Atlanta Barber and Beauty Supply: Where to Shop and What to Know in the City

Atlanta has a strong barbering and beauty culture, from classic barbershops on the Westside to upscale salons in Buckhead. If you cut hair professionally, braid at home, or just like to maintain your own look, knowing where to buy barber and beauty supplies in Atlanta can save you time and money.

This guide walks you through the main types of beauty supply options around Atlanta, how they typically differ, and practical tips for finding what you need in the city.

How Barber and Beauty Supply Shopping Works in Atlanta

In Atlanta, barber and beauty supplies are sold through a mix of:

• Professional wholesale stores (often require a license or business documentation)
• Large neighborhood beauty supply shops open to the public
• Barber-focused suppliers that specialize in clippers, blades, and shop essentials
• General retailers that carry basic hair and grooming products

Many Atlanta-area stylists and barbers use a combination of these, depending on what they need that week.

Common products you’ll find

Most barber and beauty supply stores in Atlanta carry some mix of:

• Professional hair care: shampoos, conditioners, treatments for natural, relaxed, and color-treated hair
• Styling products: gels, edge controls, pomades, mousse, curl creams, holding sprays
• Cutting and grooming tools: clippers, trimmers, guards, clipper oil, straight razors (where allowed), shears, combs
• Braiding and protective style supplies: braiding hair, crochet hair, loc supplies, beads, cuffs, thread, needles, shine sprays, setting foams
• Salon and barber shop equipment: capes, neck strips, disinfectants, clipper spray, towels, gloves
• Beauty extras: lashes, nail supplies, wig caps, bonnets, durags and wave caps, brushes, mirrors

The exact mix will depend on whether the store leans more barber, more beauty, or serves both equally.

Types of Barber and Beauty Supply Stores You’ll See in Atlanta

1. Professional/Wholesale Barber & Beauty Supply

These locations tend to focus on licensed professionals, though policies vary. You’ll typically see:

• Bulk sizes of shampoo, conditioner, and neutralizing products
• Professional-only brands for color, relaxers, and treatments
• More technical tools: shears, razors, clippers, replacement parts, disinfectants
• Some require:
  • A cosmetology or barber license, or
  • Proof of business (such as a business license, tax ID, or salon/barbershop info)

If you’re a working barber or stylist in Atlanta, these stores can be cost-effective for stocking your shop.

2. Neighborhood Beauty Supply Stores

Atlanta is known for large, public-friendly beauty supply stores, especially in areas with strong Black hair and beauty communities. These stores are commonly found in and around:

• Southwest Atlanta (Cascade, Greenbriar area)
• Southside (East Point, College Park, Forest Park, Riverdale corridors)
• Eastside and South DeKalb (Decatur, Panthersville, Candler Road, Memorial Drive)
• Gwinnett and North DeKalb (Doraville, Norcross, Duluth corridors)

Typical features:

• No license required – open to everyone
• Wide selection of braiding hair, wigs, lace front wigs, and weaves
• Everyday grooming products for natural hair, relaxed hair, locs, and kids’ hair
• Basic barber tools like clippers, guards, and trimmers, plus aftershaves and shaving tools

These are often the most convenient choice if you’re a non-professional shopper living in metro Atlanta.

3. Barber-Focused Supply Shops

Barber-focused supply shops in Atlanta cater mainly to:

• Licensed barbers
• Apprentices and students
• Home groomers who want more professional gear

You’ll often find:

• Multiple lines of professional clippers and trimmers
• Blades, guards, and replacement parts in stock
• Barber chairs, stations, mirrors, and signage (depending on the store)
• Neck dusters, talc, aftershave, razor holders, and razor blades where allowed

Some of these businesses operate out of industrial plazas or small storefronts rather than big shopping centers, so it can help to call ahead for hours and inventory details.

What to Look for in an Atlanta Barber or Beauty Supply Store

When you’re comparing Atlanta barber and beauty supply options, pay attention to:

Product range

• Do they carry the hair type and texture you need? Atlanta has a large Black population, so many stores emphasize products for curly, coily, and kinky hair, locs, and protective styles.
• Are there multiple brand options, or is the selection narrow?
• Do they stock professional tools or mainly consumer-level items?

Price and value

• Many Atlanta shoppers compare bulk/wholesale prices with regular retail before committing.
• Some stores offer loyalty programs or discounts for licensed professionals or frequent buyers.
• Check whether large “deal” sizes actually offer better value per ounce.

