How to choose a barber chair: hydraulics, upholstery, price and layout

The barber chair is the hardest working piece of furniture in the shop. It goes up, down and around dozens of times a day. Your barber's back, the client's comfort and the first impression of the shop all depend on the same chair. This guide covers what to check when you buy a barber chair, what drives the price, vintage versus modern, and shop layout.

What to look for in a barber chair

Hydraulic pump

A hydraulic barber chair is raised and lowered with a foot pedal. The barber sets the working height for every client this way. A good pump lifts without jerking, lowers under control and does not sink on its own during the day. When you test a chair, take it to the top and bottom positions a few times; if it knocks on the way down or there is oil on the base, look at another model. Ask the maker about the load the pump is rated for as well. All of our Hola and Kent chairs are hydraulic; on the Hola series and on Kent Dark, for example, a pump with brake makes height adjustment precise and controlled.

Body and finish

A cast aluminium body is strong and keeps its shape under heavy use, and a wide base stops the chair from rocking as clients sit down and get up. The finish decides both the look and the cleaning routine. Chrome and gold plating are bright and bring a classic barber shop feel, but they show fingerprints sooner and want a soft cloth. A black painted body is calmer and blends into darker interiors.

Upholstery

Barber chair upholstery deals with cut hair, lather, cologne and disinfectant all day. Faux leather wipes clean with a damp cloth and does not hold on to hair the way fabric does. Stitching and piping add character; clear the hair from the seams with a soft brush at the end of the day. When choosing colour: black and brown hide wear, grey looks lighter but shows marks earlier, and red makes the chair the focal point of the room.

Headrest and footrest

The headrest holds the head steady during a shave and gets in the way when the barber works on the neckline. It should be removable and adjustable, so one chair serves clients of every height. Every client steps on the footrest with their shoes, so a durable material such as aluminium pays off. All Hola and Kent models have a removable, adjustable headrest and an aluminium footrest. On the Kent family the footrest reclines, so clients can stretch their legs during longer grooming services.

Swivel and lock

Barbers turn the client towards the mirror, the light or to the side; the chair should swivel smoothly and stay where you leave it. The brake stops the chair from turning on its own during a cut. When testing, engage and release the brake several times and push the chair by hand while it is locked: there should be no play and no clicking.

Care

Daily care is short: brush off the hair, wipe the upholstery with a damp cloth and polish the metal with a gentle cleaner that does not scratch. Do not leave products containing alcohol sitting on the upholstery. Once a month, check the fixings on the base and the headrest mount. If the chair sinks on its own or you see oil on the base, do not open the pump; contact the maker. Our products are under warranty for 2 years.

Hola and Kent: same job, different character

Both families follow vintage lines. The difference comes from the body colour, the upholstery and the details:

• Hola Classic: chrome plated cast aluminium body, black upholstery with stitching detail.
• Hola Brown: black painted body with brown faux leather; warm in shops with a lot of wood.
• Kent Dark: cast aluminium details with a vintage look, a wide round metal base and a reclining footrest.
• Kent Gold: gold plated cast aluminium body, black upholstery, a reversible reclining footrest and an integrated towel rail.
• Kent Red: red faux leather on a chrome body, with the same footrest and towel rail.

You will find Hola Black, Hola Grey and the chrome Kent Silver in our barber chairs collection. Some of these models can ship quickly from stock, so ask us for stock information before you order.

What drives barber chair prices?

We do not quote figures; even the same model is priced differently depending on quantity, colour and delivery address. The items that set the price:

• Body and finish: a cast metal body with chrome or gold plating usually costs more than a painted body or one built with plastic parts.
• Hydraulic pump: the gap between a basic pump and one with a brake and controlled descent shows in both the price and the life of the chair.
• Upholstery: foam density, cover material, stitching and piping work.
• Fittings: removable headrest, reclining or reversible footrest, towel rail.
• Quantity: on a project with several stations, quoting chairs, stations and waiting furniture together changes the total.
• Stock or production: stock models arrive fast; stations and waiting furniture in your own size and colour take 1 to 2 weeks to produce.
• Shipping: delivery within Turkey and international shipping are calculated separately. We work with businesses in Qatar, France, Belgium and Iraq.

The real cost of a cheap chair usually shows in the first year: a pump that sinks, upholstery that cracks, a base that wobbles. When you ask for a quote, always ask about the warranty period and spare parts support.

Vintage barber chair or modern chair?

A vintage barber chair carries the classic barber shop form: a cast metal body, chrome or gold details, generous padding and visible stitching. The chair becomes the shop window. A modern chair has cleaner lines; with plain surfaces and fewer details it blends into the overall design of the shop.

A vintage look does not mean giving up comfort; Hola and Kent follow classic lines but are hydraulic. If you are buying a genuine antique chair, have the pump and upholstery checked; spare parts for old models can be hard to find. These questions help you decide:

• Concept: wood, leather, brick and warm light call for vintage; light colours, flat surfaces and simple lighting suit a modern chair.
• Space: vintage chairs look bulkier, so plan the number of chairs in a narrow shop with that in mind.
• Cleaning: polished metal and detailed upholstery need a little more attention.

Shop layout: chair, station and waiting area

Plan the chair together with the station in front and the walkway behind. When you sketch the floor plan, check these points:

• Station width sets the spacing between chairs. Among our barber stations, Imperial is 165 cm wide and Supreme 150 cm, both 41 cm deep; with one chair in front of each station, every barber gets that much working width.
• The barber should move freely behind the chair without clients brushing past; we recommend a walkway of at least one metre.
• Swivel the chair with the footrest in its outermost position and mark the circle it draws on the plan.
• If you choose a station with a basin, have the water and drain points brought behind it in advance; Imperial and Supreme come without a basin or with a white or black basin.
• Give every station its own socket for clippers and dryer; an extension cable on the floor ends up wrapped around the chair base.

The waiting area is part of the layout too; for barber shop waiting seats, faux leather that wipes clean works well. In our waiting area collection, the Chesterfield style Class models seat two across 185 cm, while Tune Black, at 128 cm wide, fits smaller shops and keeps magazines and bags on the wooden shelf underneath. We make stations and waiting furniture in the size and colour your business needs.

Checklist before you buy

• The pump lifts smoothly, lowers under control and does not sink on its own
• The locked chair does not shift when pushed
• Cast metal body with a wide, stable base
• Upholstery wipes clean and the colour fits the shop palette
• Removable, adjustable headrest and a metal footrest
• The swivel circle clears the station and the wall
• Warranty in writing, clear stock status and delivery date

We have been designing and building salon furniture in our own Istanbul workshop for more than 17 years. Send us your shop dimensions or a sketch on WhatsApp and we will work out the right chair, station and waiting seats with you, along with current stock information.