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Frequently Asked Questions

The recline is the big one. A standard styling chair is built for one job (sitting upright for cuts and color), so it usually doesn't recline at all, or only slightly. An all-purpose chair adds a reclining mechanism (usually recline somewhere around 120° to 150°, depending on the chair design), which opens it up for shampoo services, longer color processing, brow shaping, light skincare work, and anything else where the client needs to lay back comfortably. If your salon only does hair styling, a styling chair is plenty. If you offer a broader service menu or want the flexibility to add services down the road, all-purpose salon chairs are the smarter buy.

You can use it for shampooing in a pinch, say, in a small suite or a private studio where you're working with a portable bowl. But it isn't a replacement for a proper shampoo setup. All-purpose salon chairs don't have the integrated neck rest or the seat-to-bowl positioning that a dedicated shampoo chair and backwash unit provide. For salons doing higher color and chemical volume, we'd still recommend a separate shampoo area. For a low-volume booth or a small space, the recline on the Herman or Austen handles the occasional rinse just fine.

Plan for at least 5 feet of clear floor around each station. That gives you room to walk fully around the client, recline the chair back without hitting anything, and roll a styling cart in and out comfortably. If you're laying out a new salon, station-to-station spacing of 6 to 7 feet is the industry standard for stylist comfort and easy client movement through the space.