Energy-saving advice for hair and beauty salons

Want to cut costs and improve your small business’ sustainability? Here’s how hair and beauty salons can do both by managing energy more efficiently.

Hair and beauty salons are a mainstay of the British high street – but behind the scenes, they’re also some of the most energy-intensive small businesses around. Long opening hours, frequent hot water use, heated tools and specialist equipment all add up to significant energy costs.

In recent years, salon owners have shown real resilience – navigating the pandemic, the energy crisis and increasing overheads – while trying to avoid passing costs on to clients.

This guide is designed to help hair and beauty salons – from hairdressers and barbers, to nail bars, tanning salons and aesthetics clinics – understand where energy is being used, where savings can be made and how small changes could help cut costs without compromising standards or client care.

Cost management is key in this sector

Managing costs is one of the biggest challenges hair and beauty salons face: from wage increases to tax rises and business rates. In their response to the November 2025 Budget, the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF) said: “The hair & beauty sector faces a dilemma of ever-increasing costs with a customer base who cannot afford to pay more for services.” 

With limited room to raise prices, energy is one area where salons can take back some control – whether that’s by operating more efficiently day to day, or making sure their energy contract still works for the way their business runs.

How hair and beauty salons use energy

Hair and beauty salons are among our top five categories of energy users[1] – and it’s easy to see why.

Alongside the lighting and heating/cooling required for salons that can be open 12 hours a day, there’s electricity and hot water required for washing and styling hair; electricity to power appliances for hair and beauty treatments; and washing towels and cleaning salons at the end of another busy shift.

This makes the sector a prime contender to make some huge savings from implementing energy-efficient practices wherever possible. Here’s our step-by-step guide to get started.

Heating and hot water: The hidden cost behind every wash and treatment

With heating and hot water typically accounting for half of a business’ energy use, it makes sense to take a closer look at whether you can make any energy saving changes  here:

• Minimise hot water waste by installing water-saving showerheads or water flow restrictors.
• Only run towel washes when you have a full load and use any eco setting – consider running cycles outside peak hours too to take advantage of lower energy unit rates.
• Check your boiler is serviced regularly so it operates most efficiently.
• Consider the temperature of your salon and create zones if several activities are taking place: e.g. cooler in hair salons where hair drying can provide ambient heat and warmer in massage rooms for client comfort.
• Make sure your heating is set to a low or eco temperature when the salon is closed and overnight.
• Check insulation of doors and windows – draughts make a space feel colder than it is.
• Minimise the use of air conditioning systems by opening doors and windows for ventilation and using blinds where possible.

Lighting: Reduce energy waste without minimising aesthetics 

Lighting is another big factor in hair and beauty energy costs so look to make savings, wherever possible:

• Make sure you have LED light bulbs installed – for spotlights, task lighting and signage. They last longer and can save a business up to 80% on their lighting compared to traditional bulbs[2].
• Consider the layout of the salon to use natural light wherever possible.
• Install motion sensors in areas used infrequently e.g. toilets, changing rooms or the staff kitchen etc.
• Switch to smart bulbs to automate shutdown when the salon’s closed.

Appliances: Get the most from your tools of the trade without the energy drain

There are a lot of electric-powered appliances in salons, here’s how to make sure they’re not draining your energy:

• Look for eco-friendly options (e.g. hairdryers that have lower wattage with high airflow) or appliances with high energy efficiency rating (e.g. washing machines).
• Use towel turbans to reduce heat and blow-drying time, where possible.
• Unplug straighteners, curling tongs and UV nail lamps between appointments – don’t leave them in standby mode (NB: some wax warmers can be turned to a lower setting when there are gaps between treatments).

Become a smarter salon with these simple changes

Beyond day-to-day energy use, consider these top tips to maximise energy efficiency:

• Get a smart meter installed – you’ll be able to see the impact of turning up the heating or if you’re wasting any energy out of hours.
• Make sure all employees know their role in managing energy use e.g. if they’re last to leave, it’s their responsibility to turn off all lights etc.
• Check your tariff – does it still suit your needs? If you’re out of contract, look for another deal to get a better rate.

Be inspired by Beauty By Ellie, an EDF Small business customer

Hear from Ellie, founder of Beauty by Ellie, an award-winning lash and brow salon in the West Midlands, on her seamless switchover to EDF – and the benefits of MyAccount for effortless online account management.

Energy efficiency funding and grants

Don’t forget that there are funding and grants opportunities available to make energy efficiency improvements to your business. Take a look at the list below:

• Local funding near you: https://businessclimatehub.uk/finance-and-support-across-the-uk/
• Government business support service (for local funding): https://www.business.gov.uk/support/existing/location/
• Government boiler upgrade scheme (England and Wales): https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme
• Energy Aware is an industry-specific campaign from the NHBF in partnership with Ofgem: https://www.nhbf.co.uk/supporting-your-business/energy-aware/
• The Sustainable Beauty Coalition is an initiative launched by the British Beauty Council: https://britishbeautycouncil.com/sustainable-beauty-coalition/

The benefits of being an energy-efficient salon

Saving energy not only helps salons to cut costs; but can also lower your carbon emissions and improve your reputation too. For many clients, sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but an essential requirement for their services. Visible steps towards reducing waste and energy use can help build trust, encourage repeat bookings and attract more sustainability-conscious clients – making it a win-win investment!

Are you a small business owner in a different industry? Find more industry-specific guides from EDF here on our advice hub.

Looking for an energy supplier that gets small businesses? Get a quote from EDF and find the best tariff for your salon.