep this as is, because it has proved a hit with our team and our clients.”

3 COLIN MCANDREW, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MEDUSA

“At Medusa, we believe that individuality is at the heart of great hairdressing. That’s why we don’t enforce a uniform policy across our salons. Instead of making our team look like clones of each other, we encourage them to express their style while maintaining a polished and professional appearance. We set high standards, but we don’t dictate how those standards should be met. Every stylist has their own personality, and we want that to shine through, not just in their work, but in the way they present themselves. Clients visit Medusa for creativity, expertise, and a welcoming atmosphere, and we believe that allowing our team to dress as individuals reinforces this experience. This belief also ties into our salon interiors. Each Medusa salon has a distinct, contemporary style that blends modern design with a warm, inviting feel. A uniform would feel out of place in such an environment. Instead, our team’s style complements our salons, making them feel authentic, dynamic, and fresh, never corporate or forced. Of course, freedom doesn’t mean a free-for-all. We expect our team to be stylish, professional, and reflective of our brand. We trust our team to understand what’s appropriate and to present themselves in a way that reflects the high-quality service we provide. This balance of creative expression and professional standards helps create a work environment that feels inspiring and empowering.”