You have all the skills that a great barber should have and you have been in the business for a decade or so. You have a new competitor across the street who is new to the business and does not look like someone in terms of skills you should be wary of losing business to.
You start wondering what it could be that this man has that you don’t and after wondering and spying a bit through old Michael of the grocery store you come to know that this newbie has some amazing barber chairs that provide utmost comfort to the clients and they keep coming back to him. So, to match your competitor you decide to add some new and up-to-date chairs to your barbershop.
To help with your search, we have compiled our list of the best barber chairs of 2022. You can also read Buyer’s Guide here.
A Comparison of Best Barber Chairs In 2023
Barber Chair | Weight Capacity (lbs) | |
|---|---|---|
750 | ||
350 | ||
400 | ||
250 | ||
440 | ||
400 | ||
350 | ||
330 | ||
220 | ||
360 |
Whenever you are going for a barber chair you need to consider a few things including its construction and how comfortable it is, etc. We have put each of the chairs on our list to different criteria and let’s see how they fared against each criterion.
1. Dir Barber Chair Vanquish – Heavy Duty Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: This heavy-duty barber chair from Dir has a metal frame with a chrome finish. It also has an additional superior vinyl covering. Moreover, the seat has high-density Memory Foam.
Overall, this chair has been made with high-quality material which gives it the durability to last you years.
Comfort: This luxury barber chair provides the utmost comfort you customers can desire for. The tufted and beautifully crafted seat and backrest are really comfy.
Additionally, it has a flip-up and padded foot and calf-rest for added comfort. It also has a padded armrest/towel bar.
Recline/Adjustability: It comes with a super heavy-duty hydraulic pump which enables it to handle weights up to 750 lbs. The seat can be adjusted at various levels.
It also has the ability to swivel 360 degrees with position locking. It can recline up to 45 degrees and comes with a sleek chrome handle which makes the reclining very easy. You could ask for a more reclining angle, but this is only where this chair lacks.
Use: Vanquish is a multiple-purpose barber chair that can be used for different salon activities. You can use it for haircutting and hairstyling as well as for shaving. However, it only reclines to 45 degrees which makes it not suitable for some the activities like shampooing.
Value of Money: In terms of price, it would say it is a bit on the pricey side. It may have the looks and the features to match its price tag, but still to be priced at around $1000 can raise a few eyebrows.
It seems to have construction to last you a lifetime but as this chair is relatively new to the market, we will have to wait for that to come true.
Overall: This barber chair has classic looks with modern design and features. Its ability to handle weights up to 750 pounds makes it a heavy-duty barber chair.
In terms of construction, it is made up of antique chrome and upholstered with durable vinyl. Comfort-wise, it has all the features you can ask for including an adjustable headrest, padded footrest, and calf-rest, and high-density Memory Foam to make the seat and backrest really comfy.
- Heavy-duty construction
- Highly comfortable
- Weight capacity up to 750 pounds
- Adjustable headrest
- Best for barber shops with heavy traffic
- A bit on the pricey side
- Limited reclining angle
2. BR Beauty K.O. Professional Barber Chair – A Modern Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: This chair is what you call a professional barber chair. It has a steel frame and comes with an extra-large 28″ round chrome base which makes it highly stable.
Moreover, it comes with a heavy-duty hydraulic pump which is rated at 550 pounds. The construction of this chair is really detail-oriented and finishing to match the best in the business. The material is really durable and can be used for repeated years of service.
Comfort: The thing I really like about this reclining salon chair with headrest is that it has a two-pronged adjustable and removable headrest. The backrest is extra large and has a height of 19.5″. It comes with a kick-out footrest which is very capacious.
In terms of comfort, the padding is cushioned and is really thick. The problem with the cushion is that it is slippery and can come off whenever a customer gets out of the chair.
Recline/Adjustability: It comes with a heavy-duty hydraulic pump which enables to handle weights up to 350 lbs. The seat has the ability to be adjusted at various levels from 22″ to 29.5″. Moreover, this chair can swivel to 360 degrees with position locking. In terms of recline, it can recline fully up to 180 degrees.
Use: This chair can serve as a styling chair, barber chair, and tattoo chair. Its ability to recline fully to 180 degrees makes it suitable for a whole range of activities like haircutting, hairstyling, eyebrow threading, massaging, waxing, facial, and tattooing.
Value of Money: The price of this chair can be termed as a medium range. Considering its construction and features, I would say the price is highly justified.
- Highly durable
- Modern design
- Suitable for various activities
- Medium price range
- Slippery seat cushion
- Headrest doesn’t stay locked when extended out
3. LCL Beauty Classic Barber Chair – A Reclining Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: This LCL Beauty classic barber chair has a round chrome base. The steel frame makes it sturdy and durable. There is some plastic involved with the back which renders it a little cheesy, but overall the construction is pretty solid.
