Salon Exits: Are Clients Safe in 2026?

Let’s get straight to it: a lot of salons are operating with bad information about salon emergency exits and basic client safety. This either gives them a false sense of security or, on the other end, causes needless panic. Getting the facts straight is non-negotiable for owners and clients alike.

Myth 1: Emergency Exits Are Only for Fires

Most people think emergency exits are just for fires. That’s a dangerously wrong assumption. Sure, fire is a huge risk, but emergency exits are your lifeline for maintaining client safety in a ton of other situations. What about a gas leak? A collapsing ceiling? An active shooter? Or even just a power outage that makes the main doors impossible to use? You need a fast, orderly evacuation for any of those, and funneling everyone through the front door just creates a dangerous bottleneck. OSHA’s rules are clear: your emergency plan has to cover *all* potential disasters, which means you need multiple, well-marked escape routes. If you only drill for fires, you’re flat-out unprepared for everything else that can go wrong.

Myth 2: Salon Staff Automatically Know Emergency Procedures

Don’t assume your staff knows the emergency plan just because they work there every day. They don’t. Without specific, repeated training, your best employee is going to freeze or make a bad call under pressure. A 2024 report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) proved that businesses with formal plans and regular drills had much better evacuation results. It comes down to muscle memory and clear leadership in a crisis, not just ‘common sense.’ Every single person on your team, from the brand new receptionist to your lead technician, has to know where every single exit is, how the release mechanisms work, and exactly what their job is in getting clients out, especially anyone who might have trouble moving quickly. And this isn’t a one-and-done training during onboarding. It has to be an annual requirement to keep up with staff changes, new layouts, or updated local codes.

Myth 3: Clients Will Figure Out Where to Go

Believing clients will just figure out where to go in a crisis is pure wishful thinking. A salon is an unfamiliar space, especially for someone on their first visit. Picture yourself with foils in your hair or a mask on your face when an alarm goes off. You’re disoriented. That’s why clear signage is absolutely essential. The International Building Code (IBC), which is the standard across the US, has strict rules for a reason, dictating how exit signs have to be lit and where they must be placed. But signs are just the start. A truly professional approach to client safety includes a quick, low-key mention of the exits during check-in. You’re not trying to scare them. You’re arming them with info. A simple, “Hey, just so you’re aware, our main exit is right there, and we have a second one in the back, all clearly marked,” is all it takes. That small gesture shows you actually care about their safety.

Myth 4: Emergency Exits Can Be Used for Storage

This is one of the worst and most dangerous myths out there. An emergency exit needs to be 100% clear, 100% of the time. Period. But you still see them blocked with supply boxes, cleaning carts, or a decorative plant. The excuse is always “it’s just for a minute” or “we’re tight on space.” In a real emergency, though, you don’t have a minute. Even a small obstruction can trip someone, create a pile-up, or block the door completely. Fire departments like the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department do inspections specifically to catch this and will slap you with a heavy fine. A blocked exit is a life-threatening hazard. As an owner, you have to enforce a zero-tolerance policy: nothing ever gets stored in front of an exit, not even for a second. And that goes for the entire path leading to the door, too.

Myth 5: All Emergency Exits Are Standard and Simple to Operate

Just because you’ve seen one push-bar exit doesn’t mean you’ve seen them all. Assuming every emergency door is simple and standard is a huge mistake. Some have different locks, and older buildings can have weirdly complex hardware. On top of that, doors wear out. A hinge can rust, a latch can get sticky, or the door itself might swell in the humidity and refuse to budge. How are you supposed to open that in a panic? That’s why you can’t just glance at the door during a walkthrough. You have to physically test it to make sure it opens easily every time. Imagine trying to work a finicky door when the room is filling with smoke or the power is out. You need a push bar that works perfectly. If it doesn’t, you’ve got a massive liability on your hands.

Myth 6: Only Large Salons Need Detailed Emergency Plans

Every salon needs a full emergency plan, regardless of its size. It doesn’t matter if you have one chair or twenty, things can go wrong anywhere. In fact, smaller shops can have their own problems, like having fewer staff to help guide people out or only one or two escape routes to begin with. The Georgia Department of Labor’s safety division makes it clear that every business needs a plan. A good plan spells out who does what, where to meet up outside, and how to communicate. That means knowing who calls 911, where the first-aid kits are, and how you’ll do a head-count once you’re out. Even in a tiny space, having a plan is what separates an orderly evacuation from total chaos. Getting these things right, clearing up the myths about salon emergency exits and client safety, is about more than just checking a box for the fire marshal. It’s about making sure your staff are confident and ready to act in a crisis, which in turn makes your clients feel genuinely safe. When you get this right, you build the kind of trust and professionalism that keeps people coming back.