65
23%
Market Overview
Sixty-five hair salons operate within Galway's city area, serving a population of roughly 85,000. That puts the market at a noticeable density — walk down Shop Street or through the Westend and you'll pass multiple salons within a few hundred metres. Competition is real, especially in the city centre where foot traffic is highest.
The most striking figure, though, is website adoption. Only 15 of those 65 salons — 23% — have a website. That means over two-thirds of Galway's salons have no direct online presence. In a city with a young, university-heavy population that searches online before booking anything, this is a significant gap. Businesses like Bellissimo, Peter Mark, Zenith Hair Salon, and Koztello Hair & Beauty have invested in websites and are capturing search traffic that their competitors simply cannot.
Galway also has a dense food and hospitality scene — 129 restaurants, 117 cafés, 84 pubs — which means steady footfall in commercial areas but also that salons are competing for attention alongside hundreds of other local businesses on Google Maps and search results. Standing out requires more than just being located on a busy street.
Overall, the Galway hair salon market is competitive but fragmented. There's room for salons that take their digital presence seriously to pull ahead of the majority who haven't yet done so.
What Customers in Galway Care About
Convenient city centre location
Galway's compact city centre means most customers prefer salons within walking distance of Eyre Square, Shop Street, or the Latin Quarter rather than travelling to outlying estates.
Student-friendly pricing
With thousands of NUI Galway and Atlantic Technological University students in the city, salons offering affordable cuts and colour treatments without a luxury price tag attract a loyal local base.
Same-day or walk-in availability
Galway's social calendar is packed — race week, arts festivals, match days — and customers want salons that can fit them in at short notice rather than weeks in advance.
Visible online reviews and photos
With only 15 salons in the city having a website, customers rely heavily on Google reviews and social media photos to judge quality before committing to a booking.
Parking or bus route access
Salons outside the immediate city centre need to be on a Bus Éireann route or have nearby parking, or they lose customers to more accessible competitors in town.
Hair Salons operating in Galway
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 |
|---|---|
| Healy | Hairdresser |
| Momento | Hairdresser |
| Hair Care | Hairdresser |
| Hair Flair | Hairdresser |
| Headmaster Barbers | Hairdresser |
| Sapien | Hairdresser |
| Bellissimo | Hairdresser |
| The Hair and Beauty Company | Hairdresser |
| Salon Services | Hairdresser |
| Fringe Benefits | Hairdresser |
| Stylistic Hair & Beauty | Hairdresser |
| Sanctuary Male Grooming | Hairdresser |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Hair Salons Owners in Galway
Get a website — most of your competitors don't
77% of Galway salons have no website at all. Even a simple one-page site with your services, prices, and a booking link puts you ahead of nearly five out of six competitors in local search results.
Own your Google Business Profile
With 65 salons competing across the same city, your Google Business Profile is often the first thing potential customers see. Keep photos updated, respond to reviews, and make sure your hours and location are accurate — most Galway salons don't bother.
Target the university calendar
NUIG and ATU bring thousands of students back each September and January. Run promotions around term start dates and consider loyalty discounts to turn one-off student visits into year-round regulars.
Competition Snapshot
Galway's 65 hair salons make for a crowded market in a city of 85,000. The city centre is particularly saturated — within a short walk you can find established names like Peter Mark, Bellissimo, and Quiff Hair Studio all competing for the same footfall. Salons in outer neighbourhoods face less direct competition but struggle with visibility. The biggest underserved opportunity is digital: 77% of salons have no website, and few actively manage their online presence. A salon that invests in a basic website, keeps its Google profile current, and gathers reviews can stand out with minimal effort — right now, most of the market is leaving that space wide open.
Other Industries in Galway
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