Comfort: The first thing you are going to note about this chair is its extra-large seat and you will see your customers admiring this fact. The headrest has four adjustments or can be removed entirely which provides extra space when you are haircutting or styling.
Additionally, it has a self-rising footrest, which adds to the comfort.
Recline/Adjustability: The back reclines to ¾th of its full recline. This chair can swivel to full 360 degrees. The seat adjustment is from 22″ – 27″.
Use: This chair can be used for hair styling, cutting, and shaving. As it does not recline to 180 degrees, it is not suitable for massaging or waxing.
Value of Money: If anybody with some experience is asked to put a price tag on this chair, they would put a price tag that is not far from the price this chair comes at. This chair has a reasonable price and is really cost-efficient.
- Extra-wide chair
- Affordable
- Best for personal use
- Not too heavy
- Tricky to assemble
- Lacklustre construction
4. BestSalon Hydraulic Barber Chair – Best Barber Chair for the Money
Durability/Construction: This chair has a steel frame and is padded with a high-density sponge and is covered with polyurethane (PU) leather.
Moreover, it has a chrome round base which gives it stability when it is in use.
Overall, the construction of this chair is not the best and we would not recommend it for salons with heavy traffic.
Comfort: This chair is ergonomically designed and comes with a footrest that provides the customers the comfort they are looking for. Moreover, it has armrests which add to an already comfortable sitting. But, it lacks a headrest and the footrest has sharp edges that can cut.
Recline/Adjustability: BestSalon Barber Chair comes with a hydraulic pump which gives it the ability to be adjusted at different heights. This chair also has the ability to swivel 360 degrees. But, it lacks the ability to recline, which makes its usage rather limited.
Value of Money: Considering its material of construction and this chair’s intended use, I would say that this barber chair provides excellent value for money. You could ask for more features, but we all know everything comes at a price.
- Affordable
- Sturdy construction
- The round base provides stability
- Best for personal use
- Does not recline
- Lacks headrest
5. Artist Hand Barber Chair – All-Purpose Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: This chair on our best barber chairs list is made up of steel frames and has stainless steel armrest. It also has a PVC leather cover with a high-density sponge.
The double-reinforced saddle sticking prevents ripping or tearing. It also has a round base which really adds to its stability while in use.
Comfort: In terms of comfort, this hydraulic barber chair is really what your customers can ask for. It has a high-density foam which is really comfy and the footrest offers extra comfort.
Moreover, it also has an adjustable headrest which is a real advantage when shaving.
Recline/Adjustability: This beast of a chair has a heavy-duty hydraulic pump which helps with its smooth swiveling of up to 360 degrees. The seat can be adjusted up to 10 inches and this beauty reclines to 145 degrees.
Use: This is a multiple-purpose barber chair that can be used for most of the activities. It provides a stable platform for styling, cutting, shaving, waxing, eyebrow threading, and tattooing.
Value of Money: Considering its features, the price of this chair can be termed as mouth-watering at the least. From its royal look to multifunctionality, it really is worth the price.
- Available in multiple colors
- Adjustable headrest
- Higher weight capacity
- Highly padded comfortable seat
- Decent looks
- Difficult assembly
6. BarberPub Heavy Duty Barber Chair – A Vintage Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: This chair has a heavy-duty steel and aluminum frame. The metal armrests are really sturdy.
Overall, this is a very durable chair. The bi-cast leather is waterproof and stain-resistant and this fact makes its cleaning really easy.
Comfort: This vintage barber chair is ergonomically designed. The high-density padding along with its adjustable footrest makes it really comfortable. The 27-inch round base makes it really stable.
Recline/Adjustability: This chair reclines to 140 degrees and can swivel to full 360 degrees with a locking position that prevents the chair from spinning. The headrest is adjustable. The seat is adjustable through a range of 6 inches and its heavy-duty hydraulic pump makes the adjusting an absolute breeze.
Use: This classic barber chair is a multipurpose chair and can be used for a variety of salon/barber activities.
Value of Money: This chair has a head-turning design and has great features. The price is on the higher side, but I would give it for its eye-catching looks.
- Ergonomically designed
- Comfortable
- Extremely durable
- Can handle heavy traffic
- A bit pricey
- Assembly instructions are not well explained
7. Best Salon Heavy Duty Barber Chair – Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: This traditional barber chair is made up of a heavy-duty steel frame. The round premium chrome base provides stability. It has a seat and back that are made up of double-reinforced saddle sticking which makes them ripping and tearing free. The hydraulic pump is professional grade.
The only issue to note about the construction is that the piece which goes underneath the backrest is made up of plastic and can wear down quickly.
Comfort: This chair lacks hydraulic fluids, so adjusting it can be a bit of an issue that can be annoying to customers. On the other hand, its high-density padding is very comfortable. The adjustable footrest and calf-rest add a new level of comfort.
