Mobile beauty salon trailers

Why choose a salon trailer instead of a salon van?

A salon trailer suits a beauty business that already owns a truck that can tow it, or that sets up at one site for most of the day. You can leave the ProVanWorks trailer at a wedding venue, a seniors' residence, an office park or a market, run it on its own heat, water and power, and use the truck for other errands. A beauty salon van suits a business that drives to several homes a day on residential streets, where one vehicle is easier to park. ProVanWorks builds both, so we'll help you choose based on how your days run.

What services can a salon trailer be set up for?

A ProVanWorks salon trailer can be laid out for any service where the client sits or lies still while you work:

• Hair styling. A styling chair facing a mirror, and a shampoo bowl with hot water that drains to a grey water tank.
• Nails. A manicure station facing the client's chair, and a pedicure station with water for soaking and rinsing.
• Eyelash extensions. A reclining seat so the client can lie back, with you seated at their head under good light.
• Massage and spa. Floor space for a massage table with room to walk around it, in a warm, closed room.

The drawing at the top of this page shows a hair styling layout. The service room is in the back half, behind a partition with a doorway, and customer seating is in the front half by the door.

Can I pick a ready-designed layout or have my own built?

Yes, either one. ProVanWorks builds every salon trailer to the customer's specifications, or you can pick from one of our already designed systems and change what you need. Either way, the layout, stations, cabinets, heater, tank sizes, battery bank, insulation thickness and add-ons are set around your services and where you work. Read how we build for the steps from first email to pickup.

What comes in every ProVanWorks salon trailer?

Every feature we build into our vans is available in a ProVanWorks salon trailer, and we use top-quality products and materials in each build. That includes insulation in the walls, roof and floor, in-floor and in-wall heat with heat exchangers and a thermostat, two fans with air conditioning on the front fan, lights along the ceiling, cabinets, a waterproof floor and optional opening windows. The cards below explain each system.

How does a salon trailer keep clients warm in winter?

A ProVanWorks salon trailer keeps clients warm with insulation in the walls, roof and floor and heat that comes up through the floor and out of the walls. A diesel, gas or electric heater warms fluid in pipes running through the floor and walls, heat exchangers move the warm air around the room, and a thermostat holds the temperature you set. We decide where the heater is mounted when we lay out your trailer.

Warm floors matter most for pedicures, when the client has bare feet, and for massage, when the client lies still for an hour. Insulation thickness is matched to your climate: about 16 mm (5/8 inch) for the Lower Mainland, and much thicker for Northern BC, the Prairies and Eastern Canada. The cold-weather design page explains the heating system in detail.

Does a salon trailer have hot water for hair washing and hand washing?

Yes, where your services need it. A ProVanWorks salon trailer can have a shampoo bowl for hair washing, a pedicure basin and a sink with running hot water for washing hands between clients. The water comes from a fresh water reservoir in the utility area and drains to a separate grey water tank, which is the same size as or larger than the reservoir. The hot water keeps working in winter because the plumbing stays inside the heated part of the trailer.

The water inlet fills the reservoir from a drinking-water-safe hose, or supplies water on the spot when you're parked by a tap. The grey water outlet opens with an electric switch, and grey water goes to an approved disposal point or the sanitary sewer, never a storm drain. A lash or massage trailer may not need water at all. The water system page covers tanks and hot water in more detail.

What power does a salon trailer have, and can it have a generator?

A ProVanWorks salon trailer runs its lights, fans and your equipment from an auxiliary battery bank in the utility area. The batteries charge at Level 2 EV chargers through a J1772 inlet, or from shore power through the 50 A inlet (30 A also available) and the 20 A, 120 V inlet. High-amp inverters and chargers are available for hair dryers, flat irons and other hot tools.

A generator is an optional add-on for salon trailers that work long days away from any outlet or charger, such as at outdoor events. Solar panels are also available and suit a trailer that sits at one site all day. Send us a list of what you plug in, such as dryers, a nail drill, a UV or LED lamp or a heated massage table, and we'll size the battery bank and tell you whether a generator makes sense for you. Read more about power and EV charging.

What lighting and ventilation does a salon trailer have?

A ProVanWorks salon trailer has lights along the ceiling, spaced close together over the work area so your hands and tools do not throw shadows on the client. Two fans, one at the front and one at the back, move air through the room while you work with polish, remover, acrylics, gels or hair products, and the front fan also runs the air conditioning for summer. Optional windows add daylight and open for fresh air. Ask the makers of the products you use what ventilation they recommend and tell us, so we can place your station where the airflow helps most.

What do I need to tow a salon trailer?

You need a tow vehicle rated for the trailer's loaded weight, with the right hitch and a brake controller if the trailer has electric brakes. A salon trailer gets heavier once the water reservoir is full, so check the loaded weight against your truck's towing capacity. Licence and trailer brake rules depend on the weight and your province or state, so check with your licensing office before you buy. ProVanWorks builds trailers to any size, so tell us your tow vehicle and we'll size the trailer and its tanks to suit it.

How do I get a price on a salon trailer?

Email info@provanworks.com with the services you offer, how many clients you see in a day, whether you need water, what you plug in, the truck you'll tow with and where you work. Tell us if you'd like to start from one of our already designed systems. We reply with a layout and a quote, and we can design and install a wrap so the trailer leaves with your salon's name on it.

Frequently asked questions

Can a salon trailer have a generator?

Yes. A generator is an optional add-on for any ProVanWorks salon trailer. Most trailers run on the battery bank, topped up at EV chargers or from shore power, and a generator adds power for long days far from an outlet.

Do you build salon trailers for men's grooming and barbers?

Yes. A ProVanWorks salon trailer is a treatment room, and the layout and finishes are up to you. Hair styling, nails, lashes and massage are services for women and men.

Do I need a permit to run a mobile salon trailer?

Rules for personal services vary by province, state and region, so check with your local health authority about personal service establishment rules before you book clients, and with your city about where you can park and set up for the day.

Do you deliver salon trailers outside BC?

Yes. ProVanWorks delivers trailers across Canada and to the United States, and customers near Langley can pick up at the shop. See delivery across Canada.