EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LAUNCH YOUR BEAUTY BUSINESS

If you want to launch your own beauty business, it’s important to choose the right equipment and materials. From the beauty bed to makeup remover pads, each and every item must be carefully selected. Here’s a brief but comprehensive guide that will help you ensure you have everything you need on opening day. First, make a list of the services you plan to offer at your salon.

Doing so will help you establish your initial budget. For reference, some of the most common salon services offered include waxing, pedicure, manicure, facial care and back care. Once you’ve finalized your list of services, you can determine your budget and start thinking about which equipment and material you’ll need to get.

 

Buy new or used??

That’s a very important question! When you’re just starting off, it can be very advantageous to buy second-hand material. Not only will you cut down on your initial expenses, but you’ll also breathe easier and stress less. Make sure to devote adequate time to research! It should be relatively easy to find a used magnifying lamp, high frequency machine or Vapozone steamer. You can also save money by buying a second-hand beauty bed. Look for deals on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji, which is a real goldmine for bargain hunters.

 

If you prefer to buy your equipment new, research different suppliers and take the time to shop around. Don’t be afraid to recline on different beauty beds to assess their comfort. It’s a major investment so you want to make sure you make the right choice. And always remember that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is! A “fully-equipped” beauty bed selling for $500 or $600 can turn out to be of poor quality and break faster. You also have a variety of payment options. Some suppliers may offer to loan you equipment or provide an instalment plan where you can make payments over several months. These options are worth considering for more expensive items.

 

Smaller supplies

Smaller items like 4×4 cotton pads and tweezers are also salon essentials that are worth shopping around for. Just like for larger supplies, you should take the time to research different suppliers and look at their current special offers. You should also find out if they offer volume discounts, which can save you money on items like makeup remover pads, waxing strips, cotton swabs and tongue depressors. And don’t forget about large retailers like Costco, which sometimes also offer deals.

It’s also worth investing in high-quality linen. Your clients will appreciate your attention to their comfort, especially if you offer them relaxation treatments. Plus, high-quality fabrics are much easier to clean and they’ll last a much longer time, remaining lint-free and retaining their original form and colour. Here’s another useful tip: When shopping around for items like pareo wraps, headbands, hand towels, contour or flat bedsheets and blankets, get them all in the same colour so you’ll save on washing time!

 

Essential supplies

  • 4×4 gauze pads
  • Makeup remover pads
  • Cotton swabs
  • Tissues
  • Nitrile or vinyl gloves (avoid latex due to allergies)
  • Gibson
  • Garbage bags

 

General equipment

  • Beauty bed
  • Magnifying lamp with stand (with wheels or wall attachment)
  • Rolling trolley cart (some models include a magnifying lamp)
  • Rolling stool
  • Equipment and material for facial care
  • High frequency machine
  • Vapozone steamer (optional)
  • Lucas machine (optional)
  • Glass dish
  • Soft bowls (various sizes)
  • Brushes for applying face masks (minimum 3)
  • Tongue depressors
  • 4×4 compress

 

Facial care linens

  • Pareo wraps (minimum 2)
  • Bedsheets (contour and flat)
  • Blanket
  • Terry hand towels (minimum 8)
  • Headbands (minimum 2)
  • Cushion for the knees

 

Hair removal equipment and supplies

  • Wax warmer (preferably double)
  • Nitrile or vinyl gloves (avoid latex due to allergies)
  • Tongue depressors
  • Small depressor for facial depilation
  • Tweezers
  • Eyebrow brush
  • Waxing strips
  • Pre-wax lotion
  • Wax
  • Post-wax cream
  • Wax cleaner

 

Foot care equipment and supplies

  • Rechargeable foot bath (Belava or similar)
  • Nail file
  • Cuticle remover
  • Cuticle pusher
  • Nail clipper
  • Foot file
  • Nitrile or vinyl gloves (avoid latex due to allergies)
  • Foot support
  • Toe separator

 

Hand care equipment and supplies

  • Manicure table
  • 2 chairs
  • Strong lamp for good lighting
  • Hand bath
  • Cuticle pusher
  • Orange wood sticks
  • Nail file
  • Polishing block
  • Nail clipper

 

Extra equipment

  • Paraffin bath with bag, mitts and slippers
  • Paraffin wax
  • Heated blanket
  • Hot Cabi
  • A second wax warmer
  • Extra linen
  • Specialized beauty appliances like Lucas, Vapozone, rotating brush, a more powerful magnifying glass, skin scanner, etc.