One towel or two? When sustainability meets service experience
Written by Stephanie Hodgson for Green Salon Collective
Every salon owner knows the moment: you reach for another towel. It’s automatic, part of the ritual of making a client feel cared for. But what happens when saving resources (think: using fewer towels) comes up against delivering that luxury service clients expect?
A recent study of UK salons shows just how often this trade-off comes into play. Owners, managers, and freelancers are highly motivated to reduce waste, reuse materials, and work more sustainably. Yet service always comes first. (As it should!) If cutting down towels risks client comfort or undermines the “wow” experience, sustainability usually takes a back seat.
Finding the balance
The study revealed a wide range of creative approaches. Some salons introduced accountability systems, asking staff to note how many towels they used per client. Others reserved disposable towels for colour services only, while keeping reusables for shorter or less messy appointments. One described using reusable trays in combination with towels for certain services.
These examples show it isn’t all or nothing. Across the UK, salons are experimenting with ways to save resources without losing the magic of the salon experience. The point isn’t perfection. It’s finding practical, clever ways to balance sustainability with service.
Shaping the industry’s future
What makes these stories remarkable is that, until recently, they weren’t documented. For professionals, this balancing act is common knowledge. For policymakers, educators, and even suppliers, it was invisible. By sharing their experiences, hairdressing business owners and managers in this study literally contributed to science. They turned everyday decisions, like one towel or two, into evidence that can shape the future of the industry.
Now there’s another chance to do the same. A new UK-wide survey is inviting hairdressers to share what really helps (or hinders) their sustainability efforts. Whether you are a certified ‘eco salon’ or not yet started on your sustainability journey, your voice matters.
By taking part, you’re not just filling in a form. You’re adding to the evidence base that suppliers, regulators, and industry bodies will look to when designing the next generation of sustainable solutions and support systems. In short: you’ll be shaping history, one answer at a time.