Recline/Adjustability: When it comes to adjustability, it swivels the whole 360 degrees, reclines to 120 degrees and the seat can be adjusted through a range of 5 inches, 21 to 25 inches.
Use: This chair can be used for shampooing, styling, cutting, eyelashes extension, threading, waxing, and a whole variety of other activities.
- Rip and tear-free padding
- Heavy-duty steel frame
- Best for shops with moderate traffic
- Hydraulic pump lacks fluid making the adjustments difficult
- Steel can lose shine
- Plastic behind the backrest can wear down quickly
8. Exacme Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair – Heavy Duty Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: The frame of this chair is made up of heavy-duty steel. Its 26-inch round chrome base provides stability. It additionally has textured synthetic leather which makes it tear-free. The leather is waterproof and stain-resistant which makes the cleaning easy.
Comfort: The back and seat have a soft cushion which really makes it comfortable. The calf-rest is padded and the foot-rest is really capacious. Overall, this is a very comfortable chair.
Recline/Adjustability: The chair can swivel 360 degrees with locking. It has a heavy-duty pump which makes adjusting through its 7-inch range an absolute breeze. The seat can recline up to 150 degrees.
Use: Its reclining range and ability to hold up to 330 pounds makes this chair suitable for various barber/salon activities including shampooing, styling, cutting, shaving, waxing, etc.
Value of Money: The price of this chair can be term low to medium range as it goes into the $300-400 range. This feature-rich and durable barber chair provides an excellent value of money and I think it is worth each dollar it is priced at.
- Lower height suitable for female and shorter barbers
- Beautiful design
- Easy to assemble
- Waterproof and stain resistant
- The base can rust quickly
9. D Salon Rose Gold Barber Chair – Luxury Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: This luxury barber chair from D Salon has a round chrome base. The steel frame is covered with basketweave faux leather which is very comfortable and has an alluring look.
The footrest is connected to the chair by two cylindrical beams of chrome which don’t look sturdy and can easily break. The construction is delicate and we would not recommend it for salons with heavy traffic.
Comfort: The seat is a bit firm to sit for a long, but on the other hand, it is fairly spacious and you will feel more comfortable in terms of space. It reclines to the level of the seat. The footrest is not really wide but is long, so that makes up for some of the space it lacks.
Recline/Adjustability: The chair can swivel 360 degrees. It comes with an adjustable headrest through a range of 4 inches. The back reclines to around 120 degrees. The hydraulic pump can make the chair move in a range of 19″ to 25″.
Use: First, look at this chair and you would feel that this can be a great shampooing station. It can be used for a number of other activities including haircutting, styling, shaving, etc. As it does not recline to a sufficient degree, I doubt it can be used for tattooing or massaging.
Value of Money: In terms of its classy and modern feel and how it has an aesthetical look, I would say it is worth an investment if you have a beauty salon. On the other hand, if you have a shop with heavy traffic or intend to put it to rough use, I would not recommend it.
- Luxurious looks
- Wide seat
- Best for personal use and beauty salons
- Lightweight
- Firm seat, hard to sit on
10. Merax Classic Barber Chair – A Portable Barber Chair
Durability/Construction: This old-style barber chair on our list claims to be made up of a heavy-duty steel frame and comes with a 23-inch round chrome base. The chair has a sleek design and has good modern and classy looks.
In terms of durability, the construction looks really solid and can last for years if handled properly. The only issue I have with its construction is that the hydraulic pump is not the best and it can give up on you over a period of time.
Comfort: In terms of comfort, this chair comes with high-density 2.4-inch foam which is really comfortable. The footrest is there for additional comfort.
You might hear some of your customers complaining that it is a small chair. This is because it has a sleek and delicate design, but overall the seat dimensions are at par with the average chairs being used in the market.
Recline/Adjustability: The seat can be adjusted through a range of 15″-18″ from the floor to the seat base. The reclining ability for this chair is up to 160 degrees which makes it suitable for most of the salon activities.
Use: This chair can be used for a variety of functions including hairstyling, haircutting, waxing, etc. It is suitable for barbershops, beauty salons, and tattoo shops, and it provides more classic styling with a modern flavor.
Value for Money: Whenever I am asked to assess a barber chair, I try to put a price tag on it looking at its features and construction. The first look at this chair you would say that it is a highly durable and portable barber chair that can fit into a range of shops/salons. I would say the price of this chair can be termed as highly reasonable considering its features and constructions.
- Reasonable price
- Stylish design
- Easy to Assemble
- Basic configuration lacks a headrest
Buyer’s Guide for Best Barber Chair
You may have all the skills and tools to make you a great barber, but you need to have a decent-looking shop to attract new customers and the old ones to keep coming back to you. Barber Chairs are one of the most important parts of any barbershop as they can make your customers’ experience delight or an absolute agony.
