consumers getting fewer haircuts

Dutch consumers had their hair done less often or opted for cheaper hairdressers, products or treatment in the third quarter than in the previous quarter. This is the third quarter in a row that this trend has been observed. However, turnover in this branch did increase as a result of higher prices.

Value and volume indices for hairdressers (seasonally adjusted)

Fewer customers, but higher turnover

The volume of haircuts and hair treatment products sold fell by 0.2 percent in the third quarter compared with the second quarter. Consumers did spend more at the hairdressers, however, because of higher prices. Turnover in the branch rose by 0.5 percent.

Since the end of 2008 - the start of the recession - 2010 has been the only year in which the hairdressers branch realised an increase in volume and turnover over the entire year. Although domestic household consumption figures show that consumers have started to spend more on services again since the beginning of 2014, hairdressers have not yet been able to benefit from this upturn. Turnover and volume levels were lower in the first three quarters of 2014 than in the same period in 2013.

Nearly 5 thousand more hairdressers than in 2008

The number of hairdresser’s businesses has been rising for years now, in spite of the fact that consumers get their hair cut less often and are economising on treatments and products. At the beginning of 2014, 21,990 businesses were registered as operating in the hairdressing branch, an increase of more than 27 percent compared with 2008. The number of one-man/woman businesses rose by most in this period.

Limburg had the highest number of hairdressers in relative terms in 2014: 1.7 salons per 1,000 inhabitants. Hairdresser density is lowest in Utrecht, at 1.1 per 1,000 inhabitants. Compared with 2008, the number of hairdressing businesses per inhabitant is higher in all provinces.

Number of hairdresser’s salons per 1,000 inhabitants by province (1 January)