Opening a nail salon is equal parts exciting and overwhelming, and the equipment list is where a lot of new owners either overspend or forget something they need on day one. This checklist walks the essentials — station by station — so you can build out a working salon without buying twice.
Start with the stations
Everything flows from how many manicure and pedicure stations you're running. Nail down that number first; it drives how many of each item below you'll need.
- Manicure tables — one per nail tech, ideally with built-in ventilation or room for a dust collector.
- Pedicure spa chairs — the single biggest line item and the one clients judge you on. More on sizing these below.
- Technician stools and client chairs — comfort here pays off over an eight-hour day.
Sanitation and sterilization
This is where you don't cut corners — it protects clients, staff, and your license. Plan for:
- A UV-C and heat sterilizer cabinet at each station or shared between two, to keep reusable tools clean and ready between clients. Size it to your station count — a 30L for a single station, 60L or 80L for busier floors.
- EPA-registered disinfectant and covered, labeled containers for your tool workflow.
- Single-use disposables (files, buffers, toe separators) wherever porous items are involved.
Browse sterilizer options on our sterilizers collection.
Towels, warmers, and the little luxuries
The details are what make a service feel like a treat. A steam towel warmer turns an ordinary pedicure into something clients remember and rebook. Stock plenty of towels, and add a warmer sized to your volume — see our towel warmers.
Tools and consumables
- Nail filing machines (e-files) and flex shafts for efficient work.
- Clippers, nippers, cuticle tools, and brushes — in enough quantity to keep full sets in rotation.
- UV/LED curing lamps for gel services.
- Desk lamps and dust fans for each station.
Front of house
Don't forget the pieces clients see first: reception furniture, retail display, LED store signage, and a clean waiting area. These shape the first impression before a single service starts.
A word on buying smart
New owners often buy retail piece by piece and overpay. If you're opening or expanding, a wholesale account gets you account pricing on equipment and consumables, case quantities, and a rep who can help you spec a full build-out. It's the single easiest way to stretch a fit-out budget.
The bottom line
Build from your station count outward, never cut corners on sanitation, and buy the client-facing pieces — chairs, warmers, clean stations — with the experience in mind. Get those right and you open with a salon that runs smoothly and looks the part.
Fiori is the professional equipment brand of W.S. Industries, Inc., a wholesale distributor of salon equipment and nail supplies since 1995. We supply nail supply retailers, distributors, and salons nationwide from our warehouse in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Opening or expanding a salon? Apply for a wholesale account or call 888-770-9882.