New research has discovered that more women from the UK are visiting barbershops than ever before.
The survey, carried out by premium men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge, revealed that 56% of women are proud to have visited a barbershop at least once in the last two years.
The significance of these new findings can be seen when compared with statistics from 2014 and 2015, which highlight that just 32% of women admitting to visiting a barbershop.
“The increasing trend for women to feel comfortable and welcome in these once distinctly masculine environments highlights the progress the barbering industry is making with regards to gender equality,” said Bradley Wicks, a spokesperson for The Bluebeards Revenge.
He added: “It’s great to see such a positive acceptance of women in British barbershops. This modern age is one where women have chosen to opt out of the less ritualistic nature of a traditional women’s hair salon for the fast paced, professional, and perhaps more efficient, performance of 21st century barbershops.”
Among the reasons discovered for this new adoption were the growing demands for much shorter, sharper hair styles. 81% of women who visited a barbershop in the past 24 months cited these edgier cuts as reasons for their regular appointments.
Sophie Collins, a leading barber from North Wales, supported this and suggested an increased number of female customers were anxious to visit a hair salon and ask for a shorter hairstyle.
She said: “Some of my female clients have told me stories of being terrified to ask for a shorter hairstyle at their regular hairdressing salon. I hear stories of how these establishments persuade women that the haircut they want will look too masculine. Or that it will not suit them/be too short.
“In my shop we offer barber-style haircuts – which are super sharp, clipper-themed styles – as well as long, texturized looks. And neither of these are gender specific – we offer our clients the haircut they want. If a woman wants very short hair, she knows she can come to us and we will give her exactly what she wants. The exact same thing is true for a man who wants longer hair.”
British barbershops are iconic for their relaxed atmospheres and casual vibes – something that has also proved a hit with 52% of UK women. Mr Wicks suggested that this was because of the rise and professionalism of barbering.
He said: “The profile of barbering has risen massively over the last five years, meaning women are much more confident in the abilities/skills possessed by UK barbers. An increasing number of women want shorter hairstyles and they know that the barbershop is the best place to get this type of cut.”
Another popular reason for the increased female presence in barbershops was the difference in price. 61% of women stated the excessive cost of a hair salon as a key reason for their switch to a barbershop.
Tom Chapman, an award winning barber from Torquay, Devon, says he has seen a dramatic increase in the number of women visiting his barbershop over the past few years.
He said: “As well as the trend for shorter styles, there is a drastic difference in the prices that barbers and hair salons can offer. Today, women can get a better short haircut at a more reasonable price when it comes to clipper work. This is because of the current fashions and trends found in men’s hairdressing – where tapers and fades are all the rage.
“I also believe that women feel more welcome in barbershops today as the stigmas of the past have thankfully been left behind. There are now more females involved in barbering at a professional level as well, which may have helped to make women feel more comfortable and provide a better insight into the looks that women currently desire.”
