Salon mats are essential for the health and comfort of stylists who are on their feet all day. Anti-fatigue mats around your salon chairs or barber chairs help you and your stylists feel better and less run down. These mats pay for themselves in recovered productivity by reducing pain and exhaustion levels. See the end of the article for more information on mats and how to choose the right type and size for you.
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1. EDITOR’S CHOICE: Semi-Circle Comfort Craft Mat by Rhino Mats
Pros:- Respected brand
- Durable construction
- Made in America
- Several shapes to choose from
Cons:- May be a little firm for some
- Slightly pricier than some
- Too heavy for some
Rhino Mats are one of the top names in salon anti-fatigue mats for a reason. It’s a father and son founded business that creates their industrial mats in the United States with materials produced and sourced from the United States.
Their mats are sturdy, well-made, and sleek. This mat is part of their Comfort Craft collection which has a non-absorbent polyurethane sponge center calibrated to increase circulation and reduce back stress.
It’s a good balance of firmness and squish factor (which is probably not the scientific term.) At three-quarters of an inch thick this is their deluxe mat and has their classic anti-slip surface for client and employee safety, but the surface isn’t so textured that it makes hair sweeping difficult.
In addition to the classic semi-circle shape, this mat is also available as a rectangle, hexagon, and large hexagon which has the salon chair sitting entirely upon the mat.
Find more Semi-Circle Comfort Craft Mat by Rhino Mats information and reviews here.
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2. Stylish Marble Salon Anti Fatigue Floor Mat by American Floor Mats
Pros:- Safe for high heels
- Best taper on the list
- Affordable
- Unique pattern
Cons:- Too lightweight for some
- Not thick enough for some
- No everyone loves the color
This three-foot by five-foot Marble Light Mat is great if you’re looking for a unique look and it comes in five different marble colors. The pictured black, heavily stylized marble pattern stands out among other plain mats. Patterned mats like this go really well with white salon chairs,
It’s 1/2 an inch thick and covers three feet by five feet with a depression for a circular salon chair base. The high-density foam is covered in a slip-resistant material that’s waterproof and puncture-resistant so it’s okay with high heels.
I love that it’s made from 25% recycled material and that it’s available in five different marble colors (black, white, charcoal, tan, and blue) and six different sizes from three by 3.5 feet up to five by five feet. The company can also work with custom orders for different sizes, thicknesses, or shape of depression.
The edges have one of the best tapers on the list making it easy to roll carts and other equipment over it and reducing the risk of tripping. You’ll want to weigh the edges down on this one since it is a lighter-weight mat, but the anti-skid underside resists slipping fairly well.
Find more Marble Anti Fatigue Floor Mat information and reviews here.
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3. Masculine Barbershop Anti-Fatigue Mat by Rhino Mats
Pros:- Five-year warranty
- Great look for barbershops
- One inch thick support
- Trusted brand
Cons:- Textured surface is harder to clean
- Too masculine for some
- Too thick for some
Most of these mats work well in any salon setting, but if you’re looking for something a little more on the masculine side to fit in with your barbershop aesthetic, Rhino Mats has you covered. This one-inch thick mat has an industrial faux steel look to it that wouldn’t be out of place in an auto body shop.
They are built to last with the same quality as other Rhino Mats with high-density support foam and surface performance. At one inch thick, this is a good choice for barbers and stylists with a heavier build while still providing plenty of support.
Even at this thickness, the beveled edge has a nice gradual slope to prevent tripping. It won’t show footprints and has a depression for a circular barber chair base. This style mat also comes in black and in semi-circle.
These look great with bold, red barber chairs.
Find more Sport Salon Anti-Fatigue Rectangle Mat by Rhino Mats information and reviews here.
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4. 5/8-Inch Semi-Circle Salon Anti-Fatigue Mat by Mefeir
Pros:- Medium thickness
- Sleek matte black finish
- Safe for high heels
- 3 feet by 5 feet
Cons:- Shows footprints
- Needs to be weighed flat at first
- Tapering is a little steep
A more affordable option for a thick salon mat, this one by Mefeir has a 5/8-inch high-density foam center and a durable outer layer that can handle high heels. Its neutral matte black finish is easy to keep clean.
It’s a good medium thickness for those who want decent cushion but think that one inch may be too much, this is a nice compromise. This mat does seem to show footprints more than others, but for the price and knowing that you’ll be cleaning it regularly anyway, it may be worth it.
It’s waterproof, puncture-resistant, and has great anti-skid traction. It weighs around 10.5 pounds which helps it to lay flat and stay in place.
You can also get this mat in a 7/8-inch thickness.
Find more 5/8-Inch Salon Anti-Fatigue Mats information and reviews here.
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5. Rectangle Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat With Scissor Design by LCL Beauty
Pros:- Cute scissor design
- Firmer 1/2 inch thickness
- Shapes and colors to choose from
- Safe for high heels
Cons:- A little smaller than others
- Hair sticks a tiny bit
- Scissor design isn't for everyone
All the black mats so far too plain? These mats by LCL Beauty have screen-printed scissor designs with a stylized face with flowing hair on the ends. They’re cute, fun, and serve a dual-purpose of reminding people the mats are there to avoid tripping hazards.
