Mobile salon vans in Prince Edward Island

What is the climate like for a salon van on PEI?

The sea sets the island's weather. Winter brings plenty of snow, and with little to stop the wind over open farmland, blowing snow can close rural roads for a day. Ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait keeps spring cool and late. Summer is warm, with beaches and humid spells, and in late summer or fall a post-tropical storm can bring damaging wind and rain.

A ProVanWorks salon van for PEI is insulated in the walls, roof and floor far beyond the 16 mm (5/8 inch) we use for the Lower Mainland. That keeps the heat in on windy days and cuts outside noise, which a lash client lying still with eyes closed will notice. Heat comes up through the floor and out of the walls from a small diesel, gas or electric heater under the seat, a thermostat holds the temperature, and the heater runs with the engine off. In July, the front fan runs the air conditioning. A waterproof floor handles the slush of winter and the red soil that sticks to boots in spring.

Which PEI city has a salon van page?

• Charlottetown, with Stratford and Cornwall: the capital and the island's main urban area.

Summerside, Montague, Souris, Kensington and Tignish don't have their own pages, but ProVanWorks delivers salon vans anywhere on the island.

Where do mobile salons work on Prince Edward Island?

Outside the capital region, most Islanders live in small towns and farming and fishing communities, and the island's population grows every summer with visitors and cottage owners. A salon van can serve:

• Summer visitors and cottage owners around Cavendish, the North Shore beaches and the island's golf courses.
• Wedding parties at barns, inns and seaside venues from June to October.
• Seniors' residences and home-care clients in towns such as Montague, Souris and Kensington.
• Clients in Summerside and across Prince County.
• Rural clients in Kings County who are a long way from the nearest salon.

Check with your municipality about parking and setting up a salon van. For a summer festival, a farmers' market or a long event on one site, a mobile beauty salon trailer can stay in place for the day.

What water and power setup works on Prince Edward Island?

A mobile lash van usually needs only a hand-wash sink with hot water, so its reservoir and grey water tank can be small. A nail van adds a pedicure basin and a hair van a shampoo bowl, with tanks sized for each build. The plumbing stays inside the heated room, so the hot water works all winter.

The auxiliary battery bank charges at Level 2 EV chargers (J1772), or from shore power through the 50 A inlet (30 A available) or the 20 A, 120 V inlet. Island distances are short, but a wedding at a barn venue can mean a long day with no outlet, so a generator or solar panels, both add-ons, are worth considering.

What rules apply to mobile salons on PEI?

Check with your provincial public health inspectors about the rules for lash, nail and hair services offered from a vehicle, and with your municipality about parking and permits. Tell us about any fixture the rules require so it is in the layout from the start.

How does a salon van reach Prince Edward Island?

There are two ways onto the island. Most deliveries cross the Confederation Bridge from Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick, to Borden-Carleton; the toll is collected when you leave the island, not when you arrive. High-sided vehicles such as a high-roof van can face restrictions on the bridge in strong wind, so check before you set out. From spring to fall, a ferry also runs from Caribou, Nova Scotia, to Wood Islands on the island's east end. Either way, the trip from Langley is close to 6,000 km. ProVanWorks drives the van, ships it on a vehicle transport carrier, or you pick it up in Langley. Delivery is quoted per build; see delivery across Canada.

You can have the van built to your own specifications, or pick one of ProVanWorks' already designed systems and adjust it. Every layout is on the mobile salon vans page.

Frequently asked questions

Can a high-roof salon van cross the Confederation Bridge?

Yes, in normal conditions. In strong wind, the bridge can restrict high-sided vehicles, so check the bridge's current conditions on the day you travel and allow time to wait if needed.

Is a salon van on PEI busy only in summer?

That depends on your services and clients, and ProVanWorks can't predict bookings. A van that serves seniors' residences and home clients in winter can work all year, with weddings and cottages added in summer.