A salon sells an experience, and clients judge it before they open the door. Your sign, your windows and your reception wall tell them whether you are modern or classic, quick or pampering, budget or luxury. They also have to meet a few rules that many owners do not know about.
Gogi Signs makes signs and graphics for salons, spas and barbershops across New Jersey and New York City. This guide covers the signs that build your brand, the postings the state requires and the window limits towns set.
In this guide
Salon Signs at a Glance
The Storefront Sign
Your main sign is the one most people see first. In a 2012 survey commissioned by FedEx Office, 76 percent of people said they had entered a store they had never visited because of its signs, according to FedEx. New Jersey also requires a licensed shop to show a permanent sign with the shop name, clearly visible from outside, under N.J.A.C. 13:28 2.5. Dimensional letters, a lit panel or channel letters all work, as long as your town allows the lighting. See our channel letters.
Blade Signs for Foot Traffic
On a walkable street, a blade sign that sticks out from the wall is seen by people walking toward you, not only by those directly in front. A round or shaped blade sign with your logo is easy to remember. See our blade signs.
Window Graphics
Windows can show your logo, hours, services and booking details. In a 2026 Harris Poll survey commissioned by Signarama, a sign franchise, window graphics ranked second only to the storefront sign as the format most likely to make people want to walk inside, chosen by 24 percent, according to Signarama. Keep it clean so clients can still see inside. Most towns limit how much glass you can cover.
- Montclair. Up to 20 percent of each window, according to its signage page.
- Hoboken. Up to 30 percent for permanent window signs and 50 percent for temporary signs, under section 196 31D of its code.
- NYC historic districts. Vinyl can cover no more than 20 percent of each window, according to the Landmarks guidebook.
The Reception Wall
The reception wall is where clients wait and where many take photos. Dimensional letters, a lit logo or a printed wall graphic make it feel finished. Match the finish to your style: brushed metal for modern, gold for luxury, painted wood for natural. See our lobby signs.
The Service Menu
A clear service menu helps clients choose and answers price questions before they ask. Magnetic or changeable menu boards make price updates easy. See our menu boards. In New York, posting prices is not optional, as the next section explains.
Signs the Rules Require
- New Jersey. A permanent shop name sign visible from outside and a notice, clearly visible to clients, that the shop and operators are licensed by the State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, with how to file a complaint, under N.J.A.C. 13:28 2.5.
- New York. A sign at the entrance saying the business and operators are licensed, licenses posted at each station, the business license posted, and an itemized list of services and prices, under 19 NYCRR 160.10.
- Nail salons in New York. The nail practitioner bill of rights must be posted where workers and customers can see it, according to New York State.
- NYC. The city’s consumer agency tells shoppers that service businesses such as salons must post prices at the register, in its consumer guide.
We can design these postings to match your brand, in a frame or on acrylic, so they look like part of the salon instead of an afterthought.
Privacy for Treatment Areas
Treatment rooms, waxing rooms and nail stations often sit behind glass. Frosted window film adds privacy and keeps the light. 3M says its frosted glass finishes let you control the level of privacy by choosing how much light passes through, on its product page. Film can also carry your logo or a pattern. See our window frosting. Our sister company in New York explains pricing in how much does window frosting cost.
The Small Signs
- Restroom and room signs, with tactile text where required. See our guide to ADA sign requirements.
- Hours and booking on the door.
- Retail shelf signs for products you sell.
- Staff only and please wait to be seated signs.
Keep the Brand Consistent
Use the same logo, colors and fonts on the storefront, the windows, the menu and your social media. A QR code on the window or the menu can link straight to online booking. Pixel Wraps, our sister graphics shop, explains how to use QR codes well in should you put a QR code on a vehicle wrap. Our guide on how consistent signage builds customer trust covers more.
Lighting Sets the Mood
Warm white light feels relaxing, and cool white feels clean and clinical. Choose the light color for your lit signs to match the feel of the salon. Some towns limit internally lit signs, so check before you order. Montclair, for example, allows only external or halo lighting. Our guide to lit and unlit signs explains the options.
Second Floor and Suite Salons
Salons above a shop or inside a salon suite building have a harder job, since clients cannot see the door from the street. Use a blade sign or a window decal at street level that says the floor, a directory listing in the lobby and a clear sign on the suite door. Repeat your logo at every step so clients know they are on the right path.
Opening Day
A grand opening banner tells the street you are new, but most towns limit how long it can stay up, and some require a permit. Plan the permanent sign so it is ready soon after opening. Our guide to temporary sign regulations explains the common limits.
One more survey worth knowing: a 2026 Harris Poll for Signarama, a sign franchise, found that 84 percent of adults say signs affect their decision to buy. The company paid for the survey, but the result matches the older independent research above.
Budgeting the Package
Start with what clients see first: the storefront sign and windows. Add the reception wall and service menu next, then privacy film and small signs. Required postings cost little, so include them from day one. Every Gogi price includes the survey, design, fabrication and installation, so there are no surprise add ons.
One more survey worth knowing: a 2026 Harris Poll for Signarama, a sign franchise, found that 84 percent of adults say signs affect their decision to buy. The company paid for the survey, but the result matches the older independent research above.
Common Questions About Salon Signs
What signs does a salon need?
A storefront sign, window graphics, a reception sign, a service menu and the required license postings. Many salons add a blade sign and privacy film.
What signs are required in a New Jersey salon?
A permanent shop name sign visible from outside and a notice that the shop and operators are licensed by the State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, with complaint information.
What must a New York salon post?
A licensed business sign at the entrance, licenses at each station, the business license, an itemized price list and, for nail services, the nail worker bill of rights.
How much of a salon window can be covered?
It depends on the town. Montclair allows 20 percent of each window, Hoboken 30 percent for permanent signs and NYC historic districts 20 percent.
How can a salon add privacy without losing light?
Use frosted window film on treatment room glass. It blocks the view and still lets light through.
Should a salon use a blade sign?
On a walkable street, yes. A blade sign is seen by people walking toward you along the sidewalk.
Salon Signs Designed Together
We design every salon sign as one set, from storefront to postings. See our window decals, then request a free quote.