At half an inch thick, these are already less of a tripping hazard and the sloped sides take care of the rest. It has a smooth surface that’s easy to clean but holds onto a little more hair than the two mats above.
If you’re looking for your feet to be able to sink into something truly soft, this one isn’t for you, but if you’re looking for something supportive that takes the edge off those hard floors, this has you covered.
The rectangular mat comes in silver-colored scissors and LCL Beauty also makes a semi-circle mat in this style in silver and purple.
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6. Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat With Square Depression by Buy-Rite
Pros:- Made for your square-base chairs
- Nice and big
- Three-year wear through warranty
- High heel-proof
Cons:- Edges aren't as sloped as some
- Square chairs aren't as common
- Too big for some
For covering a larger area of the floor, this large anti-fatigue floor mat by Buy-Rite measures five feet long by three feet wide. The mat is 0.75 inches thick, just a little thicker than the minimum I’d recommend, and is filled with extra soft foam.
It’s very squishy which feels great on the feet. The mat is stain and puncture-resistant so it’s safe for high heels. The salon chair depression is designed for a 12 by 24-inch square base. It comes with a three-year warranty on wear-through and separation.
Find more Floor Mat With Square Depression by Buy-Rite information and reviews here.
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7. Faux Wood Anti-Fatigue Mat by Colilove
Pros:- Repairs hair and dust
- 1/2-inch thick
- Eye-catching
- Pattern can hides hair
Cons:- Not thick enough for some
- Best if you weigh it down at first
- May bottom out with heels
If you’re looking for a unique look, check out Colilove’s Faux Wood Salon Chair Mats. This fake woodgrain finish stands out among more plain mats and the pattern can even help to disguise dust, hair, and inevitable stains. Paired with a more rustic barber station, this really creates a vibe.
It has half an inch of high-density foam making it much thinner than most mats but not everyone wants a high-profile mat because they are more likely to trip on something tall. This is more like having gel inserts in your shoes to cushion but not feel like it’s something you need to stop up onto.
The mat is high-heel safe and anti-static to repel hair and dust.
Find more Faux Wood Anti-Fatigue Mat information and reviews here.
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8. 1 Inch Thick Anti-Fatigue Salon Floor Mat by Saloniture
Pros:- One-inch thick
- Safe for high heels
- Nicely sloped edges
- Many shapes and sizes to choose from
Cons:- Too big for some
- Not as cheap as others
- Too thick for some
At one inch thick, this Saloniture Mat is one of the thickest mats on the list. It’s made of NBR foam, also known as gym foam for gymnastics rubber, which is a closed-cell high-density foam built to withstand use as gym mats, camping bed cushions, and nautical cushioning according to Foam Factory.
It has a medium squish to it so it’s plenty supportive. At almost 20 pounds, you know this support mat isn’t just air that with squash down and bottom out on you.
The sloped edges of this mat are nice and gradual steep and it’s made to be stain and puncture-resistant, even with high heels.
I like that’s a nice, big hexagonal mat so it’s more likely to catch hair any dropped product and keep it off your floor.
Saloniture is a trusted brand has a huge range of mats in many sizes and shapes.
Find more 1 Inch Thick Professional Anti-Fatigue Salon Floor Mat information and reviews here.
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9. Hexagon Salon & Barber Shop Anti-Fatigue Mat by D Salon
Pros:- Safe for high heels
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- High density foam
Cons:- Too soft for some
- Not the shape for everyone
- Needs to be weighted to lay flat at first
If you want a thick cushion in a hexagon shape, check out this hexagon mat from D Salon. At 1/2-inches thick, this mat is about as tall as you can get before it starts becoming too soft for comfort.
The material is waterproof and puncture-resistant so it’s safe to walk on with high heels. With taller mats, the tapering of the edges to prevent a tripping hazard is very important and this mat checks that box.
When you receive your mat, it’s best to weigh the edges down for a day or so to make sure that it lays as flush to the floor as possible. It weighs almost 19 pounds which helps keep it laying flat.
It’s easy to clean, has a nice non-slip texture, and resists discoloration. The padding is a high-density foam for support, but some people may find this to be too much mat.
Find more Hexagon Salon & Barber Shop Anti-Fatigue Mat information and reviews here.
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10. OmySalon Fatigue Mats for Square-Base Chairs
Pros:- Perfect for square bases but available in round too
- Mid-level squish
- Waterproof
Cons:- Hair can stick to it
- Needs to be weighed down to flatten at first
- Plain
- No mention of heels
Finding a mat that fits a square-based salon chair can be pretty difficult so we’re including the OmySalon 1/2 Inch Salon Anti-Fatigue Mat for your square chairs.
