After what felt like an eternity, hairdressers and barbers were officially able to reopen — and the nation couldn’t have been happier about it.
The first few weeks back in business were electric, with booking numbers breaking all sorts of records. One thing’s for certain — from fixing DIY disasters to catching up with old friends — hairdressers, you were missed.
Now, as we continue to navigate the ‘new normal’, we take a look into some key things we’ve learnt since being back in action.
Bookings numbers were (really) big
Clients were definitely ready to get back in the chair.
We saw a huge increase in demand for appointments for the first week back, as soon as bookings were available – a 2,250% increase, to be exact, across a range of different treatment types.
In fact, out of every single appointment slot available last week, a pretty staggering 80% of them were booked up. People really missed the salon.
Men’s hair is leading the charge
The biggest jump in bookings, compared to pre-lockdown? Men’s hair.
Bookings were up more than 10x (narrowly beating out women’s) to become the most-booked treatment on Treatwell, as male clients everywhere were finally able to ditch their new desert island look.
This is also likely to do with the increased safety that comes with pre-booking, instead of relying on the more traditional walk-in – which is no longer allowed by government regulations.
Roots are showing up strong
This one shouldn’t come as a surprise. After being starved of any colour touch-ups for months, bookings for men’s and women’s hair colouring treatments – everything from sorting out roots to new highlights – shot up by 942% compared to the week before lockdown began, in one of the biggest peaks we’ve ever seen.
Be prepared to fix some home-hair-colours gone seriously wrong.
Peak times are pretty much gone
With all that extra demand for hair treatments has come a big shift not just in the ‘what’ of hair booking, but also the ‘when’.
Whether it’s people working more flexibly from home, still furloughed or just prioritising their self-care, instead of the normal lunchtime peaks salons would expect to see, we’ve seen bookings spread out across the whole day – especially in the mornings, around 10AM. Gone are the days of the dead Monday.
What does that mean? With more bookings spread out across the day, it might be an idea to consider extending your opening hours to make sure you’re capturing as many bookings as possible. The appetite is certainly there.
(One enterprising gentleman in Yorkshire even booked in his haircut and beard trim at 5AM. Now that’s dedication.)
FAQs
How much did salon bookings increase when reopening?
Bookings surged by 2,250% in the first week salons reopened, covering a wide range of treatments. This sharp rise demonstrates just how eager clients were to return after lockdown. Nearly every appointment slot was in high demand.
What percentage of salon appointments were booked after reopening?
About 80% of all available appointment slots were filled during the first week back. This shows clients were ready to return as soon as salons were open again. High demand was seen across different services.
Which treatment saw the biggest rise in bookings post-lockdown?
Men’s hair services saw the largest increase, with bookings up more than 10x compared to before lockdown. Demand from male clients narrowly surpassed women’s treatments, making it the most-booked category. Many switched to pre-booking due to changes in government regulations.
How have salon peak booking times changed recently?
Booking times are now spread throughout the day instead of peaking at lunchtime. Mornings, particularly around 10AM, have become busier, and even unusual hours like 5AM have seen bookings. Consider extending your opening hours to accommodate the new client demand patterns.
Why are hair colouring treatments especially popular now?
Bookings for hair colouring jumped by 942% compared to the week before lockdown began. Clients needed professional help after months without colour touch-ups, with many seeking to fix home colouring attempts and visible roots.
