Written by Stephanie Hodgson for Green Salon Collective
Sustainability in hairdressing sounds like a good idea…until it bumps up against the everyday reality of running a busy salon. A recent study by our very own Head Nerd and PhD researcher, Stephanie Hodgson, explores exactly that: how UK salons are navigating the shift to circular economy practices, including efforts to reduce waste, reuse resources, and recycle more.
The biggest challenge? Maybe not what you'd think. It’s not the cost of compostable towels or the lack of local recycling services (though those came up). It’s the pressure to deliver a high-quality, pampering experience that clients expect without using “too much” in the process. We’ll come back to that in a future article.
The second biggest challenge? Team dynamics. Staff habits, values, and preferences often shape whether circular practices fly or flop. This article dives into the tug-of-war that sometimes happens between a salon’s sustainability goals and the everyday choices made by those working within.
Towels, Gloves, and ‘Luxury’ Vibes
Circularity often starts with using less. But what happens when less feels like... less?
Plenty of salon owners in the study said their staff saw efforts to reduce towel use or switch to compostable products like capes as cutting corners (sorry, not sorry for the pun). One said:
“Staff think using only one towel isn’t a luxury experience—or that I’m being stingy.”
Another said their team didn’t like the feel of bio-based capes. “It doesn’t feel posh,” was the sentiment. And when aesthetics matter, that’s a tough sell.
Tip: Start with small, visible wins. If reducing towels is too controversial, try switching to a more sustainable brand that still feels luxe. Or, involve staff in testing new products so they can help choose ones that meet both service and sustainability standards.
Recycling: Easier Said Than Sorted
Recycling sounds like low-hanging fruit. But even here, team buy-in matters. Owners reported bins being used incorrectly or staff skipping steps because it felt tedious or they simply forgot.
One owner admitted: “I’m the only one waving the sustainability flag.”
That’s a heavy lift if you're the only one sorting out the aluminium tubes at the end of the day.
Tip: Make it easier and more visible. Colour-coded bins help, but so do clear signs, regular check-ins, and making it part of your team culture. A small incentive for proper sorting? Even better.
Resistance to Tech (and Change)
Some salons have invested in colour management systems that can reduce waste and costs. Sounds like a win-win, right?
Not always. Stylists are sometimes wary. The learning curve can be steep, the system tracks their waste (which feels a bit too Big Brother), and patchy wifi doesn’t help.
Tip: Make tech feel like a tool, not a test. Assign a ‘CE Champion’ on staff to manage training and troubleshooting. Recognise them for it. And make sure new systems are introduced with support, not just expectations.
Gloves Are a No-Brainer, Right?
Gloves were one of the few things nearly everyone agreed on: staff health and safety comes first. But even here, confusion and compromise crept in. Reusable, compostable, latex, nitrile… there’s no one-size-fits-all. Staff want to feel safe. Owners want to reduce waste.
Tip: Have a chat. Find out what staff need to feel protected and to do their craft well. Find options that align with safety, creativity and sustainability. Gloves, by the way, are good for retention: healthy hands mean happy stylists.
Hiring (and Keeping) a Circular Culture
Sustainability gets a whole lot easier when your team shares the vision. In salons where staff are already on board, circular habits (like reducing waste) tend to stick with less friction.
Of course, hiring with values in mind is easier said than done. Many salons are already stretched just finding and keeping talent. But where possible, building a culture that openly values sustainability can help attract the right people and make it easier for those already on the team to stay aligned.
Tip: Hire for mindset, not just skillset. If your salon is on a CE journey, look for people who want to come along for the ride. And for those already on the team, create a shared mission—something they can be proud of.
Bonus tip: Culture first, nudges second. If preferences differ or circular practices aren’t quite sticking, accountability tools—like tracking colour use or charging for surplus towels—can help steer habits, keeping it professional without putting pressure on individual relationships.
So, What Can You Do?
If you’re finding that your team isn't quite clicking with your sustainability goals, you’re not alone. But here are some ways salons in our study are making it work:
- Think culture, not just contracts. Build CE into hiring, onboarding, and team conversations.
- Involve staff early. From choosing the right gloves to trialling tech, bring them in at the decision-making stage.
- Make circularity feel professional. Whether it’s a colour system or compost bin, frame it as part of being a next-level salon.
- Designate a sustainability champion. This person leads the charge and relieves you from having to chase bins, troubleshoot tech or track glove usage.
- Let the policy do the talking. Clear accountability systems like tracking colour or towel use can help shift habits without singling anyone out or making things personal.
And most importantly…
- Recognise progress, not perfection. Celebrate when things go well, and use hiccups as learning moments.
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There’s more to come.
This article is the first in a series that shares key insights from Stephanie Hodgson’s latest research on circular economy challenges in hairdressing. Future articles will look at how to get more from the brands you work with (hint: you're the client—ask for what you need!) and take a deeper dive into the biggest challenge of all: balancing sustainability with service quality.
The good news? You’re not the only one figuring this out.
Let’s work it through together.