Hairdressing Vs Barbering, where's the Money?

[stevemancs]

Im looking at setting up a business in hair. It seems to me that hairdressing and barbering are two completely separate business models, as far apart as a chocolate shop and a pie shop. I'm trying to gauge opinions as to who will make more money at the end of the week, the ladies hairdresser who charges a high price for a premium service, but has higher overheads, or the cheep and cheerful barber who does the basics for the old boys, has lower rent, but charges less.

I'm trying to decide what my long term future is best doing hairdressing or barbering. All thoughts and oppinions would be very much appreciated

Thanks

 

[ValencianNails]

My father-in-law has been a barber for over 30 years, he and his business partner have a barber shop in a busy street in a major south-west town and they always have a queue outside the door when they arrive in the morning... and it isn't just "old boys" either, their clients range from young boys with their fathers, through teenagers and young men, right through to pensioners. Due to their shop location their rent isn't as low as I think you're hoping for, their turnover of clients is huge and they have a very profitable business.

It all depends on where you think your skills lie... is it with ladies hairdressing, speciality colouring and cutting or something else?
Until you know which area you want to specialise in you won't be able to make a decision.

 

[stevemancs]

Hi Sandi, thanks for your reply.

You have hit the nail on the head because my "heart" is in doing women's hair because I am creative and good with colour, but my head says it would be too fiddly for me and I would never get the speed in my hands to do it professionally.

It seems to me that barbering required less manual dexterity, less equipment, less products, but I am wondering if there will be a business in it long term.

One thing that worries me in your reply is the "turnover of customers", did you mean that the business has a good turnover (ie gross takings)? or that customers tend not too stick around in the long term in barbering?....as I am looking for something I can build up a long term client base.

 

[jac extreme]

my boss has a beauty salon and a barbers, one thing I noticed aout the barbers is they dont book appointments, its a queing system, so no need for a receptionist, just "whos next" not so much washing and blow drying either, so not so much products used, not much help really, more of an observation.

 

[alan27]

hey!

as someone learning ladies hairdressing and barbering at college i can definetly say ladies hairdressing is better!

i hate barbering! it's alot harder than ladies hairdressing too, IMO...

if you think about it, a long layered ladies haircut can be easily made to look good if you mess it up or style it etc, but a short haircut thats really close in to the head will show any mistakes you make!

and also colouring is my favourite thing! well, second to nails!

 

[ValencianNails]

One thing that worries me in your reply is the "turnover of customers", did you mean that the business has a good turnover (ie gross takings)? or that customers tend not too stick around in the long term in barbering?....as I am looking for something I can build up a long term client base.

Sorry, I didn't come across very clearly :o They have a huge (returning) client base and a fantastic turnover, especially considering there's only 2 of them.

 

[*JOANNE*]

hey!

as someone learning ladies hairdressing and barbering at college i can definetly say ladies hairdressing is better!

i hate barbering! it's alot harder than ladies hairdressing too, IMO...

if you think about it, a long layered ladies haircut can be easily made to look good if you mess it up or style it etc, but a short haircut thats really close in to the head will show any mistakes you make!

and also colouring is my favourite thing! well, second to nails!

scissor over comb arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lol.....


barbers...a year course.....hairdressing 3 years with barbering included or a chance to do barbering along side....
hairdressing outlays more than barbering..with options of add on services such as nails tanning etc...
barbers less outlay than hairdressing, with options of of add ons....grooming etc.....
i think it depends on where your heart lies at the end of the day, if its hairdressing and you open a barbers are you going to be bored in the long term...etc....

 

[alan27]

scissor over comb arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lol.....

exactly! thats the bane of my week! :lol:

 

[bombini]

I rent a beauty room within a hair salon that also has a seperate barbers and the hair stylists make more money individually but they are always fully booked whereas the barbers is walk in so it has busy/quiet times.

Something to bear in mind with barbers is that graffiti patterns are VERY popular, along with hot shaves etc so it is worth training and offering these services.

 

[Ditzy]

hey!

as someone learning ladies hairdressing and barbering at college i can definetly say ladies hairdressing is better!

i hate barbering! it's alot harder than ladies hairdressing too, IMO...

if you think about it, a long layered ladies haircut can be easily made to look good if you mess it up or style it etc, but a short haircut thats really close in to the head will show any mistakes you make!

and also colouring is my favourite thing! well, second to nails!

Well honey, I have to say, you're lucky to be learning both! At my college when I started my hairdressing NVQ2 in September 2007, we were the first year they decided barbering was a totally seperate course! They didn't even bother telling anyone who'd enrolled, we found out a couple of classes in. I'd gone on the course with the intention that my models would consist of several men, who ALL were upset when I said they couldn't come in. We can't even bring them in to practise! The nearest place we can now learn barbering is apparently 40+ miles away:irked:

Even if you don't like doing it, it's another string to your bow, and another option if you desperately need a job at sometime.

 

[alan27]

we are doing it as part of our level 3?

maybe you'l do it then?

funny thing is...

i dont like hair too much! any kind really!

will try and get a job doing nails or even beauty?

going to train in waxing next time kim is in scotland next year, and do some other courses too!

but you're right it's a good skill to have, even if i do male grooming

 

[liana kay]

in my local town there were two busnesses owned by the same person( not working) the hairdressers went the barbers stayed