Exeter ranks in 13th place out of UK cities spending the most on their hair

New data published by card payment provider, Paymentsense, has revealed which UK cities spend the most money when they visit the hairdressers, salon or barbers!

Analysing anonymised data between October 2020-2021, from their card machines around the UK, Paymentsense can reveal the locations of salons with the highest average spend per visit, the total value of sales, as well as the months and specific days with the highest spend over the past three years.

Hair and beauty has been one the industries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic - an industry worth £7.5 billion in the UK. With restrictions currently lifted, business has slowly picked up during the festive season - and Exeter is one of the UK cities spending the most on post-lockdown pruning!

Exeter ranks as the 13th UK city spending the most at the hairdressers

Rank	City	% of the total sales value each location accounts for	% of the total number of transactions each location accounts for	Average spend per customer
1	Chelmsford	5.70%	4.60%	£57.47
2	Edinburgh	7.38%	6.10%	£56.11
3	Portsmouth	6.03%	5.03%	£55.65
4	Leicester	6.65%	5.97%	£51.70
5	London	4.79%	4.45%	£50.02
6	Cardiff	4.79%	4.53%	£49.05
7	Leeds	3.85%	3.76%	£47.45
8	Guilford	6.64%	6.59%	£46.84
9	Redhill	5.56%	5.67%	£45.54
10	Stockport	4.71%	4.82%	£45.36
11	Hull	2.90%	3.09%	£43.55
12	Sheffield	4.23%	4.51%	£43.54
13	Exeter	6.86%	7.33%	£43.48
14	Manchester	3.98%	4.36%	£42.43
15	Glasgow	3.17%	3.47%	£42.37
16	Milton Keynes	6.19%	6.81%	£42.18
17	Birmingham	3.88%	4.30%	£41.81
18	Ipswich	3.14%	3.56%	£40.94
19	Plymouth	3.85%	4.43%	£40.32
20	Bristol	5.71%	6.61%	£40.06

Out of all UK cities, Exeter is revealed as the 13th location indulging the most in their hair expenditure. Living up to the Exeter lifestyle, this city has one of the highest average spend of £43 on average per visit from October 2020 to October 2021. With it being recommended to get a haircut every 8 weeks for medium-length hair, Exeter locals can expect to spend a minimum of £283 a year.

On the other end of the scale out of all the major cities studied, Brightonspent the least per visit at an average of £28. Southampton had the second lowest average spend at £33 per visit, followed by Peterboroughat £34.

Lockdown has increased hairdresser and barber prices by 8.5%

Before a lockdown hit, the country's average spend per visit at a hairdresser, salon or barber shop was £41. Since the first lockdown in March 2020 the transaction value per visit has risen 8.5% to £44. Sales per location post lockdown have also increased by 35% pre-covid levels.

Revealed: The days with the highest average spend at the hairdressers in the last three years

Paymentsense card machine data can reveal that in 2019, Friday 20th December was the day with the highest customer spend at shops registered as a hairdresser, salon or barber. On average, there were £672 worth of sales per location as many people went to get a fresh trim or blow dry ahead of Christmas day.

In 2020, it was Wednesday 4th November that witnessed the biggest spend, at an average of £837 per location. This date was the day before the second lockdown began in the UK, so it is clear many Brits rushed to salons on their last day of trading, not knowing when they could next make a visit.

In 2021, it was Thursday 15th April that saw the biggest value of sales across the country. This was three days after the first step of lockdown 3 eased, showing many Brits rushed to the salon to sort out their unruly lockdown locks.

Since 2019, there has been a shift with Monday to Thursday seeing a higher spend compared to Friday to Sunday. However, in 2021 Friday is now the biggest day for Hairdresser sales, with Thursday coming in close second.

Jon Knott, Head of Customer Insights at Paymentsense said: “Due to the nature of the sector, Hairdressers, salons and barbers were hit drastically by the pandemic and it’s restrictions. With trade being halted but rent still to be paid and wages to contribute to, many businesses struggled to survive.

According to the NHBF, in 2019 there were more than 250,000 individuals employed in hairdressing and beauty jobs in the UK. All of these individuals have all been impacted in one way or another due to the pandemic. Women in particular have been hit hardest as 83% of hair salon workers are reported to be female, and with many being self-employed Government schemes were not as straightforward to navigate. As an industry worth over £7.5 billion this has also had a big impact on the UK economy.

While lockdown pushed many to be innovative with their haircare, it is great to see people returning to their salons and hairdressers. As our data shows, since their reopening sales in each location across the UK have increased by 35% compared to pre-covid levels. We hope to see this trend continue.”