How many shampoo bowls per stylist?

A common rule is one shampoo bowl for every two stylists. Buy-Rite Beauty gives that ratio as its usual recommendation, because it keeps clients from waiting for a bowl. Treat it as a starting point and adjust for how much color, treatment and shampoo work your stylists actually do.

State boards rarely set a ratio. Texas asks for "a sufficient number" of shampoo bowls and at least one if the salon shampoos or does color. New Jersey requires at least one shampoo basin with hot and cold running water. Check your own state's rules.

Each bowl needs floor space too, and Buy-Rite suggests about 48 inches between backwash units. The salon floor plan maker counts your bowls against your styling chairs as you place them. Compare a backwash unit with a shampoo chair and separate bowl.