What Are the Three Types of Salons?
The beauty industry is a rapidly growing and constantly evolving world filled with creativity, innovation, and endless opportunities. From hairstyling and nail design to skincare, lashes, and wellness services, salons today come in all shapes and styles. Whether you're considering opening your own salon, working as a stylist, expanding your service offerings, or simply understanding how the industry works, one of the first things to explore is the different types of salons.
A common way to categorize salons is by their primary service focus. Generally, the beauty industry includes three major types of salons:
1. Hair Salons
2. Nail Salons
3. Beauty / Full-Service Salons
Each type is unique in its service offerings, business model, clientele, and investment requirements. Understanding these categories will help you choose the best salon type for your skills, goals, and future career direction.
This comprehensive guide from cooviphair will break down each type of salon in depth: what they offer, how much they cost to start, advantages and challenges, and how to decide which is right for you.
1. Hair Salons
Hair salons are the most traditional and widely recognized type of beauty business. They specialize in hair care, hair cutting, coloring, styling, and hair enhancement techniques.
Services Commonly Provided in Hair Salons
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Haircuts & styling | Women, men, and children |
| Hair coloring | Highlights, balayage, ombre, root touch-ups |
| Hair treatments | Keratin, hydration, scalp repair |
| Blowouts & styling | Daily glam or event styling |
| Hair extensions | Tape-ins, wefts, keratin, i-tips |
| Wig customization | Cutting, coloring, installation |
| Bridal hair & updos | Wedding and event services |
Specialized Hair Salon Types
| Salon Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Extension salon | Specializes in high-end hair extensions |
| Color specialty salon | Advanced blonding and color transformations |
| Barbershop | Grooming and cutting short styles, shaves |
| Natural / curly hair salon | Expertise in curls, coils, and textured hair |
| Kids salon | Specialized environment for children |
| Blowout bar | Fast, convenient styling without cuts or color |
Who Hair Salons Are Best For
Creative stylists who love transformation
Owners seeking high-ticket services and strong profit margins
Areas with high demand for cut, color, and extension services
Entrepreneurs wanting long-term clientele and recurring revenue
Cost to Start a Hair Salon
| Type | Estimated Startup Cost |
|---|---|
| Small basic hair salon | $25,000–$75,000 |
| Medium salon | $75,000–$150,000 |
| Luxury high-end salon | $150,000–$300,000+ |
| Salon suite | $3,000–$15,000 |
Advantages of Hair Salons
High demand & service frequency
Strong client loyalty & referrals
Ability to specialize and stand out
Excellent earning potential
Highly creative environment
Challenges
Requires strong technical skills
Higher equipment and product costs
Training and continued education are ongoing
2. Nail Salons
Nail salons focus on nail care, polish, nail enhancements, and hand and foot wellness. Nail salons can range from small studios to large multi-station environments.
Common Nail Salon Services
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Manicures & pedicures | Classic, spa, gel, or soak-off |
| Acrylic & gel extensions | Nail enhancements & sculpting |
| Nail art | Designs, gems, polish gradients |
| Cuticle therapy | Hydration & wellness care |
| Paraffin wax | Moisturizing hand/foot treatment |
| Nail repair & removal | Maintenance & troubleshooting |
Advantages of Nail Salons
Lower startup cost compared to hair salons
Clients return frequently (every 2–3 weeks)
High volume = high earning potential
Easy retail add-ons: oils, scrubs, press-ons
Can operate as a small team or solo studio
Challenges
High competition in some markets
Labor-intensive & physical strain
Fumes & sanitation requirements
Consistent quality and speed needed
Best For
Fast-paced service environments
Artists with detail-focused skills
Owners who want easier scaling & staffing
3. Beauty / Full-Service Salons
Full-service salons offer a combination of services in one location, often creating a spa-like luxury experience for clients who want convenience and premium pampering.
Services Often Found in Full-Service / Beauty Salons
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Skin & Facial treatments | Spa facials, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion |
| Lash & brow services | Lash extensions, brow shaping, microblading |
| Hair removal | Waxing, threading, laser |
| Massage & body wellness | Massage therapy, lymphatic drainage |
| Tanning & contouring | Spray tans, body sculpting |
| Makeup | Bridal, glam, photo-ready |
| Hair services | Cut, color, styling, extensions |
Advantages of Full-Service Salons
Multiple revenue streams
Cross-promotion between departments
Full-team collaboration & culture
Strong branding opportunities
Ability to build large loyal clientele
Challenges
Requires larger space & higher investment
More staff management complexity
Requires licensing across multiple fields
Best For
Entrepreneurs with strong management skills
Owners wanting to create a luxury destination
High-traffic urban or upscale markets
How to Choose the Right Type of Salon for Your Goals
Before choosing a salon type, ask yourself:
1. What services are you passionate about?
Love color transformations? → Hair salon
Obsessed with nail art? → Nail salon
Favor wellness & beauty variety? → Full-service salon
2. What is your budget?
Low entry cost? → Nail salon or suite
Medium investment? → Small hair salon
Higher budget? → Full-service luxury salon
3. What kind of clients do you want?
| Client Type | Ideal Salon Type |
|---|---|
| Fast & frequent | Nail salon |
| Luxury & high-end | Full-service or specialty salon |
| Niche community | Texture-focused or extension salon |
4. What is your long-term vision?
Stay solo? → Suite or micro-salon
Build a team? → Commission salon
Build a brand? → Luxury full-service salon
Expand locations? → Franchise potential
Which Type of Salon Is Most Profitable?
Profit depends on location, clientele, pricing strategy, and services. However:
Specialty Hair Salons (extensions, blonding, smoothing)
Typically generate the highest revenue because of premium service pricing.
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Hair Extensions | $500–$2,500+ |
| Full Color Transformations | $200–$1,200 |
| Luxury spa packages | $200–$800 |
| Acrylic nail sets | $50–$150 |
Different Salon Business Models
| Salon Model | Description | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Commission salon | Stylists paid % of services | Training & team culture |
| Booth rental salon | Independent stylists renting space | Low staff management |
| Hybrid salon | Mix of rental + commission | Flexible growth |
| Salon suites | Individual mini salons | Solo professionals |
| Franchise | Proven brand + support | Larger investors |
Final Thoughts
So, what are the three types of salons?
The primary categories are:
Hair Salons
Nail Salons
Beauty / Full-Service Salons
Each type has unique advantages, challenges, and opportunities. The best choice depends on your passion, investment ability, desired client base, and long-term vision.
Whether you want a boutique extension studio, a fast-paced nail bar, or a luxury beauty spa destination, the beauty industry offers unlimited potential and creative freedom.
Ready to Build Your Dream Salon?
If you're planning to specialize in hair services — especially extensions — partnering with a premium supplier is essential.
Cooviphair proudly provides:
High-quality hand-tied, machine & butterfly wefts
Tape-ins, K-tips, I-tips, and fusion extensions
Raw & virgin human hair bundles
HD lace wigs & closures
Wholesale, private label, and educator support
Premium hair = premium results = premium business profit.
Your dream salon future is waiting — start planning today and build boldly
