01The salon's hardest-working textiles
A busy salon gets through towels at a remarkable rate. A single client might use a towel around the shoulders during a consultation, one or two at the basin, one wrapped around the head after washing, one under a colour application and one to blot the final style. Barbers use towels for neck protection, hot towel shaves, wiping clippers and drying faces. Multiply that by every client and every chair, and a small salon can send several hundred towels to be washed each week.
Those towels face more chemistry than almost any other textile in hospitality. Permanent hair colour, lighteners, toners, perm solutions, relaxers, shampoos, conditioners, serums, oils, waxes and sprays all end up in them. Some of these simply wash out. Others change the fibres for good. Knowing which is which saves salons from fighting stains that cannot be won, and from damaging towels that could have been saved.
This guide explains why hair dye and bleach mark towels, how to organise towels so colour damage is contained, and how to keep the towels clients feel at the basin soft, absorbent and fresh.
The honest starting point
Many dye and bleach marks on towels are permanent. Hair colour is designed to change the colour of protein fibres permanently, and lightener is designed to remove colour. Cotton towels caught in the process are changed too. The goal is not to remove every mark but to stop marks spreading to towels where they matter.
02Why hair dye stains permanently
Permanent hair colour works by small colour molecules entering the hair, then reacting with a developer to form larger coloured molecules that are trapped inside. That reaction does not care whether it is happening in hair or in a cotton towel. When dye mixed with developer lands on a towel, the same thing happens in the cotton fibres: colour forms inside the fibre and stays there.
Permanent colour
Permanent colour on towels is usually permanent. Once developed and dried, it is very hard to shift without damaging the towel.
Semi-permanent and demi-permanent colour
Semi-permanent colours mostly coat the surface rather than developing inside the fibre. They may fade from towels over several washes, though strong shades can linger. Demi-permanent colours sit somewhere in between.
Vivid and fashion colours
Bright fashion colours such as blues, pinks, purples and greens are often direct dyes that stain strongly and can bleed in the wash, tinting other towels.
Henna and plant dyes
Henna and similar plant dyes stain towels deeply and are among the hardest marks to lift.
03Why lightener and bleach damage towels
Lightener, often called bleach in salons, removes colour by breaking down pigment. On a coloured towel, a splash of lightener removes the towel's own dye, leaving pale, orange or white spots. On a white towel, it may not show at first, but it weakens the cotton.
Weakened fibres and holes
Repeated contact with lightener weakens cotton fibres. Towels used for lightening work often develop thin patches and eventually small holes where splashes landed.
Delayed marks
Lightener residue left in a towel can keep working while the towel sits damp in a bin. Rinsing towels used with lightener before they go in the used bag reduces damage.
04Dedicated colour towels
The most effective strategy in most salons is to separate towels by job.
A two-tier system
Colour towels are allowed to look marked; nobody expects a colour towel to stay pristine. Service towels stay clean and soft because they never meet dye or lightener.
- Colour towels: dark or specially dyed towels used only for colour and lightening work.
- Service towels: white or light towels used at the basin, for drying hair, around the shoulders and for clients' faces.
Bleach-resistant towels
Some suppliers sell salon towels dyed to resist lightener, so they do not develop pale spots as easily. They cost more but look tidier for longer in colour work.
Colour-coding
Use a clearly different colour for colour towels, so they never end up at the basin or around a client's face by mistake.
05Habits at the chair and the basin
- Use a cape and a disposable or colour towel around the neck during colour work.
- Keep colour bowls and brushes away from service towels.
- Wipe dye from skin with a disposable wipe or a colour towel, not a service towel.
- Rinse lightener and dye from colour towels before bagging if practical.
- Never use a service towel to wipe a colour bowl, brush or the floor.
Spills
If colour spills onto a service towel, take it out of the service pile straight away and put it in the colour towel bag. It is now a colour towel.
06Shampoo, conditioner and styling products
Not all salon towel problems are about colour. Many are about build-up from everyday products.
