Best Lighting for Barbershop

All Barbers need a good quality light around for their haircuts. 

I would definitely recommend having a couple of these lights in order to make your hair cuts that much better.  Proper lighting will make the difference.

KEEP ONE OF THESE RING LIGHTS NEXT TO YOUR STATION AND YOUR DAILY LIFE WILL BE MUCH SMOOTHER.  This one is my favorite.

 

In This Article

In this article, we will give you all the considerations you need for choosing the right lighting for your barbershop.

This means not only the proper physical lights, but the differences in how these lights work, and the type of light they emit.

We will start with all the general considerations you need to think about with lighting.

Then, we will outline other factors such as cost, and setting up the lights within your shop.

 

BEST LIGHTING FOR BARBERS

In the following table we compare two of the most popular LIGHTS used in the barbershop.

I would suggest the Hanging Lights for the Barbershop as a whole and the Ring Lights with the Stand for each of the barber’s stations.

BEST LIGHTING FOR BARBERS

	Standing Round Light	FLourescent Ceiling
PHOTO
PRICE	CHECK ON AMAZON	CHECK ON AMAZON
ATTACHMENTS	stand, soft tube, shoe adapter, smart phone holder	Bulbs, Mounting Hardware, Instruction Manual, Switch
PLUG-IN/WIRE	Universal Adapter with US Plug	Plug-in With In Line on/off Switch
WATTAGE	3200K-5600K Manually Adjusted with Dial	4000K
BULB	Ring Flourescent	LED
WARRANTY	NO warranty	5 YEAR

 

Basic Considerations for Lighting

If you are getting ready to purchase any new lights for your shop, make sure you zero in on its color temperature.

The color temperature of a light is a way of describing the appearance of the light that will be emitted.

This can change depending on your preferences, but there are certain types of light that are much more suited to certain situations.

It is all about making the right choice. It will save you time and money. Pay attention to the following Kelvin ranges:

 

• Less than 2000K:Just like candlelight, it gives off a dim glow of light. It is good for low-light areas
• 2000K-3000K:This kind of light has a nice soft white glow that is good for bedrooms, living rooms, and outdoor spaces.
• 3100K-4500K:This kind of light is bright is mainly used in kitchens, offices, works spaces where bright light is needed. (Barbershop/salon lighting should fall under this category)
• 4600K-6500K:This type of light is similar to daylight. It is commonly used in places where heavy light is needed
• 6500K and up:This is what I call blinding light, and should only be used in commercial locations where heavy light is required.

 

 

Poor lighting is a setup for bad haircuts. It is common these days to find barber shops built and designed by people that don’t necessarily cut hair themselves.

They do not really have any technical knowledge on how good lighting, when positioned correctly, will make the job of every barber that much easier.

So today, I’m going to shed some light on some of the best lighting techniques you can use and apply them in your own barbershop. 

The best lighting for barbershop gets discovered here.

Beloware a few of the shop lights you can integrate into your barbershop or workspace. 

They range from the 4000k Temperature therefore allowing the perfect light and color for those great haircuts.Click on one of these pictures to learn more.

 

 

A great choice for a barber who needs a quick installation right at their station with a plug-in light would be this one. 

It was recommended by a fellow barber and friend of mine.  He said they worked phenomenally.  Definitely check them out.

 

 

Choosing the Right Kelvin Color Temperature

An important consideration in any general lighting decision is the color temperature.

Color temperature essentially effects how a room will look and feel. Of course, you want the most appropriate illumination for all your cutting and hair styling, while still maintaining a comfortable, aesthetic environment.

Fixtures in many barbershops are usually color temperatures around 2700K on the Kelvin scale.

These are mainly used with incandescent lights. They can even go up to 3500K on the Kelvin scale, which is used with fluorescent lights.

Anything higher are usually found in commercial buildings and hospitals where bright light is needed.

It can be harsh for any salon or barbershop setting. Do not worry, I know this does not make sense now, but I will help all of this make sense in the next paragraph.

 

Color temperature

Color temperature, widely known as color appearance, just shows how warm or cool light is emitted.

When considering a bulb and color temperature, it is just as important to know a white light can look somewhat warmer or a bit cooler.

A warm white light bulb produces a small yellow tone to it. A cool white light bulb appears a slight bluish color.

 

 

Different Types of Lights

One of the most important, fundamental elements of hair cutting, and environmental tools is good lighting.

If you can see it better, you can cut it better, and you can do a better hair cut. In this section, I am going to talk about incandescent lights, and fluorescent lights.

Before we dive into those different types of lights, we must first understand how to measure light.

Lights are measured in what is called “Kelvin”. Kelvin is just the Standard International unit of thermodynamic temperature.

The reason why I am focusing on this is because it can guide and help you to determine which fixture is right for your shop, and in each room present.

 

A Deeper Look into Lighting

When it comes down to it, which color temperature to use is a personal choice. In a barbershop setting, incandescent light creates shadowing, while fluorescent light spreads and fill in shadows.

As I said before, some barbershops are built by people that do not understand the technicality of cutting hair, so you need to be aware of your lights to create the best results.

