Clients notice a team that looks like a team. But full custom uniforms are expensive, sizes never quite fit everyone, and every new hire means another order. A simpler route is to put your logo on what your stylists and clients already wear: aprons, smocks, jackets and the bags clients carry out the door.

Here are eight practical ways to do it, with real numbers for what it costs.

A note on the numbers: I run a company that makes woven patches, and the prices below come from our own published price list. Treat them as one real data point. Other suppliers price differently, and it's worth comparing.

Brand the garments you already have, not new ones

The cheapest uniform is the one already hanging in the back room. A logo patch turns a plain black apron or smock into branded workwear in a few minutes, and when a stylist leaves, the apron goes to the next hire instead of the bin.

It also solves the sizing problem. Patches don't come in sizes, so you can let each stylist choose the apron or jacket that fits them and still have everyone look consistent.

Know what a run of patches actually costs

Most salon owners have never priced patches, so here's one reference point. A 2-inch woven patch with a stitched edge and sew-on backing, before shipping:

50 Patches (One Design) is $78 or $1.56 per patch

250 Patches (One Design) is $152 or $.061 per patch

(Source: Peach Label published price list for November 2026. Set up is included. Click here for more information.)

Every new design needs setup before the first patch is made, and that costs about the same whether you order 50 or 1,000. That's why small runs cost more per piece, and why the price drops fast as the quantity grows. Always compare the order total between suppliers, not only the per-patch price, and ask whether setup is included.

Pick the backing for the fabric, not for convenience

This is where most salon patches go wrong:

• Sew-on works on everything and is the only choice that lasts through constant washing. Many dry cleaners and alterations shops will stitch patches for a small fee.
• Iron-on is quick on cotton, denim, and canvas. But many salon aprons are nylon polyester or coated to resist water and color, and heat can melt or mark those fabrics. Test on a hidden spot, or sew instead.
• Hook-and-loop (the fuzzy and scratchy side) lets a patch move from one apron or jacket to another. It's the best option for teams with turnover, of for name patches that change with the person.

Even an iron-on patch lasts longer if it's stitched around the edge, especially on anything that goes through the wash every day.

Place it where clients actually look

On an apron, the upper chest is the spot that faces the client in the mirror. It also tends to sit above where hair color and product splash. On a jacket, the left chest or the back of the shoulders works well. Keep the placement the same for the whole team, so the brand reads as deliberate rather than improvised.

Keep the logo simple enough to read at 2 inches

A logo that looks great on your sign can turn to mush at patch size. Before you order:

• Look at your logo printed at about 2 inches wide. If you can't read the salon name from arm's length, simplify it.
• Drop taglines, phone numbers and thin script that disappears at small sizes.
• Use strong contrast, like light thread on a dark background or dark on light. Colors that are close together blend at small sizes.
• Fewer colors usually look cleaner. Two or three is plenty for most salon logos

Choose woven or embroidered for your artwork

Both are good, and they suit different logos.

Embroidered patches are raised and textured, the classic look. They're priced by stitch count, so detailed designs cost more, and small lettering can blur.

Woven patches are flat and use much finer thread, so they hold small text, thin lines and detailed logos. They're priced mainly by size and quantity.

A simple rule: if your logo has script or fine detail, go woven. If it's bold and simple and you want texture, embroidered is a good choice.

Put your brand on what leaves the salon

Workwear is only half of it. The same patch can brand canvas tote bags for retail purchases, gift bags for the holidays, or a staff bag line you sell at the front desk. A branded tote that a client carries around town is advertising you paid for once.

If you sell retail, a small woven label sewn into a tote or a robe works the same way, and costs less than printing.

Order for the year, not for this week

Your evergreen logo won't go stale, and patches don't come in sizes, so leftovers aren't wasted. Count your team, add a few for new hires and replacements, and look at where the next price step sits. In the table above, five times the patches costs less than twice the money.

The exception is a dated design, like a holiday or anniversary patch. Order those close to what you need.

A quick checklist

• Brand the aprons and jackets you already have.
• Compare order totals, and ask if setup is included.
• Sew-on for daily washing, hook-and-loop for teams that change, iron-on only on cotton, denim or canvas.
• Same placement for everyone, upper chest on aprons.
• Simplify the logo until it reads at 2 inches.
• Woven for fine detail, embroidered for bold texture.
• Use the same patch on retail bags.
• Order for the year, not for one hire.

The full price list for logo patches, with larger sizes and quantities is here: custom logo patches

About the Author: Libero is co-founder of Peach Labels, a US company that makes custom woven patches and labels for salons, clothing brands, and businesses.