Conditioners and treatments
Conditioners and treatments often contain ingredients designed to coat hair and make it smooth. They coat towel fibres too. Over time, towels used at the basin become less absorbent and feel slick.
Oils and serums
Hair oils and serums behave like massage oils in towels, building up and causing stiffness and stale smells. Towels used to wrap hair after oil treatments should be treated as oily.
Waxes, pomades and sprays
Barbers and stylists use waxes, clays and pomades. These leave greasy or sticky residue. Hairspray leaves a stiff film.
07Hair in towels
Cut hair clings to towels, capes and gowns. In the wash, it clogs filters, wraps around drums and transfers to other items.
- Shake towels and capes over a bin before bagging.
- Use a soft brush or lint roller on capes.
- Clean washing machine filters and dryer lint traps after every load in salons that wash on site.
- Keep towels used for cutting separate from towels used at the basin, if possible.
08Barbers and hot towel shaves
Barbershops use towels in their own ways.
Neck towels and strips
Towels around the neck catch hair and talc. Many barbers use disposable neck strips under capes, with towels for comfort.
Hot towels
Hot towel shaves use towels heated in a steamer or hot towel cabinet. These towels should be fresh for every client, washed after each use and stored in a clean cabinet. The cabinet itself needs regular cleaning.
Shaving products and oils
Shaving creams, pre-shave oils and beard oils all end up in towels. Beard oil behaves like massage oil and needs separate, thorough washing.
Clipper oil and disinfectant
Towels used to wipe clippers pick up clipper oil and disinfectant. Use separate cloths for tools, not client towels.
09Washing salon towels
Separate the loads
- Colour towels on their own.
- Service towels on their own.
- Oily towels from treatments and beard work on their own.
- Capes and gowns separately from towels.
Colour towels
Wash colour towels at a temperature that removes product without encouraging dye transfer. They may release some colour in the wash; washing them alone prevents it spreading.
Service towels
Wash service towels thoroughly to remove shampoo, conditioner and product residue. Measure detergent, avoid softener and rinse well.
Oily towels
Treat them as you would massage towels: pre-treat, wash hot enough as the label allows, rinse well, and always complete the dryer cool-down.
10Drying salon towels
- Dry service towels at moderate heat until just dry.
- Do not over-dry; it hardens towels.
- Always let dryers complete their cool-down, especially with towels that carried oils.
- Do not pile warm towels in baskets.
- Clean lint traps after every load; hair and lint clog them quickly.
11Capes, gowns and neck protection
Capes and gowns protect clients' clothing and take the brunt of hair and colour splashes. Many are made of polyester or nylon that repels water and colour better than cotton.
Washing capes
Synthetic capes usually wash easily at cool to warm temperatures and dry quickly. Avoid high dryer heat, which can melt or crinkle synthetic fabric. Shake out hair first. Capes with poppers or hook-and-loop closures should be fastened before washing so they do not snag other items.
Colour capes
Some salons keep separate capes for colour work. Dark, colour-resistant capes hide dye splashes well.
Gowns
Client gowns, worn instead of their own top, are often cotton or polyester blends. Wash them after every client and dry fully.
12Perms, relaxers and chemical treatments
Perm solutions and relaxers are strong chemicals that change the structure of hair. They can also affect towels.
- Relaxers are strongly alkaline and can weaken cotton fibres with repeated contact.
- Perm solutions and neutralisers can discolour some fabrics and leave a distinctive smell.
- Keep separate towels for chemical treatments and rinse them before bagging.
- Do not let chemical-soaked towels sit damp in a pile.
Follow the product manufacturer's safety guidance for handling and disposal.
