THE hair and beauty industry in Scotland is looking sharp for the year ahead with 40 per cent of businesses in the sector reporting an increase in revenue in 2016, but confidence is lower than in the rest of the UK.
According to Sally Salon Services’ sixth annual Beautiful Britain report, both women and men are spending more to look good. The report found women spend an average of £994 in a year, up £118 compared with last year, while for men it stands at £779, a rise of £68.
The report also noted that 36 per cent of salons and barbershops in Scotland expect to hire more staff in the next 12 months, while 53 per cent expect to hire one or more apprentice. Based on government skills sector figures that suggest there are 4,340 salons in Scotland, this would create a minimum of 2,300 new apprenticeships.
A significant 85 per cent of hair and beauty professionals in Scotland said 2016 was a good year for their business, and while 59 per cent are more confident about the year ahead than they were 12 months ago, this is slightly lower than the UK average of 64 per cent.
The survey, which spoke 213 businesses in Scotland, representing nine per cent of the total UK respondent base, also found that just five per cent of businesses have been negatively impacted by Brexit.
The report also details how male grooming is continuing to prove itself as a lucrative part of the hair and beauty industry. Men now make up 18 per cent of all hair and beauty customers in Scotland and 50 per cent of salons saw an increase in men coming through their doors in 2016.
Edinburgh hairdresser Philip Politi, said: “Gone are the days when it was rare to see a man in a salon. Today, men are embracing the power of hair and beauty to shape their identity and make them feel their most confident selves.
“They want cuts that are sharp and technically advanced and aren’t afraid to experiment.”
This growth has been reflected in the optimism of barbershops with 73 per cent positive about the year ahead.
More than half of barbershops (58 per cent) said they had also seen an increase in the number of men visiting them for treatments. In 2016, 41 per cent of barbershops invested in increasing their range of treatments.
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