40
8%
Market Overview
Forty hair salons operate within Phibsborough — a tight footprint for a neighbourhood that's mostly residential streets and local shops. That density means every walk-in customer has several options within a few minutes' walk, and salons aren't just competing with each other. The area also counts 39 restaurants, 32 cafés, and 22 pubs, meaning foot traffic is spread across food and drink venues rather than concentrated in a retail or beauty cluster. Salons here need to earn attention rather than rely on location alone.
The most striking figure is website adoption: only 3 out of 40 salons — 8% — have a website. New Age, Spy Hair & Beauty, and darlo are the exceptions. The remaining 37 salons are effectively invisible to anyone searching online for a haircut in Phibsborough. In practical terms, this means a salon that builds even a basic web presence can capture search demand that competitors are leaving on the table.
Competition is moderate-to-high for a neighbourhood of this size. With 40 salons, there's no shortage of choice for residents, and the low digital presence suggests many rely on walk-in traffic, word of mouth, or social media alone. That creates a clear split: salons investing in discoverability will pull ahead, while those relying solely on passing trade risk losing ground as consumer habits continue shifting online.
What Customers in Phibsborough Care About
Walk-in availability
Phibsborough is a neighbourhood where people drop in between errands — many customers want a same-day cut without booking days ahead.
Price transparency online
With most salons lacking a website, customers actively look for anyone who lists prices upfront rather than making them call or visit to ask.
Proximity to Phibsborough Road
The main road and surrounding streets are where foot traffic concentrates — customers choose salons they can reach without a detour from their bus stop or local shop.
Google reviews and ratings
When 92% of salons have no website, the Google Business listing and its reviews become the primary way customers compare options.
Parking and bus access
Phibsborough sits on major bus routes, but street parking is limited — customers factor in how easy it is to get to and from a salon.
Hair Salons operating in Phibsborough, Dublin
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 |
|---|---|
| Abelia | Hairdresser |
| Shades | Hairdresser |
| HC Barber | Hairdresser |
| Anna Maria Beauty | Hairdresser |
| The Hair Company | Hairdresser |
| Prince Barbers | Hairdresser |
| New Age | Hairdresser |
| Sam's Barbers | Hairdresser |
| The Punnet - Ladies Hairdressing | Hairdresser |
| Spy Hair & Beauty | Hairdresser |
| Khans Gentleman Barbers | Hairdresser |
| Imagine Ladies Hair Studio | Hairdresser |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Hair Salons Owners in Phibsborough
Claim the online space competitors are ignoring
With only 3 salons out of 40 showing a website, getting listed on Google Business and building a simple one-page site can put you ahead of most competitors. Even basic details — address, hours, a price list, and a few photos — make a real difference when rivals offer nothing online.
Lean into Phibsborough's foot traffic
The neighbourhood supports 39 restaurants, 32 cafés, and 22 pubs — that's a lot of people walking past your door. Make your front window and signage work hard, and consider partnering with nearby food spots for cross-promotions rather than waiting for customers to find you digitally.
Target the 3 competitors with websites directly
New Age, Spy Hair & Beauty, and darlo are your only digital competition. Study what they offer, where they rank in search results, and what gaps they leave — then position your salon to fill those gaps rather than trying to out-market 37 businesses that aren't even in the game.
Competition Snapshot
Forty salons packed into Phibsborough creates real density, but the competitive picture is uneven. Most operators have no web presence at all, which means the fight for customers happens almost entirely through walk-ins, word of mouth, and social media. Only three salons — New Age, Spy Hair & Beauty, and darlo — are competing in search results. The space isn't oversaturated online; it's practically empty. A salon willing to invest in basic digital visibility can stand out quickly. Offline, though, it's crowded — and differentiation comes down to service quality, pricing, and being where customers are already walking.
Own a business in Phibsborough?
See your exact rank against nearby competitors, what customers say about them, and where you can win.