There’s a particular kind of panic that hits when you reach for a box of gloves mid-treatment and realise it’s empty. Or when a client is on the table and you discover you’re down to your last strip of wax. Consumables aren’t glamorous, but running out of them at the wrong moment is one of the fastest ways to knock a client’s confidence in your salon.
The good news is that once you’ve got a handle on your usage patterns, reordering becomes routine rather than a source of stress. Here’s a practical rundown of what to keep stocked, roughly how often to reorder, and a few tips for avoiding those awkward gaps.
Waxing Supplies
Wax is one of the highest-turnover consumables in most salons, especially if you’re doing a steady mix of brow, lip and body waxing through the week.
- Hard and soft wax: reorder every two to four weeks for a moderately busy salon, more often if you’re running multiple waxing chairs
- Wax strips: these go quickly, so keep at least a fortnight’s buffer stock on hand at all times
- Spatulas and applicators: buy in bulk since they’re inexpensive and you’ll burn through them fast
- Pre and post-wax products: cleansers and soothing lotions tend to last longer, but check levels weekly since they’re easy to forget
A simple way to pace this is to track how many wax tins or blocks you go through in a fortnight, then set a reorder trigger at around 30 percent remaining stock. That buffer covers you if a delivery is delayed.
Gloves
Gloves are used in almost every treatment, which makes them easy to underestimate until you’re suddenly out. For a single-therapist salon doing a full day of appointments, it’s common to go through one to two boxes a week. Multiply that out across your team and busier periods, and it adds up fast.
- Keep at least three to four weeks of stock on hand as a buffer
- Order in bulk where possible, since gloves have a long shelf life and per-unit cost drops significantly at higher volumes
- Stock a couple of sizes if your team has varying hand sizes, since ill-fitting gloves slow therapists down
Cotton Products
Cotton pads, cotton tips and gauze get used constantly across facials, waxing, lash and skin treatments. These are cheap individually but consumed in high volume, so they’re an easy category to underestimate when budgeting.
- Reorder every three to four weeks for a moderately busy salon
- Buy in bulk packs rather than small retail packs, both for cost and to reduce how often you need to reorder
- Store in a dry, enclosed space, since cotton products can pick up dust or moisture if left out
Sanitising and Hygiene Items
This is the category you never want to run short on, both for compliance reasons and for client trust. Sanitising products include surface disinfectant, hand sanitiser, tool disinfectant solution and single-use barriers like couch roll.
- Surface and tool disinfectant: reorder every three to six weeks depending on treatment volume
- Hand sanitiser: check weekly, as this tends to run out faster than owners expect
- Couch roll and disposable barriers: high-turnover item, reorder every two to three weeks
- Keep a small emergency reserve of each sanitising item that you don’t touch during normal operations, just for peace of mind
A Simple System to Avoid Running Out
You don’t need complicated inventory software to stay on top of consumables, though it can help as you grow. A few practical habits go a long way:
- Do a five-minute stock check every Monday morning before the week’s appointments start
- Set a reorder point for each item, such as when you’re down to one unopened box or one week’s worth of stock
- Keep a running list on your phone or in a shared note so any staff member can flag low stock as they notice it
- Build relationships with a supplier who can turn around orders quickly, so you’re not carrying excessive stock just to protect against slow delivery
Buying consumables in bulk through a wholesale account is often the easiest fix for salons that keep running tight on stock. Not only does it reduce the per-unit cost, it also means fewer reorders to manage day to day.
Stay Stocked and Stress-Free
Browse our full range of salon consumables, including waxing supplies, gloves, cotton products and sanitising items, all in one place. If you’re setting up a new salon, our starter packages include a curated set of consumables to get you started without the guesswork.
Going through consumables at a high volume, or ordering for multiple locations? Head to our wholesale enquiry page for bulk pricing and a dedicated account manager who can help you set up regular reorders.
Don’t forget to round out your client offering with our aftercare product range, a simple way to extend treatment results and add a bit of extra revenue per visit. Not sure what your salon actually needs? Book a consultation with our team and we’ll help you build a consumables list tailored to your treatment menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a small salon budget for consumables each month?
This varies depending on treatment mix and volume, but many small salons find consumables sit somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of monthly revenue. Waxing and facial-heavy salons tend to sit at the higher end of that range.
What’s the best way to avoid over-ordering consumables?
Track your usage for a full month before settling on standard order quantities. This gives you a realistic baseline rather than guessing, and helps avoid tying up cash in stock that sits on the shelf.
Do consumables have a shelf life I should be aware of?
Yes, some do. Wax, cotton products and certain sanitising solutions can degrade over time, especially if stored in heat or direct sunlight. Always check use-by dates and store consumables in a cool, dry area.
Is it worth setting up a wholesale account for a single salon?
If you’re a single salon with steady treatment volume, a wholesale account can still be worthwhile, since bulk pricing usually kicks in at lower volumes than owners expect. It’s worth asking your supplier what thresholds apply.
How do I know if I’m buying good quality gloves and wax?
Look for products that meet relevant Australian standards and read reviews from other salon owners where possible. Cheaper isn’t always false economy, but if you’re noticing tearing, poor fit or inconsistent wax texture, it may be worth trying a different supplier or product line.
Should I keep back-up stock for busy periods like Christmas or Mother’s Day?
Definitely. Build in extra buffer stock ahead of known busy periods, since supplier lead times can stretch during peak seasons across the industry. A good rule of thumb is to double your usual reorder quantity in the weeks leading up to a known rush.