Have you ever noticed that when a customer is sitting directly under a fixture with incandescent bulbs, certain parts of their head from the occipital bone of the crest line is not well lit from the light above?

Since heads are curved, when you shine a light directly on a head, the occipital bone creates a shadowing.

That makes cutting very difficult. When you use fluorescence light, it allows the light to reflect off the wall, down, to, in and around the head, filling in gaps and shadows.

From a lighting standpoint, it generates good hair cutting.

Basically, you want the lighting that will be most effective to cut and style hair.

This will make the experience better for you, and the customer will be more satisfied with their hair cut. Lighting is essential in properly illuminating the head and ensuring you have a clear view of the entire process.

“Okay, but fluorescent bulbs are more expensive?” you say. Let us examine the real cost of using incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

 

The Cost

Incandescent light bulb

The average cost of an incandescent light bulb is about 50 cents.

They roughly last about 750 hours. Leaving a 100-watt bulb on for 24 hours each day, for a whole year would use 876 kilowatt hours per year. When you stop and add up the numbers, you get this:

 

• 100 watts x 24 hours x 365 = 876,000 watt hours
• 876,000 watt hours/ 1,000 = 876 kilowatt hours

The average cost of a kilowatt-hour of electricity is about 15 cents (although it depends on where you live).

Total costs we are looking about $131.40 per year to operate them in your shop. Let us do the math.

 

• 876 kWh x 0.15 cents = $131.40

 

Since the bulbs only last 750 hours, they have to be changed at least 12 times a year.

In an entire year, 24 hrs a day, it is about 8,760 hours per year. Now, let us divide 8760/750 hours per light bulb =  12 light bulbs.

Considering the cost of an incandescent light bulb is about 50 cents, you would have to pay $6.00 for bulbs each year.

 

• 12 bulbs x $0.50 per bulb = $6.00

Fluorescent bulbs

Fluorescent bulbs last about 8,000 hours, and cost about $5. In comparison, a 25-watt fluorescent bulb is equally the same to a 100-watt incandescent light.

The average cost of a kilowatt-hour of electricity is about 15 cents.

Leaving your 25- watt fluorescent bulb on for 24 hours a day for a whole year would use about 216,000 kilowatt-hour per year.

You would roughly pay $32.40 x 2 per year to operate them in your shop.Let us do the math.

 

• 216 kWh x 0.15 cents = $32.40

 

Remember, they need to be changed every 8000 hours, so that is twice a year. If each bulb is $5, that is an extra $10 per year, bringing the total to $42.40.

 

Comparing the Cost

At the end of the year you are looking at a total of $137.40 if you choose to use incandescent lights for your shop.

 

• $131.40 + $6.00 = $137.40

 

At the end of the year, the total cost for fluorescent bulb is about $42.40 to operate.

 

• $32.40 +$10.00 = $42.40

 

Cost – The Bottom Line

Even though fluorescent bulbs cost a whopping $5 per bulb, they are the most cost effective bulbs to operate.

Therefore, depending on your usage and your work schedules, you will more than likely save money in the long run through use of fluorescent bulbs.

These are just ballpark numbers. The cost would be different for each shop, and the demand for them.

At the end of the day, you want a bulb that is cost effective, but also ideal for an effective haircut.

Realistically, this might include a combination of both types of bulbs, both for overhead use and for personal lighting on a desk or side table.

 

Final Consideration – General vs. Task Lighting

As you can probably tell from this article, it is very important to have proper lighting to completely illuminate your client and perform a proper haircut.

However, it is also a place of business, so you still want to concentrate on having your shop be a comfortable, appealing place to visit.

One way to strike a good balance in this regard is to first focus your attention on general lighting, and then on task lighting.

 

General Lighting

General lighting is the main lighting which affects how your shop “feels”. Its main purpose is to provide a comfortable aesthetic to your shop.

Often, retail environments or customer-facing businesses want to strike a balance between being dark and dreary, and being overly bright and harsh.

In a barber shop, you can try to focus your general lighting on all areas except where the barber needs a great view of a customer’s hair.

Most shops try to provide a warm, inviting atmosphere with their general lighting.

 

Task Lighting

Once you have settled on a type of general lighting that best suits the aesthetic of your shop, you can focus on task lighting.

Of course, in a barber shop, your task is to cut, trim, style, comb, and anything else hair related.

As previously mentioned, you want your work area to be very well lit. You want to eliminate shadows and ensure that you can see everything properly.

Overall, by focusing on general lighting and task lighting separately, you can ensure that your shop has a great ambience without sacrificing the quality of your work.

This is the ideal situation for any barber, and is very achievable with proper planning.

 

Conclusion

Thank you for reading my guide for the best lighting for a barbershop.

As you can see, lighting in a barbershop is quite a bit more important than people might realize. Barber shop design is not complete until you account for light fixtures and light output.

In this guide, I helped you decide the best lighting based on numerous factors.

You should prioritize the lighting that allows you to most effectively cut and style hair. From there, consider the aesthetic of your shop and the cost considerations.

All this considered, you will make a great choice for you and your customers.

I hope I was able to give you a lot of valuable information regarding the best lights for a barbershop. If you have any questions be sure to shoot them in the comment section below. Until next time!