Lighting & Mirrors

Light on faces, not on scalps alone

Barbers need even light across a client’s jawline without harsh overhead shadows. We place vertical or angled sources beside mirrors and keep ceiling downlights softer for general fill. Colour temperature stays in a warm-neutral band so skin tones remain honest.

North-facing units near the river lose daylight early; we compensate with layered electric light rather than brighter single spots.

Mirror heights and joint lines

Mirror bottom edges clear chair backs and towel rails; tops stop before colliding with cornices in older Briggate buildings. Large panes are jointed where structural movement is likely. Shelves in front of mirrors stay shallow so reflections stay useful.

Convex or decorative mirrors belong in waiting zones if used at all — never as the primary cutting view.

Ambient, task, and evening modes

A room that only has task light feels clinical after dark. We add a low ambient layer for closing hours and window glow that reads well from the pavement. Dimming where circuits allow; separate switches where they do not.

Emergency lighting and landlord rules are noted; we do not redesign the building’s life-safety system.

Glare from street and glass

Afternoon sun on Call Lane can bounce off mirrors into waiting eyes. We angle panes, add light control at the window, or shift stations a half-metre when the shell allows. Night reflections of interior lamps onto the street are checked so the façade still looks intentional.

What you receive

From £890 the lighting course includes a reflected ceiling sketch, mirror elevations, and a lamp schedule with target lux notes for stations. Fitting procurement and electrical installation remain with your contractor.