53
28%
Fifty-three hair salons operate within Brunswick — a dense concentration for a suburb in Melbourne's inner north. That figure puts salons in direct competition with each other and with a surrounding hospitality scene that includes 100 restaurants, 90 cafés, 42 fast food outlets, 40 bars, and 27 pubs, all drawing from the same pool of discretionary local spend.
The most revealing data point is website adoption. Only 15 of 53 salons — 28% — have any web presence at all. That leaves roughly 38 businesses operating without a basic online footprint. The salons that do maintain websites — Room 53, Delilah Hair Studio, Everyday, Rhubarb Hair, Hoopla Salon, Deus Hair Design, Grace Gold, and Cutting Kings — are competing in a much smaller digital field than the physical one suggests.
With 53 salons packed into one suburb, business density is high relative to the local population. Most are competing for the same resident client base, supplemented by foot traffic drawn to Brunswick's well-known hospitality and retail strip along Sydney Road. The gap between on-the-ground competition and online presence creates a clear opportunity: a salon with even a modest website and active social media can reach potential clients with far less digital competition than you'd expect in a market this crowded.
Sydney Road walk-in proximity
Brunswick clients are walkers and tram riders — they want a salon close to their regular route along Sydney Road, not a destination they have to drive to.
Colour work that matches the suburb
Brunswick leans creative and alternative, so clients expect stylists who can handle bold colour, balayage, and unconventional looks — not just standard cuts.
A salon that fits their scene
With 53 salons to choose from in one suburb, Brunswick clients filter by vibe and community feel as much as by skill — the right atmosphere wins loyalty.
No-surprise colour pricing
Colour corrections and balayage are significant spends; Brunswick clients want upfront quotes and transparent service menus before they book.
Proof online before they visit
With only 28% of local salons having a website, customers rely heavily on Instagram portfolios and Google reviews to shortlist where to go.
A sample of real hair salons in this area. Want ratings, reviews, and exactly where you rank against them? Run a free report on your business.
| Business | Type |
|---|---|
| One Hope Street | Hairdresser |
| Emma's Unisex Salon | Hairdresser |
| Hair | Hairdresser |
| Room 53 | Hairdresser |
| Earth To Betty | Hairdresser |
| Final Touch | Hairdresser |
| Quick Shape Hair | Hairdresser |
| Aryan Unisex Hair Salon | Hairdresser |
| Kerri Gravina | Hairdresser |
| Delilah Hair Studio | Hairdresser |
| Concrete Blonde | Hairdresser |
| Everyday | Hairdresser |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Your biggest competitor is invisible online
With only 28% of Brunswick salons having a website, the majority of your competition doesn't exist in search results. Even a simple, mobile-friendly site with your services, pricing, and booking link puts you ahead of roughly 38 local rivals. In a market this dense, being findable online is the lowest-cost advantage available.
Position for Brunswick's style identity
This suburb attracts a creative, style-conscious crowd that expects more than a standard trim. Salons like Delilah Hair Studio and Rhubarb Hair have built followings by leaning into Brunswick's alternative culture. Define a clear aesthetic and point of view rather than trying to serve everyone.
Tap into the hospitality foot traffic
Brunswick's 100-plus restaurants, cafés, and bars generate significant weekend and evening foot traffic along Sydney Road. Consider cross-promotions with nearby venues — a café flyer, a local Instagram collaboration, or a post-cut coffee voucher puts your name in front of people already spending in the area.
Fifty-three salons in one suburb is crowded by any measure. Brunswick's market is saturated at the mid-range: standard cut-and-colour shops competing on proximity and repeat business. What's underserved is the digital space — 72% of salons have no website, meaning customers searching online see a surprisingly short list. Standing out here requires more than solid technique. It demands a clear identity — whether that's creative colour, men's grooming, or a specific aesthetic that resonates with Brunswick's alternative-leaning clientele — and a discoverable online presence to back it up.
See your exact rank against nearby competitors, what customers say about them, and where you can win.