Personal services
Websites & marketing for hair and beauty salons
There are 52,665 hairdressing and beauty treatment businesses registered in the UK, and the number has risen 14.0% since 2021. Here is how they win customers online, and what a salon’s website needs to do.
Hair and beauty customers choose with their eyes first. They look at your photos, usually on Instagram, then check your prices and availability, and expect to book without picking up the phone.
That makes a salon's website a booking tool as much as a shop window. The easier it is to see what you offer and book a slot, the more of those Instagram browsers turn into appointments.
The UK market for hairdressing and beauty treatment businesses
The number grew 14.0% between 2021 and 2026, well ahead of the +0.8% for UK businesses overall, so more firms are competing for the same customers.
96% of them have fewer than 10 employees, 24% are sole proprietors and 73% are limited companies. Most are small operations, so a clear, quick website is a genuine way to stand out from competitors who have not looked after theirs. The ten areas with the most firms hold about 28% of the UK total.
Where hairdressing and beauty treatment businesses are concentrated
| Area | Firms | Per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| London | 9,685 | 10.6 |
| Birmingham | 900 | 7.6 |
| Glasgow | 675 | 10.3 |
| Leeds | 665 | 7.9 |
| Manchester | 490 | 8.3 |
| Liverpool | 475 | 9.4 |
| Edinburgh | 415 | 7.8 |
| Buckinghamshire | 410 | 7.0 |
| North Yorkshire | 405 | 6.3 |
| Sheffield | 405 | 7.0 |
Most firms per 10,000 residents
| Area | Per 10,000 residents | Firms |
|---|---|---|
| Brentwood | 13.1 | 105 |
| Broxbourne | 12.6 | 130 |
| Hertsmere | 11.3 | 125 |
| Cheltenham | 10.7 | 130 |
| London | 10.6 | 9,685 |
| Darlington | 10.6 | 120 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts 2026 (enterprises), SIC 96020: Hairdressing and other beauty treatment, and mid-2025 population estimates, via Nomis. Open Government Licence v3.0. Counts are rounded by ONS and cover VAT- and/or PAYE-registered businesses only. London is the 33 boroughs combined; areas under 60,000 residents, and areas with very few firms, are left out of the density table.
What a salon’s website needs to do
- A clear price list for every treatment
- Online booking, or a very simple way to request an appointment
- A gallery that matches what you show on Instagram
- Team profiles, so customers know who they are booking with
- Opening hours, location and how to find you
- Reviews, and an email or message reminder so customers rebook
Mistakes we see
- No prices, so customers go elsewhere
- Making people phone to book
- A website that looks different from your social media
- Never following up with customers after a visit
How we would approach it
- Bespoke web design. Prices, photos and booking on a fast mobile site.
- Meta and Google ads. Instagram and Facebook ads reach people who are already looking at hair and beauty.
- Email automation. Reminders and win-back messages bring customers back for the next appointment (with their consent).
Guides that help
- How to Get More Google Reviews (Without Breaking the Rules)
- Do I Need a Website If I Have Social Media? An Honest Answer
- Meta Ads for UK Businesses: A Beginner's Guide for UK Brands
Find your area
See the business picture where you work: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Sheffield, or browse all areas.
Questions from hairdressing and beauty treatment businesses
What should a salon website include?
Prices, a gallery, online booking or an easy request form, team profiles, opening hours and reviews, plus links to your social media.
Do salons need a website as well as Instagram?
Yes. Instagram gets people interested, but a website lets them check prices, book and find you on Google, and it belongs to you rather than a platform.
How can a salon get customers to rebook?
Follow up after each visit with a friendly reminder or message, with the customer's consent, and make rebooking as simple as one click.
How many hairdressing and beauty treatment businesses are there in the UK?
ONS counts 52,665 hairdressing and beauty treatment businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE in the UK for 2026. That figure excludes firms below the VAT threshold that are not registered for PAYE, so the real number is higher.
Where are most hairdressing and beauty treatment businesses based?
By number of firms, the biggest concentrations are in London, Birmingham and Glasgow. Per 10,000 residents, Brentwood, Broxbourne and Hertsmere come out highest.
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