Hair styling tools, products and accessories have a way of taking over counter and drawer space, and keeping them organized can be a challenge. The good news is that whether you have a small collection of brushes and combs or a large collection of hot tools, styling products and hair accessories, there’s an organizing solution for every need and every aesthetic.
To help you choose the right organizers for your particular collection, we asked hairstylists — the ultimate experts in keeping hair-styling items organized — about the organizing products they use in their salons and in their homes, as well as tips for packing and storing everything from bobby pins to hot styling tools for travel.
Jeremy Tardo, a celebrity colorist, says of this over-the-cabinet hair care tool holder, “It’s a great choice as it hangs over your cabinet door, providing easy access and storage for your hot styling tools while keeping them safely out of reach from children or pets. It has enough space to hold a blow-dryer and two irons.” He also notes that, because the price is so low, “if you have additional irons, a second holder would be ideal.”
Hairstylist Ben Talbott says of this Ikea organizer, “This is great for hairbrushes and smaller hair care products, and great for under the bathroom sink.”
Rolling carts are popular options for keeping hair-styling tools, products and accessories organized. Celebrity hairstylist Akihisa Yamaguchi likes this storage cart, especially for people with limited space. “If you have a small bathroom, this will transform it into a luxury salon,” he says.
Hairstylist Adey Olaoluwa says, “This sleek organizer is perfect for your hot styling tools like curling irons and straighteners. It’s heat-resistant, so you can stash your tools while they cool down without any worries. Plus, the separate compartments keep cords tangle-free, saving you time and frustration in the morning rush!”
Aviva Jansen Perea, a celebrity hairstylist and founder and CEO Day Rate Beauty, says, “The biggest thing when it comes to organizing hot tools is herding the cords. I use these Velcro ties to keep my cords in order, and it has made all the difference.” She advises people to loosely fold electrical cords when storing them, “If you bend them too much, the wires inside break and your hot tool won’t last as long.”
Tardo likes this organizer for brushes and combs because, he says, “It’s a sleek and functional option that works well for hairbrushes and combs. It also has a dedicated spot for your blow-dryer.”
For organizing hair accessories, Tardo recommends the HBlife storage box, which he calls, “perfect for organizing hair accessories like scrunchies, ponytail holders and bobby pins. It has multiple compartments and drawers, allowing you to separate and easily find your different hair accessories.”
“I was introduced to Walker Bags by a makeup artist,” Perea says. “They come in a super-strong mesh that is easily able to clean up any spill that might happen. For the first 10 years of my career, I would blast through different plastic bags that are meant to hold beauty products, but without fail, the plastic would tear and split. Since I discovered Walker Bags, I haven’t had to repurchase new bags.”
When it comes to organizing hair-styling products, Tardo likes the stackable STORi organizers. “They are simple to use, versatile and transparent," he says, “so it’s easy to see and access your hair sprays, gels, pomades and other styling products. And they come in various sizes to fit different drawer dimensions."
“This product off Amazon could be really useful to store all your Dyson Airwrap accessories,” Talbott says, adding, “I find Amazon a really useful tool [for] things like this.” Indeed, there are an impressive number of Airwrap storage options that come in a wide variety of configurations available on Amazon, ensuring everyone can find the right one for their needs.
Dyson’s hair dryer stand is designed to hold the Supersonic, and it comes in three of Dyson’s signature colorways: fuchsia/iron, nickel/black and purple/black. “This is a cool stand to hold your Dyson and blow-dryer attachments,” Talbott says. “It looks great on any work top, and it’s strong and sturdy. I actually have one of these in my studio.”
“I also have one of these babies in my studio,” Talbott says. “It’s a great storage option for all your hair care products, tools, brushes and scrunchies. You can also add small acrylic boxes to separate accessories and electric bands.”
When it comes to storing small hair accessories, Perea uses tackle box-style organizers. “I love that you can customize the size of each section with adjustable barrier tabs.” She also offers this tip for traveling with this type of organizer: “I take a page from a magazine and place it on top of the sections because when I’m throwing my kit in and out of my car, or it gets thrown around on an airplane, my pin trays get tousled around and the pins don’t stay in their section. The paper keeps them where they belong.”
Brush and comb storage can be a challenge because of their varied sizes and shapes. “This holder keeps all your brushes and combs in one place,” Olaoluwa says, “and the wide design ensures even your big paddle brushes have a spot.”
“Silicone storage is best to protect your surfaces from heat damage from tools,” Talbott says, “and this is a great option to throw your tools in a drawer without worrying about damaging your storage.”
“There are so many hair products with beautifully designed packages,” Yamaguchi says. “For my bathroom, I use a small acrylic shelf to store products and give the appearance of a salon.”
Trays are another way to keep a collection of hair-styling products organized and can be a way to add a bit of color. “If you have extra space in your bathroom,” Yamaguchi says. “Hay has beautiful trays with multiple shapes, sizes and color variations.”
“For the person on the go,” Talbott says, “this is a great option to throw in your travel kit and save your suitcase from heat damage. These are totally travel friendly and easy to use.”
Acrylic organizers come in plenty of styles, including closed storage pieces like this Muji storage rack. “It’s really beautiful,” Yamaguchi says, “and a bit angled to make it easy to use for your busy morning routine.”
Olaoluwa calls this “the ultimate organizer for all your hair sprays, gels, pomades and styling products. With adjustable shelves and easy-to-clean surfaces, it’s a lifesaver for those with a lot of products.”
Olaoluwa recommends the Amazing Abby organizer for headbands, ponytail holders, scrunchies and other small hair accessories. “With its carousel design,” she says, “you can rotate through your collection effortlessly.”