The square depression on this rectangular mat is 27.5 inches wide and 15 inches deep (12.6 inches not counting the sloping area). It’s a good-sized mat at three feet by five feet and at half an inch thick it’s a mid-tier sort of cushion. Not too much but better than not having a fatigue mat.
Keep in mind that this one is quite lightweight so it will need to be weighed down when it first arrives to make it lay flat.
Find more OmySalon Fatigue Mats for Square-Base Chairs information and reviews here.
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11. Small Semi-Circle Salon Floor Mat by Icarus
Pros:- Nice and compact
- Available in one or 0.5-inch thickness
- Classic black
- Popular round base depression
Cons:- Not big enough for some
- Won't fit square base
- Not high heel-proof
This Small Comfy Mat is a great choice for people with space limitations who need something small or for stations that don’t require a lot of walking around the client.
The two-foot by three-foot mat cushions just the area behind the chair for more efficient use of space if you don’t need to circle the chair all day. It’s a good addition to a smaller home salon space where you end up spinning the chair more than pacing around it.
It comes as a one-inch thick mat. Keep in mind, because it’s much smaller than other mats, one inch is going to look extra tall so unless you know you need that extra cushion support, you may want to go with the 0.5-inch mat.
Find more Small Semi-Circle Mat information and reviews here.
How Important Are Barber Mats?
When you're standing constantly, even if you're wearing the most ergonomic shoes possible, you're going to be sore at the end of the day. The best thing to do when you have to be standing up all day is to change what you're standing on. Anti-fatigue mats provide a much-needed cushion for your feet.
They're called anti-fatigue mats because one huge problem with standing on a hard floor for even an hour is that you can become exhausted while doing nothing. Your body becomes tired simply from standing still on hard ground, let alone if you have complicated tasks to perform at the same time.
What Can Anti-Fatigue Mats Improve?
Joint health. The CDC states that standing for long stretches has been linked to foot, joint, and lower back pain, swollen legs, and tiredness--although I'm not sure why they needed a study to learn that.
Salon mats reduce the impact on your joints as you stand and move leading to less immediate pain as well as long-term wear and tear to your joints.
Cardiovascular health. According to an article in Rehabilitation Nursing Journal, there have been multiple studies that document a strong connection between prolonged standing and increase risk of cardiovascular issues.
The point of an anti-fatigue mat isn't just that your feet appreciate not standing on tile--it's what the mat forces your body to do.
When you're standing still for long periods, the muscles in your legs lock up. They constrict so tightly that it narrows the veins in your legs to the point that your heart has to work harder to move blood around your body and increases your risk for blood clots.
However, when you stand on something softer, like an anti-fatigue mat, the muscles in your feet, legs, and core engage with micro-movements to keep you steady. It's these micro-movements that relieve some of the pain of standing "still" for long periods of time, improve circulation, and are the reason you're less tired at the end of the day.
Salon mats should be just squishy enough to wake up your leg muscles to keep your balance, but not so squishy that you ever notice that it's happening.
Worker productivity. When your stylists are tired or in physical pain, they aren't performing at their best. They're moving slower and having trouble concentrating which can lead to mistakes. Issues related to poor ergonomic posture on hard floors can lead to chronic and worsening back pain so you're looking at increased sick leave as well.
As a salon owner, what's good for your employees' health is good for you, and quality anti-fatigue mats have immediate, wide-reaching benefits.
What Should You Look For in an Anti-Fatigue Salon Floor Mat?
Shape and size. This is more important for a salon than for most other workplaces. Regular industrial anti-fatigue mats or mats for standing desks in offices won't work, but you can find a variety of cut-outs and depressions in these salon floor mats that fit snugly around the base of your styling chairs whether they are round or square.
Another important shape factor is you want your mat to have sloping sides that act as a ramp. This will prevent dangerous tripping hazards and allow you to more easily move salon trolley carts around and on top of them.
Thickness. Thickness is completely a personal choice though most experts advise not going any thinner than half an inch thick as any less than that and your mat is more likely to "bottom out" meaning you're on the mat, but it's so compressed you're basically standing on the floor. One inch thick is about the maximum thickness before it becomes more like walking on a mattress topper.
Firmness. You want good middle-of-the-road firmness. Not so squishy that it causes your body to work overtime to stay upright and not so firm that you might as well be standing on the floor.
Material. You want a material that can be easily cleaned while being durable, and long-lasting. Salon anti-fatigue mats need to be able to withstand prolonged use, being swept multiple times a day and may have to handle high heels.
Check out the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety Anti Fatigue Mat Fact Sheet for more information on anti-fatigue mats and when to use them.
What Else Can I Do?
Besides taking regular breaks and wearing comfortable shoes, you can also start wearing compression socks to promote healthy circulation.
You can get these socks in subtle nude colors or go all out with this cute six-pair set with fun patterns like sharks and cacti.
You can also consider eye fatigue if your lights aren't bright enough, it can cause eye strain over time, especially for stylists over 40. Luckily, these days there are loads of ways to add lighting for salons.