Top 9 Best Anti-Fatigue Thick Salon Mats

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Best Anti-Fatigue Thick Salon Mats used by hairstylists, barbers, and cosmetologists to place underneath their station chairs.

Why Use an Anti-Fatigue Thick Salon Mat?

These top 9 best anti-fatigue thick salon mats are used to help protect a stylist’s body from becoming tired and sore too quickly.

Anti-fatigue thick salon mats relieve tension and pressure put on the spine and knees. They also prevent quick fatigue in the arch of the foot during the long hours of standing on the salon floor.

It’s important to understand the toll of standing all day takes on the body and why we need to take care of our bodies physically.

Best Salon Mats for Beauty Salons and Barbershops

Here we’re going to go over the top 9 best thick salon mats.

👉 Different Shapes of thick mats for either a Salon or a Barbershop

👉 Budget Salon Mat that is durable though not expensive or too large

👉 Shampoo Mat for shops that have a separate station for their shampoo bowls

👉 Comfort Cushion Comfort Craft Salon Mat

👉 Double Sponge Salon Mat for maximum support for salon professionals that spend more than 40 hours in the salon or barbershop per week

The 3 x 5 Black Half Circle Barber Salon Mat

The 3 x 5 Black Half Circle Salon Mat is a great choice for a regular hair salon, or even a booth or suite salon chair.

The half circle is a good choice for a salon over barbershop because it is –

✔️ Easier on the eye, and more elegant to have a round shape

✔️A good choice for those who have a lot of clients who wear heels or those brave enough to wear heels while working behind the chair themselves

✔️ Slip resistant coating to protect you and your guests

❌ Not good for barbers when the chair needs to lean back for shaves because of the round edges, but also not all barbers care whether the mat under their chair is half circle or square.

See Half Circle Black Barber Salon 3×5 1/2″ Thick Mat

Now, if the 1/2″ isn’t thick enough for your tired feet and you need an entire inch of thickness, here is the 1″ Thick Salon Mat Half Circle.

✔️ 1″ Thickness offers more support for the feet, knees, and back

✔️ Doesn’t wear out as quickly as the 1/2″ mat

✔️ Excellent for salons or barbershops that have more chairs that aren’t spaced out

❌ Smaller than the 1/2″ half circle mat above by 1 foot

1″ Thick Anti-Fatigue Half Circle Mat for Hairstylists 3×4

Budget Half Circle Salon Mat 5/8″ Thick

For those that have many stylists and many chairs in their salons, this might be the least expensive of the salon mats listed here. Selling price for $30.99 – opposed to the typical $50 or so price the others are sold for.

✔️ Less expensive

✔️ Thicker than the 1/2″ mats giving the mat a longer life

✔️ Half circle leaves room for other chairs without taking up too much space

❌ 3×5 feet might be too big for some salons depending on how spaced out the chairs might be

Budget 3×5 Half Circle Salon Mat 5/8″ Thick

Saloniture Rectangle Anti Fatigue 3×5 Salon Mat 1/2″ Thick

The 1/2″ Saloniture Rectangle 3×5 Salon Mat is a great choice for the edgy barbershop, or barber booth or suite rental.

✔️ The Rectangular shape gives a more edgy esthetic to the shop

✔️ The Rectangle Mats fit well under the Barber chair and gives the barber more room while doing shaves when the chair is leaned back

✔️ Slip resistant coating to protect you and your guest

❌ Takes up a little more space in the salon if the chairs are close together because of the shape

Saloniture 3×5 Anti Fatigue Rectangle Salon Mat 1/2″ Thick

OmySalon Marbleized Rectangle Mat 3×4 1/2″ Thick

The Marbleized Rectangle Salon Mat is an excellent budget option if you need to get many mats for many salon chairs, or if you are a booth or suite renter looking for the best thick salon mat with the edgy marbled look for your own individual use.

✔️ Durable and have been well reviewed and used by salon professionals everywhere

✔️ Not too big in the salon

✔️ Slip resistant to protect you and your guest

❌ Is not all black but marbled in color to give it texture

❌ Because it’s a budget mat, the marble salon mat is made a little cheaper so it may not last as long as the other black mats

OmySalon Rectangle 3×4 Marbled 1/2″ Thick Salon Mat

If the 1/2″ Marbled mat isn’t thick enough for your needs, the 3×5 version of this mat comes in 3/4″ thick to give your body more support, and the mat a longer life.

OmySalon Rectangle 3×5 Marbled 3/4″ Thick Salon Mat

Barbershops will have fewer issues with the rectangular mats because the chairs are generally spaced out a little farther because the chairs lean back for razor shave services.

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Saloniture 5×4 Hexagon Thick Salon Mat 1″ Thick

This hexagon 1″ salon mat is excellent for the extra edgy salon or barbershop. The extra foot in size does make it difficult for salons that need many mats in one small area, however for a single stylist or barber in their private booth or suite, this is perfect support for the tired stylist’s body.

✔️ 1″ Thick ensures a longer life of the mat

✔️ 5×4 feet guarantees that no matter which direction the chair is turned it will still offer support even with the hex edges

✔️ The biggest of these Top 9 Thick Salon Mat options

❌ May be too big for some small salon suites or booths

❌ Is more expensive than the others listed because of it’s unique shape and size

Saloniture Hexagon 5×4 1″ Thick Anti-Fatigue Salon Mat

Shampoo Mat

This Shampoo Mat is still a support mat, though it is only 17.3″ x 28″ (less than a foot and a half in width by just over two feet in length) which is very small compared to the mats used around the salon chairs.

