73
1
48%
Market Overview
73 hair salons compete for business in Temple Bar — a dense concentration packed into just a few city-centre streets. For context, the same neighbourhood supports 233 restaurants, 143 cafés, 50 bars, and 88 pubs, which tells you two things: foot traffic is excellent, and standing out is genuinely difficult.
Of those 73 salons, only 35 (48%) have a website. That means over half the market is essentially invisible to anyone who searches before they visit — a significant gap. In a tourist-heavy area like Temple Bar, where many customers make on-the-spot decisions based on what they walk past or find online, this matters.
The range of businesses here is wide. David Marshall Hair Salon and School of Hairdressing brings a premium and educational angle. Maru Hair Tokyo offers a distinct Japanese-inspired approach. Sam's Barber and Waldorf Barbers serve the traditional men's grooming market. SitStil and Sugar Daddy target style-conscious Dubliners looking for something more creative.
Competition is high, but the customer base is diverse — tourists, office workers, students from nearby colleges, and locals who live in or around the city centre. The market isn't saturated for every segment, but it's crowded enough that a salon with no clear positioning will struggle to build a regular clientele.
What Customers in Temple Bar Care About
Walk-in availability on weekends
Temple Bar draws heavy foot traffic on Saturdays and Sundays, so many customers choose salons based on whether they can get a cut without booking days in advance.
Visible work through the window
With over half the salons lacking a website, customers often judge quality by what they can see through the shopfront before deciding to step inside.
Styling that fits the neighbourhood
The creative, arts-heavy character of Temple Bar means customers here often want something bolder or more individual than a standard cut.
Easy to find among the crowds
With over 600 food and drink businesses in the immediate area, a salon needs to be clearly signposted and simple to locate for both regulars and first-time visitors.
Fair pricing for the area
Temple Bar is one of Dublin's priciest postcodes for food and drink, so customers expect quality to match the cost — not just a premium address.
Hair Salons operating in Temple Bar, 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 |
|---|---|
| Carlos Barber | Hairdresser |
| The Natural Cut | Hairdresser |
| Waldorf Barbers | Hairdresser |
| Sam's Barbers | Hairdresser |
| Concept | Hairdresser |
| SitStil | Coffee Shop |
| Cut+Sew | Hairdresser |
| Sam's Barber | Hairdresser |
| Ed's Barber Shop | Hairdresser |
| Sankiev | Hairdresser |
| Maru Hair Tokyo | Hairdresser |
| David Marshall Hair Salon and School of Hairdressing | Hairdresser |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Hair Salons Owners in Temple Bar
Get a website — the gap is real
Only 48% of Temple Bar salons have any web presence at all. A basic site with your services, prices, and directions puts you ahead of roughly 35 competitors. Many potential customers — especially tourists and people new to the area — will simply skip salons they can't find online.
Lean into a clear niche
The salons doing well here have a distinct identity. Maru Hair Tokyo offers Japanese-inspired cuts. The Natural Cut focuses on an organic approach. Trying to be everything to everyone in a market of 73 salons is a losing strategy — pick a lane and own it.
Make your shopfront do the work
Temple Bar is a walking neighbourhood with massive foot traffic. A well-styled window display or visible cutting in progress through the glass draws in customers more effectively than any paid ad.
Competition Snapshot
Temple Bar is one of Dublin's most concentrated hair salon markets. 73 salons operate in a compact, high-footfall area alongside hundreds of food and drink businesses. Competition is intense, but roughly half the salons have no website — a clear gap for digitally-minded operators. The market rewards salons with a distinct identity, whether that's a specific styling approach, a particular clientele, or strong visibility on a busy street. Generic salons without a clear angle will find it hard to hold customers here.
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