Mobile salon vans for Montreal

How do Montreal winters and summers shape a salon van?

A typical Montreal winter brings around 2 m of snow, cold snaps below −25 °C and a few rounds of freezing rain, and the slush and road salt come into the van on every pair of boots. A ProVanWorks salon van for Montreal gets insulation in the walls, roof and floor far thicker than the 16 mm (5/8 inch) or so used on a Lower Mainland van, and a waterproof floor you wipe down between clients. Heat from a small diesel, gas or electric heater under the seat runs through pipes in the floor and walls, heat exchangers spread it through the room, and a thermostat keeps it steady while the engine is off. A pedicure client's bare feet stay warm on a floor heated from below.

Then July arrives with heavy, humid heat. The front fan in the cargo area runs the air conditioning, which cools the room and also pulls some moisture from the air. Humidity changes how lash adhesive cures, so ask your adhesive maker what conditions they recommend and tell us when you plan your lash van.

Where do mobile salons work in Montreal?

Much of Montreal lives in duplexes and triplexes with outdoor staircases, in the Plateau, Rosemont, Villeray and similar neighbourhoods. Clients there are often glad to skip the icy stairs and the bus in January and walk out to a warm van instead. Downtown and in Griffintown, condo towers bring clients who book a lash fill or a manicure before or after work. Montreal also has a busy film and TV industry, and a hair or makeup artist on a shoot can use a salon van as a private room between scenes. Out in the West Island, most homes have a driveway, which makes parking simple.

Snow loading is the big parking issue. Temporary no-parking signs go up before crews reach a street, and any vehicle left behind is towed. Check the street the evening before an appointment and again that morning, and check with the City of Montreal and your borough about parking and setting up a salon van. In summer, road work and detours replace the snowbanks, so leave extra time between clients.

What water and power setup suits a Montreal salon van?

Few plex clients have a hose you can use, so a Montreal salon van usually carries its own water. A shampoo bowl, pedicure basin or hand-wash sink draws hot water from the fresh water reservoir in the utility area, and every drain empties into a grey water tank the same size as or larger than the reservoir. We size both tanks for the number of washes or pedicures in your day.

The auxiliary battery bank sits in the utility area inside the heated van, and it charges at Level 2 EV chargers (J1772), found on many Montreal streets and in parking lots, or from shore power through the 50 A inlet (30 A also available) or the 20 A, 120 V inlet. Solar panels and a generator are add-ons; a generator makes sense if you follow film shoots or weddings off the island, far from any outlet.

What rules apply to a mobile salon in Montreal?

Check with your municipality, which in Montreal means the City of Montreal and your borough, and with your regional public health office before you book clients. Ask about personal service rules as well as parking and setting up on the street.

How does a salon van get from Langley to Montreal?

The road trip is about 4,800 km: the Trans-Canada east over the Coquihalla, across Rogers Pass and the Prairies, around Lake Superior through northern Ontario, then Highway 417 from Ottawa and Autoroute 40 onto the island. We drive the van to Montreal, ship it on a vehicle transport carrier, or you collect it at the Langley shop. We quote delivery with each build, and you can choose your own layout or start from one of our already designed systems. Read about delivery across Canada, or see all our mobile salon vans. For summer markets and events where you stay in one place, a mobile beauty salon trailer is another option.

Frequently asked questions

Can a salon van stay parked on a Montreal street during snow loading?

No. Once the temporary signs are up for your street, the van has to move before the crews arrive or it will be towed. Book curbside appointments around the posted times, or ask clients with a driveway to keep a spot clear.

Can a Montreal salon van be used on film and TV sets?

Yes. A ProVanWorks salon van is a private, heated room with its own water and power, which suits hair and makeup work between takes. A generator add-on helps on long shoots far from an outlet.

How do I get a price for a salon van delivered to Montreal?

Email info@provanworks.com with the services you offer, whether you need hair washing or a pedicure basin, what you plug in and the neighbourhoods you work in. You'll get a layout and a quote back, with delivery to Montreal included.