Accessibility and location

Consider:

• Driving vs. transit: Some large supply stores are in plazas best reached by car.
• Parking: Busy plazas on the Southside or Eastside can have crowded parking lots on weekends.
• Transit access: If you rely on MARTA, look for corridors along:
  • MARTA rail (e.g., near West End, Five Points, Lindbergh)
  • Major bus routes (Cleveland Ave, Candler Road, Memorial Drive, Old National Highway, etc.)

Service and support

• Can staff help you match colors, textures, or tools?
• Are they willing to explain differences between similar products (for example, clipper models or braiding hair types)?
• Some professional-facing stores also share basic care and maintenance tips for tools.

Common Supply Needs for Atlanta Barbers and Stylists

Atlanta’s climate and hair culture both shape what’s popular in local barber and beauty supply shops.

For barbers

Popular supply categories in Atlanta barbershops include:

• Clippers and trimmers suited for frequent use
• Clipper maintenance: oil, cleaning spray, disinfectant, replacement blades
• Shaving supplies: razors (where permitted), shaving gels/creams, aftershaves
• Neck strips, capes, and gloves for hygiene
• Enhancement products sometimes used in Atlanta’s fade and beard styles, such as temporary color sprays or fibers (when shops choose to offer those services)

For stylists and braiders

Because Atlanta is a major hub for protective styles and natural hair, many stylists shop for:

• Bulk braiding hair (knotless, feed-in, box braids)
• Crochet hair and faux locs
• Wig supplies: caps, glue, adhesive removers, elastic bands, tinting products
• Setting foams, mousse, and wrap strips for sleek styles
• Moisturizing and anti-frizz products that hold up in humid Atlanta weather

Simple Comparison: Professional vs. Public Beauty Supply in Atlanta

Practical Tips for Shopping Barber and Beauty Supply in Atlanta

Use these quick guidelines to navigate Atlanta’s options more smoothly:

1. Know whether you need a license

If you’re planning to visit a wholesale or pro-only supplier, call ahead and ask:

• Do they require a cosmetology or barber license?
• Do they accept student IDs from local schools (such as Atlanta Technical College or other cosmetology/barber programs)?
• Will they sell to non-professionals at different pricing?

If you’re not licensed, you’ll likely be better served by large public beauty supply stores or mixed-use retailers.

2. Bring photos of styles or tools

In busy Atlanta stores, having screenshots ready can help staff quickly guide you to:

• The right color and length of braiding hair or wigs
• Specific clipper models, guards, or attachments
• The closest equivalent if a product is out of stock

3. Plan for traffic and timing

Atlanta traffic patterns matter:

• Weekday evenings can be congested, especially around interstates and major corridors.
• Saturday afternoons are often the busiest shopping times for beauty supply stores, especially before holidays and big event weekends.
• If you want detailed help from staff, try going earlier in the day during the week.

4. Check return and exchange policies

Policies differ from store to store, but in Atlanta it’s common to see:

• No returns or exchanges on wigs, hair extensions, or certain tools once opened
• Limited time frames for returning unused electrical tools
• Requirements to keep packaging and receipts

Ask at checkout, especially if you’re buying higher-priced tools or wigs.

5. Consider nearby barber and beauty schools

If you’re just getting started as a barber or stylist in Atlanta, local cosmetology and barber schools may:

• Sell basic starter kits
• Direct you to preferred supply stores they work with
• Have information on student discounts at certain wholesalers

Schools in and around Atlanta, such as barber academies or cosmetology programs, can sometimes point you toward reliable supply options that fit your skill level and budget.

How Visitors to Atlanta Can Handle Barber and Beauty Needs

If you’re visiting Atlanta and need supplies or services:

• For urgent grooming needs (like clippers, razors, basic hair products), large retail stores across the city usually stock standard brands.
• For specialty hair textures, protective styles, or lashes, look for larger beauty supply stores in populated corridors such as:
  • Southwest and Southside shopping centers
  • East Atlanta/Decatur and South DeKalb areas
  • Northside suburbs with diverse communities (e.g., Doraville, Norcross areas)

If you’re staying near Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead and don’t have a car, you may want to:

• Use MARTA to reach corridors with more beauty supply options, or
• Use rideshare to reach a known shopping strip where multiple beauty-related businesses cluster together.

Making the Most of Atlanta’s Barber and Beauty Supply Scene

Whether you live in Atlanta or you’re just in town for a while, the city offers:

• Deep product variety for a wide range of hair types and styles
• Both professional-oriented and public-friendly supply options
• A strong culture of barbering and protective styling, which keeps local inventories well-stocked

Start by deciding whether you need professional-level tools and bulk products or everyday styling items, then choose the type of Atlanta-area store that fits those needs. From there, planning your route around traffic, asking about license requirements, and verifying return policies will help you shop more confidently and efficiently in the city.