Healthcare and beauty tunics are the uniform of choice across clinics, dental and veterinary practices, care settings, salons and spas, and for good reason. A well-designed tunic balances comfort, hygiene and a polished professional appearance in a single garment.

Here's what to look for when choosing tunics for your team, from fabric and fit to laundering and branding.

What makes a comfortable tunic?

For staff on their feet all day, comfort is essential. Quality tunics are commonly made from breathable polycotton blends that allow freedom of movement and stand up to frequent washing. Some fabrics add stretch or moisture-wicking properties, which help in warm treatment rooms.

Look for design details that make bending, lifting and reaching easier:

• Action-back pleats give extra room across the shoulders when reaching.
• Side vents stop the tunic riding up when bending or sitting.
• Stretch panels add flexibility for hands-on roles such as therapy or care work.
• Practical pockets for pens, scissors or fob watches, placed where they won't get in the way.

Fit matters as much as fabric. Offer a choice of ladies' and unisex cuts, and try a few sample sizes before committing to a full order, so staff aren't stuck with tunics that gape or pull.

Hygiene and infection control

Dedicated workwear helps create a clear separation between work and home clothing, which reduces the risk of cross-contamination. Many settings ask staff to change at work, or at least to cover their tunic when travelling.

Washing temperature is the key point. Choose fabrics whose care label allows the temperatures your infection-control policy specifies, since not every tunic is designed for hot washes. Easy-care fabrics that resist staining and retain their colour keep your team looking fresh week after week. Short-sleeved styles are common in clinical areas because they make hand and wrist washing easier.

Plan on several tunics per person, so there's always a clean one ready while others are in the wash.

Tunics vs scrubs: which suits your setting?

Tunics are smart and structured, making them a popular choice for client-facing roles, dentistry, beauty therapy and community care. Scrubs are looser and simpler, usually worn as a matching top and trouser set, which suits clinical, theatre and veterinary roles where staff change often.

Many practices use both: tunics for client-facing staff and scrubs for treatment areas. Our guide to scrubs in healthcare covers the clinical side in more detail, and you'll find coordinating trousers and other essentials in our healthcare workwear range.

Branding your tunics

Tunics also play a big role in how clients perceive your business. Matching tunics in your brand colours create a coordinated, trustworthy image, and an embroidered logo or staff name raises that professionalism further. In salons and clinics, first impressions count, and a smart, unified team communicates competence and care.

Embroidery is usually the better choice for tunics because it copes with frequent washing. Keep logos small and neat on the left chest, and consider name embroidery on the right so clients can address staff easily. You can see the options in our embroidered and printed workwear range, and our salon and barber workwear guide has more ideas for beauty teams.

Quick answers

What temperature should healthcare tunics be washed at?

Follow your infection-control policy and the garment's care label. Choose tunics whose fabric is rated for the temperature your policy requires, as not every tunic is designed for hot washes.

What is the difference between a tunic and scrubs?

A tunic is a structured, usually fastened top with a smarter look, while scrubs are looser pull-on sets designed for clinical and theatre work. Many practices use tunics for client-facing staff and scrubs in treatment areas.

Can I have my logo embroidered on tunics?

Yes. Embroidery suits tunics well because it stands up to regular washing, and a small left-chest logo with an optional staff name on the right is a common layout.

With styles ranging from classic zip-front tunics to modern slim-fit designs, there's a tunic for every team. Browse our healthcare and beauty tunics or contact us to discuss your order and branding.