Barber Shop Towels: Hot Towels, Branding and Stock
By The Velocity Wear Team
Barber towels get fewer searches than salon towels, but barbers are loyal, repeat buyers. And the towel is part of the experience in a barber shop more than almost anywhere else. The hot towel before a shave, the towel round the shoulders, the fresh towel after a wash. Every one is a moment where your brand can be felt.
Hot towel service
Hot towels need to hold heat and moisture, which calls for good absorbency. A face towel, 40 × 60 cm, or a hand towel, 45 × 75 cm, works well, rolled and warmed in a towel cabinet. Heavier cotton holds heat longer and feels more luxurious on the face.
Always follow your towel warmer manufacturer's instructions and check temperature before placing a hot towel on a client's skin.
Colours
Black is the barbershop classic. It hides product stains, beard oil and hair dye, and it looks sharp. White suits a traditional hot-towel shave aesthetic but needs frequent bleaching or replacement. Some barbers use white for hot towels and black for everything else.
Branding
An embroidered logo in white, gold or silver thread on a black towel looks premium and shows up in client photos and social media videos. Keep it simple and bold. Barber shop logos with vintage detailing often need a simplified stitch version.
Hygiene
- Use a fresh towel for every client.
- Wash hot enough to sanitise, following care labels.
- Keep clean and used towels separate.
- Store clean towels covered or in a closed cabinet.
- Follow any local licensing or hygiene requirements for your area.
How many towels to stock
Count chairs, clients per chair per day, and towels per client. A busy four-chair shop can easily use over a hundred towels a day between shoulders, washes and hot towels. Hold at least two days' worth so the laundry never catches you out.
Sell merch too
Barbershops with strong brands sell tees, hoodies and caps to loyal clients. A towel with your logo pairs with beard oil or grooming products as a gift set. See our barbershop merch guide.
Quick checklist before you order
- Face or hand size for hot towels?
- Black, white or both?
- Embroidered logo thread colour?
- Two days' stock at peak?
- Separate storage for clean and used towels?
Hot towel cabinets and rotation
Towels in hot towel cabinets should be rotated through the day and never left sitting warm and damp for long periods, which can cause odours. Load fresh towels at the start of the day and replenish as they're used. Follow the cabinet manufacturer's guidance on cleaning and temperatures.
Beard care and product stains
Beard oils, balms and styling products can leave marks on towels. Black towels hide them well. Pre-treat heavily soiled towels before washing, and avoid overloading machines so products wash out properly.
Branding that appears in videos
Barbers post a huge amount of video. Position the embroidered logo so it shows when a towel is draped around the client's shoulders facing the camera. It's worth testing placement with a few towels before a full order.
Multi-chair shops and franchises
Shops with several chairs or multiple locations should keep one towel spec, so every chair looks identical in photos. Consolidate orders across sites to reach the 50-piece minimum and better pricing.
Ordering
Minimum 50 per design. Hand towels start from £6.50 including branding. Production takes 10 to 15 working days from artwork approval. See wholesale towels.