13How many towels a salon needs
Count how many towels each service uses, multiply by the services on your busiest day, then multiply by the days towels are away being washed plus one, and add a margin.
| Service | Typical towels |
|---|---|
| Cut and blow-dry | 2 to 3 |
| Colour | 3 to 4, including colour towels |
| Lightening and toning | 3 to 5, including colour towels |
| Treatment or mask | 2 to 3 |
| Barber cut | 1 to 2 |
| Hot towel shave | 2 to 3 |
Two stocks
Calculate colour towels and service towels separately. Running out of colour towels tempts staff to use service towels for colour work, and that spreads damage.
14Washing on site in a salon
Many salons wash towels in a domestic or small commercial machine in a back room.
- Do not overload; towels need space to rinse out conditioner and product.
- Clean filters, drums and door seals regularly; hair and product build up fast.
- Make sure the dryer can keep up; damp towels folded away will smell.
- Never leave the dryer running when the salon closes; always let it cool down.
When to outsource
If staff are spending a lot of time washing and folding, or towels are coming out stiff and smelly, a laundry service may give better results and free up time for clients.
15What clients notice
Clients notice towels at the basin more than anywhere else, because that is where they are lying back, eyes closed, with a towel against their neck and face.
- A soft, absorbent towel that feels clean against the skin.
- No hair from previous clients.
- No smell of products or damp.
- A clean, unmarked towel around the shoulders, especially for a cut.
- A fresh, hot towel in a barbershop that smells clean.
Colour towels with marks are generally accepted by clients during colour work, especially if they are dark. White towels with dye marks, used at the basin, are not.
16When to replace salon towels
- Service towels that stay stiff, smell or have dye spots.
- Colour towels with holes from lightener or very thin patches.
- Towels with frayed edges that shed threads.
- Towels that no longer absorb water.
Downgrading
Service towels with minor marks can be moved to colour work. Colour towels with holes can become cleaning rags for the back room, clearly marked.
17Stopping dye spreading between towels
Dye does not only stain the towel it lands on. Loose dye can transfer to other towels in a damp bag or in the wash.
In the bag
A colour towel soaked with fresh dye and pressed against white towels in a damp bag can tint them. Keep colour towels in their own bag.
In the wash
Some dyes, especially vivid colours, bleed in the wash. Washing colour towels with service towels can tint the whole load. Always separate them.
Rinsing first
Rinsing excess dye from colour towels before bagging removes the loose dye that would otherwise spread.
18Hygiene in the salon
Towels touch clients' faces, necks and scalps, so hygiene matters as well as looks.
- One fresh towel per client at the basin.
- Never reuse a towel between clients, even if it looks unused.
- Hot towels for shaves must be fresh and from a clean cabinet.
- Clean and used towels are stored apart.
- Towels used on clients with scalp conditions are bagged separately and washed thoroughly.
Many local authorities set specific hygiene expectations for barbers and salons offering certain services. Follow any guidance that applies to your business.
19Storing clean towels in a salon
Salons are often warm and humid, especially near basins and dryers, and products are everywhere. Clean towels need protecting.
- Store service towels in closed cupboards or covered shelves near the basins.
- Keep colour towels near the colour bar, separate from service towels.
- Keep clean towels away from product shelves, spray areas and the colour bar.
- Do not stack clean towels next to used bags or on trolleys with bowls and brushes.
- Rotate stock so the same towels are not always on top.
Towel warmers
If you use warmers, only put clean, fully dried and cooled towels in them, and clean them regularly.
20Nail bars and beauty rooms in salons
Many salons also offer nails, brows, lashes and waxing. Each brings its own towel issues.
Nails
Nail polish, acetone, cuticle oils and hand creams all end up on towels. Use dark towels or disposable towel roll for nail work, and keep them apart from hair service towels.
Brows and lashes
Brow and lash tints are dyes and stain like hair colour. Use disposable pads and dark towels for tinting.
Waxing
Wax hardens in towels. Protect couches with disposable paper and keep wax-affected towels apart.
21Buying towels for a salon
Salon towels need to be absorbent, quick-drying and tough enough for daily hot washes and chemical contact.
