Pedicure area ideas

I recently had a new esthetician contact me about setting up a pedicure station in her home-based spa. She was trying to figure out how she would set up the room but was having difficulty picking chairs and bowls.

 

 

I forgot how tough it could be to make big decisions on necessary business items. I also had dozens of lists I kept making to ensure I had everything I needed.

 

I’m so glad she reached out to ask for help! This is so important when you are new to the industry. Surround yourself with others who want to help you succeed. Learn from their mistakes and triumphs.

 

 

I hope this blog post helps others navigate the process of choosing a pedicure setup.

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Questions to ask before purchasing pedicure furniture

 

There are many things you need to take into consideration:

 

•Are you going to be solo, or will you be doing more than one person’s pedicure at a time?

 

•What are the regulations or health requirements for your city?

 

•Do you have access to plumbing?

 

•What is the size of the space you are working in?

 

•Does your pedicure area need to be used for other services?

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Designing the pedicure area

One website that I found helpful when I was trying to design my space was the Online Room Planner. It’s a free app that lets you enter the dimensions of your room. 

 

 

 

You pick furniture out and move it around to see what works best.  If they don’t have a similar piece of furniture, choose something roughly the same shape and size as some of the pieces you need to buy.

 

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My experience with pedicure setups

•Bench Style

 

Pros:

Easily customizable

 

Cons:

Can be uncomfortable if ergonomics are not followed.

Can have plumbing complications

 

When I was first starting, I worked in a salon where multiple clients could receive pedicures simultaneously. It was a bench-style of setup. I quickly discovered the advantages and disadvantages of this bench-style custom setup.

 

 

The ergonomicsof the setup was not ideal for the estheticians. The estheticians were always hunched over to perform the pedicure because the footrests were not high enough.

 

 

 

It also was not adjustable for clients. Petite customers would have to scooch forward and sit on the edge of the seat to stretch their feet into the tubs.

 

 

The tubs were beautiful, but they all had to be shut down when the plumbing broke on one. The sinks were easy to clean, but the bubbling jets were not. There were unique cleaning products you needed to use on them.

 

 

 

It was nice that you could change up the pillows whenever you wanted, and it was cute when a little girl could cuddle up to her mom while she got a pedicure. The vinyl was also easy to clean between clients.

•Spa Table Lay Down Pedicure

Pros: 

Portable

Less expensive

 

Cons:

Less customizable

 

The second place I worked did not have plumbing in the treatment room.  I was provided with a spa bed and a chair.  I needed to provide my basin for the foot soak.

 

 

This setup was great for a small basic room.  Other than hauling a foot basin tub to and from the sink to fill with water.

 An electric bed with adjustable back and foot positions like this is excellent. You can lift the client to the exact height the esthetician needs to be ergonomically correct. 

 

 

 

I invested in a beautiful vinyl chair and used accent pillows to dress it up.  Once the client was done soaking, I got them to move to the facial spa bed to lay down for the rest of the pedicure.  Clients found this ultra-relaxing. 

With soft music playing and warm blankets, many fell asleep. It was tricky when clients walked from the chair to the bed with towels on their feet.  I also purchased a smaller stool for myself to sit on and a shorter trolly to be more ergonomically correct for my body.

 

 

Check out our blog post on spa beds to see a detailed comparison.

•Compact Pipless Pedicures

Pros:
Straightforward cleaning protocols

Easy to move

 

Cons:
Not as sturdy as bench style

 

More and more of the pipless style of pedicure chairs with basins is coming out. These pedicure setup types are great for small compact areas and are less expensive to purchase upfront. They are easy to clean and an inexpensive option for anyone just starting out. I

 

 

I would suggest the chair be put up on a platform to bring the height up for ergonomics. You can purchase multiple chairs for side-by-side pedicures.

•Piped in pedicure chairs

Pros:
Sturdy
Don’t have to carry buckets of water

Cons:

Expensive
Must be plumbed in

All-in-one pedicure stations are just that. They are permanent structures in your space and can not be moved around. They are very large, solid and require plumbing.

 

 

It is an excellent option if you don’t want to haul water to and from your pedicure station. These stations can usually be customizable as far as the seating, tub and accessories go.

 

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*BONUS TIP

•Trying  other sets ups

I am fortunate to have a lot of beauty industry friends who like to share information on what’s working and what’s not.

 

I have tried other estheticians’ setups and school pedicure setups to get a good sense of what it’s like sitting in both the esthetician’s chair and the client’s chair.

 

Visiting schools and salons will give you a good idea of what space will work the best for you.

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What I would do differently

Over the past years, I have had the chance to visit dozens of salons, spas and schools. This allowed me to experience a pedicure as a client and watch other estheticians perform duties in various setups. Besides making sure everything fits, I would do the following differently:

 

•I would make sure my ergonomics came first. The esthetician is the one who has to do pedicures 8 hours a day, while the client really only has to sit there for about an hour. My third setup was ideal.

 

•The second thing that was most important to me was cleanliness. I found the piped-in sinks with jets too much of a hassle and Took to long to clean. Disposable liners or a plain sanitizable bowl are perfect. If I could, I would have a basic stainless-steel sink with taps attached to it and have it plumbed in. Then you wouldn’t have to carry water to and from the station.

 
•I loved my massage chair, and it was worth every penny. But check the warranties to see if you can get replacement parts for motors and controls. A standard recliner (a “wall hugger” is the best design) with material that is easy to clean would work excellent too.

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No matter what station or setup you choose, we can all agree that the “fish” pedicures are the most unsanitary.

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My favourite pedicure areas station design ideas

If you are looking to set up your entire business you might want to read our blog post on The Essentials you might need to set up your esthetics business.

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