A Shampoo Mat is used at the shampoo bowl, if the bowls are kept in another place in the salon. Less time is spent at the shampoo bowl than at the station in the salon chair so this mat is not as thick and is much smaller than the mats discussed above.

✔️ Great choice for those who spend time massaging clients in the shampoo bowl, or do toners or other color treatments in the shampoo bowl

✔️ Small and will fit next to a shampoo bowl

✔️ Less expensive than the full sized thick salon mats

✔️ Supportive for those who do a lot of color treatments and spend more time at the shampoo bowl washing long haired clients

✔️ Dries easily and is slip resistant

✔️ Can also be used as a kitchen mat but offers the exact same support and is the right size for to fit at the shampoo bowl

Kitchen/Shampoo Mat for the salon

❌ Not for using next to the salon chair

❌ Is thinner than the full sized salon mats because less time is spent at the shampoo bowl

❌ Shampoo Mat is used at the shampoo bowl, and is too small and too thin to use at the salon chair

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Double Sponge Anti-Fatigue Salon Mat

Double Sponge is definitely the thickest of the salon mats and offers the maximum support for anti-fatigue and –

Prevents tension in the arms and shoulders
Eases leg tension
Relieves lower back fatigue

But it is entirely your choice whether you would prefer to go for a Double Sponge over a Single Sponge salon mat.

Salon professionals that spend over 40 hours in the salon or barbershop should use this Double Sponge Anti-Fatigue Salon Mat.

Softwoods Double Sponge Anti-Fatigue Salon Mat

✔️ Double Sponge offers maximum support for the feet, back, shoulders, and for the overall body

✔️ Extremely durable

✔️ Slip resistant coating, to protect you and your guests

✔️ Large in size, 3′ x 5′ with a chair indent

❌ More expensive than other salon mats, this mat is the most expensive of these mats listed at a grand price of $222 USD

❌ Is not a black salon mat

❌ This Double Sponge salon mat is large

Standing on a Thick Salon Mat is Beneficial because…?

In the long run, constant pressure on the spine and lower back -and ultimately the entire body starting from the feet up- is what causes arthritis, bone spurs, poor posture, hip and knee pain. Not to mention building tension on the lower back.

Standing on a thick salon mat benefits the physical body because the stylist will be able to work longer hours, and for more years of their career if they aren’t constantly struggling with pain and fatigue in their bodies.

Using a mat is just one way to help the hairstylist live a long and pain-free life.

How to Clean a Thick Salon Mat

All of the best thick salon mats that you see in the shop are made of polyurethane.

Polyurethane is usually used in furniture, bedding, and carpet underlay as cushioning. Mostly made to be flexible foam but incredibly durable.

Cleaning a thick salon mat is easy. Simply use a rag and water or a simple all-surface cleaner. Spray and wipe down.

If chemicals (perm solution, color, or bleach) are spilled on the mat, clean it up as soon as you can so that it doesn’t crack and damage the foam.

Though impressively durable, polyurethane is less than 10% porous, which is just enough to crack if chemicals are left on the surface too long.

What are Salon Mats Made of? Polyurethane

🔥 Polyurethane is highly flammable.

🚭 So, do not allow any sparks or ashes of any kind to fall on the mat. Luckily, most salons and barbershops today are smoke-free zones and this is much less of an issue than in the past.

♻️ Polyurethane IS RECYCLABLE!

Please, if you or your salons have old thick salon mats that are being discarded, recycle them! They will be broken down into carpet underlay, or chemically broken down into its original chemical components to be used again.

Let’s Not Forget Work-Life Balance

No, the best thick salon mats aren’t going to magically make the body better and resolve all stylist’s and barbers’ issues. But it is just one small thing that will help in the day-to-day to help ease leg pain and lower back fatigue.

It is imperative to have a healthy work-life balance in the salon as well. To take time for yourself and recharge.

We take care of other people all day long, it’s not a crime to take care of yourself for a little bit.

Take time to read, or go on a walk. Or exercise and do yoga. Or meditate. All of these things help a stylist physically while you are not at work, so that you will be at your best when you walk through the shop doors.

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Taking Care of Yourself Physically

Managing work-life balance, but also remembering to use good ergonomics at work will help you maintain a healthy body for the duration of your career.

Pump up the chair so that you don’t bend over to reach your client. This helps ease lower back fatigue.
Lower the chair enough that your hands don’t have to reach above your shoulders.
Keep your wrists open and not crunched or bent when using your shears. It’s hard to break this habit but believe me, it’s worth it!
Stretch when you get home at night to prevent injuries and ease leg tension.
Wear good shoes! Tension builds up even if you don’t feel it in the moment.

Wearing good shoes is a big one for hairstylists, cosmetologists, and barbers.

Once again, the body is all connected and if you take care of each part of it, the rest will follow its lead. Starting with the spine and feet.

What are the best shoes for hairstylists? In my personal and professional opinion, Danskos.

I have used Danskos for years and they have served me well! Not only are they durable but have SAVED my feet, knees, and back and made a huge difference in my own capability to perform well in the salon without being in pain.

Best Shoes for Hairstylists? How to Break in Danskos…

Dansko Clogs for Women

Conclusion- Price-list of the Top 9 Best Thick Salon Mats for Hairstylists

In Summary of Top 9 Best Thick Salon Mats for Hairstylist here is a quick reference to the links from above as well as the prices.

Please refer back to the pros and cons above of the mat of your choice before purchasing the salon mat that would suite your salon needs best.

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