When going about buying a barber chair, you need to consider quite a few things, and depending on personal preference in each aspect you may go with one chair or the other. We would like to help you select the best one which would fulfill your specific needs and preferences as per your taste and style.
Construction/Durability:
Amongst many things to consider, I would say the first one you need to consider before buying anything is its construction or durability. The same goes for barber chairs. Some are rock solid to last you a lifetime and others are just good enough to last you a couple of years.
Most of the barber chairs today in the market have a steel frame and have a chrome base, but what you need to look at is the quality of the material. Some come with an absolutely hollow steel frame and others, on the contrary, are heavy duty.
But, every bit of strength and durability comes at a price. You may not be willing to spend $1000 straightaway on a new shop and would be aiming to have something that can last you a couple of years and you can upgrade later.
One thing we would ask you to consider in terms of durability is the hydraulic pump which is used to adjust the chair up and down and makes it hold the weight. This is one of the first things that give way to any barber chair.
Some come with a heavy-duty hydraulic pump like BR Beauty K.O. Professional Barber Chair which is rated at 550 pounds and others come with a slender pump that is not durable. A simple look at the chair and you can tell how good the hydraulic pump is, the heavier the beam connecting the base to the seat the better the hydraulic pump.
Comfort:
Whichever business you are in, customers’ comfort/experience is of top priority, same goes for barbershops. You really need to consider this factor when going for any barber chair as a comfortable chair can add to your customer’s experience and an uncomfortable one can ruin your reputation.
When it comes to comfort, the first thing you need to look at is the padding of the seat and the backrest. Most of the chairs in today’s market have leather covering. But, you need to look at the stitching and quality of the material as closely stitched padding like double-reinforced saddle sticking of Best Salon Heavy Duty Barber Chair make it tear and rip free.
Some of the chairs on our list have extra-thick padding and provide really comfortable seating. You also need to look at the dimension of the seating. A wide and deep chair can cater to a variety of your clients. We have provided the dimensions of each chair in our table above.
The chairs which we have ranked higher in terms of comfort have an additional feature of padded calf-rest like Exacme Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair. The padded calf-rest can really make the experience an absolute delight.
An ergonomically designed chair with a spacious footrest provide a stress-relieving experience that will make your customers feel valued and special.
Weight Capacity:
When you are in a service business, you have a whole range of customers. One of the factors to consider when buying a barber chair is its weight capacity.
There are some luxury chairs in the market which have a weight capacity of around 200 pounds which don’t make them suitable for heavy customers like some 6-foot gentleman weighing around 350 pounds.
Adjustability:
Barber chairs nowadays provide a whole variety of features that aim to serve different purposes. These range from swiveling ability and a whole reclining range.
Most of the chairs can swivel to 360 degrees, but you need to consider if it provides different locking positions which helps with maneuverability and keeps the chair locked in one position.
Reclining barber chairs have different reclining angles that serve different purposes. A 45-degree reclining barber chair may be good for shaving or eyebrow threading. For shampooing or massaging you need a chair that provides a reclining angle of more than 100.
Value for Money/Cost:
How can we ignore money from all the equations? Over the last few years, there has been a surge of companies making barber and salon accessories. The barber chairs can cost anywhere from around $100 to all the way up to $10,000.
The better question to ask is “is the price justified” rather than “what is the price”. You can have a $10,000 chair that looks great but would lack durability and is laying in a junkyard after a year’s use or you can have a $100 chair that justifies its price tag and delivers what it promises.
We have listed a whole range of barber chairs which range from around $100 to around $1000 range. Some of the chairs may be outrageously priced considering their features and construction. Others like Artist Hand Barber Chair really come at mouth-watering prices considering what they have to offer. So, in the end, it is really the value of money than the price itself that you need to consider.
Conclusion:
Barbershops have been around for centuries now and are likely to remain in fashion for at least the foreseeable future. Barber chairs serve a whole lot of purpose and a lot of science goes into making them.
We have listed a range of barber chairs and tried to provide you some useful information about them. The things you need to consider before going for any barber chairs include comfort for your customers, its construction, and its multifunctionality or use.
If you have a barbershop that has a moderate amount of traffic and are looking for something that is durable and provides real value for each dollar spent on it, we would recommend going for Exacme Hydraulic Recline Barber Chair.
On other hand, if you have a salon/shop with heavy traffic and cater to a variety of customers and are willing to put some bucks into a great-looking durable barber chair we would recommend Dir’s Vanquish barber chair which has got classic barber chair looks and has a weight capacity of huge 750 pounds and is made to last you a lifetime.
We hope the list will provide you with valuable information and would help you decide the best barber chair for your needs. If you have any questions or comments, please feel to post them below and we would love to respond.
