Mobile salon vans for Vancouver

How does Vancouver's weather shape a salon van?

Vancouver's winters are mild and very wet. From November into March, clients arrive with damp coats and wet shoes, and they notice a cold, clammy room at once. A ProVanWorks salon van has a small diesel, gas or electric heater under the seat that sends warmth through pipes in the floor and walls and through heat exchangers around the room. A thermostat holds the setting, and the heater runs with the engine off. The warm floor matters most for pedicure clients, who sit barefoot for most of the appointment.

For Lower Mainland vans we use about 16 mm (5/8 inch) of insulation in the walls, roof and floor. It suits Vancouver's damp cold and keeps traffic noise down during a lash fill. When Arctic air reaches the coast and the city stays below freezing for days, the plumbing inside the heated van keeps the shampoo bowl and pedicure basin supplied with hot water.

Summer has its own risk: the heat dome of June 2021 showed how hot the city can get. The front fan in the cargo area also runs the air conditioning.

Where do mobile salons work in Vancouver?

Most Vancouver clients live in apartments and condos: the West End, Yaletown, Coal Harbour, Mount Pleasant and the towers rising around SkyTrain stations. A salon van at the curb saves them a trip across town. Downtown offices book on-site services for staff, and wedding parties want hair and makeup at a hotel or venue on the morning of the day.

Vancouver is also a busy film and TV city, and productions shooting on location need hair and makeup close to set. A van with hot water and its own batteries can work from a street or a lot all day.

Parking is the hard part. A van tall enough to stand in won't clear most underground parkades, so you'll be at the curb or in a surface lot, and residential permit zones cover many streets. Check with the City of Vancouver about parking a commercial vehicle and setting up on the street before you book a regular stop.

What water and power setup suits a Vancouver salon van?

A ProVanWorks salon van can carry a shampoo bowl, a pedicure basin and a hand-wash sink, each with running hot water from a fresh water reservoir in the utility area. Drains run to a grey water tank under the floor, the same size as or larger than the reservoir, and both tanks are sized for your appointments. Empty grey water at an approved disposal point or the sanitary sewer, never a storm drain.

Lights, fans, dryers, nail lamps and lash lamps run from the auxiliary battery bank. Vancouver has many public Level 2 chargers, and the van charges through a J1772 inlet, so a lunch stop can add charge between clients. At home you can plug into 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, though most city vans get by on batteries and chargers. The mobile nail salon van page covers the pedicure basin, ventilation and lighting in detail.

What rules apply to a mobile salon in Vancouver?

Vancouver is in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. Check with Vancouver Coastal Health about the rules for personal services such as nails, lashes and hair before you take bookings, and check with the City of Vancouver about business licences and parking. Tell us what they ask for, such as a separate hand-wash sink, and we'll build it in.

How does a salon van get from Langley to Vancouver?

The drive is about 50 km, west on Highway 1 over the Port Mann Bridge, and takes about an hour outside rush hour. Most Vancouver owners pick up at our Langley shop, where we go through every system with you in the van; shop visits during the build are by appointment (email info@provanworks.com). We can also drive the van to you, or ship it on a vehicle transport carrier. See delivery across Canada for how delivery is quoted.

Can I have a Vancouver salon van built my way?

Yes. ProVanWorks builds to your own specifications, or you can pick one of our already designed systems and change what you need. The mobile salon vans page shows the hair, nail, lash and massage layouts. If you plan to set up in one spot at markets or events, a mobile beauty salon trailer is another option.

Frequently asked questions

Will a salon van fit in a Vancouver condo parkade?

Usually not. A van with standing room is taller than most parkade clearances, so plan on curb or surface-lot parking near the lobby.

Does a Vancouver salon van need air conditioning?

Yes, for summer. Dryers, hot tools and lamps add heat to a small room, and a van parked in the sun warms up fast. The front fan in a ProVanWorks van runs the A/C on the same thermostat as the heat.