Size
Most salons use hand-towel-sized towels, large enough to wrap hair but small enough to dry quickly. Larger towels are useful for long hair and treatments.
Weight
A medium-weight cotton towel absorbs well without taking forever to dry. Very heavy towels look luxurious but strain dryers and stay damp longer.
Colour for service towels
White and light colours look clean and fresh at the basin. Some salons use a soft neutral that hides very faint marks while still looking clean.
Colour for colour towels
Black, charcoal, navy or deep brown hide dye well. Bleach-resistant versions resist pale spots from lightener.
Buying in quantity
Buy enough of each type to cover your busiest days and the time towels spend in the wash. Buying from one range keeps everything consistent.
22When salon towels smell
Salon towels can develop several kinds of smell.
Damp smell
Towels left wet in bags overnight, especially in warm salons, smell musty. Empty bags daily and do not leave wet towels sealed.
Product smell
Towels that smell strongly of conditioner, perm solution or styling products have not been rinsed out fully. Better rinsing and lighter loads help.
Stale oil smell
Towels used with oils and serums smell stale if oil builds up. Separate them and wash them as oily towels.
Machine smell
A washing machine with hair, lint and product build-up passes smells to towels. Clean it regularly.
23Mobile and home-based stylists
Mobile hairdressers and those working from home use towels in clients' homes or a home salon, usually washing them in a domestic machine.
- Carry separate bags for colour, service and used towels.
- Use dark colour towels for all colour work, even at clients' homes.
- Wash towels the same day, in separate loads by type.
- Never leave damp towels in the car overnight.
- Always let the dryer finish its cool-down, and do not pile warm towels.
Home salons
A home salon washing towels with family laundry risks dye transfer to household items and product build-up in the machine. A separate wash routine, and ideally separate loads every time, protects both.
24Chemical safety around towels
Salon chemicals that are safe on hair and skin in normal use can be irritating when left concentrated in towels. Developer, lightener, relaxer and perm solution all deserve respect.
Handling used colour towels
Staff handling bags of used colour towels should avoid pressing wet, chemical-soaked towels against their skin. Gloves are sensible when rinsing towels that have been used with lightener or relaxer.
Mixing chemicals
Do not soak towels in household bleach or other cleaning chemicals in an attempt to remove dye. Mixing salon chemicals with household products can be dangerous and usually makes the stain worse.
Storage
Keep used chemical towels in their own bag, away from heat, and get them washed promptly rather than leaving them in a warm back room for days.
Product guidance
Always follow the product manufacturer's safety information, and your salon's own risk assessments, for handling, rinsing and disposal.
25Hard water in the salon
Salons in hard-water areas, which includes most of London, fight limescale on basins, taps and shower heads every day. The same minerals affect towels. They combine with shampoo and conditioner residue to leave a dull film in the fibres, making towels feel rough and look greyish.
Hard water also affects how well detergent works, so towels washed on site with a domestic dose of detergent may never fully rinse clean. A detergent suited to hard water, measured carefully, and thorough rinsing help a great deal. A laundry with water treatment can often restore towels that have become rough after months of on-site washing.
26What to tell your laundry
A laundry that understands salon towels can do a much better job. Tell them which bags contain colour towels, which contain service towels and which contain oily or chemical-treated towels. Explain that marks on colour towels are expected and should not be attacked with strong treatments that weaken the towels further. Ask them to avoid softener and to flag towels with holes. With that information, they can wash each type in the way that keeps it working longest.
27Bringing back absorbency
Service towels that push water around instead of absorbing it are coated with product or softener residue.
- Stop using fabric softener.
- Measure detergent carefully.
- Wash in lighter loads with thorough rinsing.
- Consider a stripping wash, or ask a laundry to reset the towels.
- After the reset, keep the new routine so build-up does not return.
How ArkLaundry helps
Salon and barber towels are washed to remove product and dried at the right heat; set dye is flagged, not hidden. Hand towels from your own stock are £0.90 each, excluding VAT.
