The NHF is the UK’s largest trade body for the hair, beauty and barbering industries. An independent and not-for-profit organisation, the NHF helps salons and barbershops run successful and profitable businesses.

1. Hairdressing, barbering and beauty
UK industry statistics 2017

2. HAIRDRESSING, BARBERING AND BEAUTY
UK INDUSTRY STATISTICS 2017
Compiled by the NHF
The NHF is the trusted business resource in the hair, beauty and barbering
industries. We support and represent over 5,000 business owners in the UK.
Visit nhf.info to find out more about the NHF.
Please acknowledge the NHF when using these statistics.

3. NUMBER OF BUSINESSES …
There are over 40,000 hairdressing, barbering and beauty businesses
in the UK.
The highest numbers are in London, the South East and North West.
40,000

4. NUMBER OF PEOPLE …
About 287,000 people work in the UK hairdressing, barbering and
beauty industries.

5. FULL OR PART-TIME?
55% of those working in the UK hairdressing and barbering industries are
full-time, 45% part-time.
For beauty, the figures are 57% full-time, 43% part-time.

6. NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Almost all (93%) UK hairdressing, barbering and beauty businesses employ
fewer than ten people.
Two thirds employ fewer than five people.
93% 69%

7. EMPLOYED OR SELF-EMPLOYED?
57% of those working in UK hairdressing and barbering are self-employed;
the figure for beauty is 54%.

8. ANNUAL TURNOVER
Two thirds of UK hairdressing, barbering and beauty industry businesses
have an annual turnover of less than £99k.
A quarter have a turnover of between £100k and 250k.
In total, almost £7 billion* turnover is generated in the UK each year by the
hairdressing, barbering and beauty industries. *2014 figures

9. AGE AND GENDER
Half of those working in hair and beauty in the UK are aged
16 to 34. The largest group is females aged 25-34 (29%).
Females make up 88% of the total workforce in the hairdressing,
barbering and beauty industries.
88% 12%

10. INDUSTRY HEALTH ISSUES
Only florists have a higher rate of contact dermatitis in the UK than
hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists.

11. MOST POPULAR START-UPS
In 2016 barbershops, beauty salons, nail bars, and hair and beauty salons
were all in the top ten* most popular business start-ups in the UK.

12. APPRENTICESHIPS
Almost 20,000 people in the UK started hairdressing, barbering or beauty
apprenticeships in 2015/2016.
Hairdressing is the tenth most popular apprenticeship in England.

13. WANT TO KNOW MORE?
The NHF is the UK’s largest trade body for the hair, beauty and barbering
industries. An independent and not-for-profit organisation, the NHF helps
salons and barbershops run successful and profitable businesses.
Visit nhf.info to find out more.
The NHF: celebrating 75 years of delivering business success
Please acknowledge the NHF when using these statistics.