42
19%
Market Overview
Kilkenny has 42 hair salons serving a population of around 27,000 people. That's a notably dense market for a city this size — roughly one salon for every 643 residents. Competition among stylists and barbers here is stiff, and new entrants need a clear point of difference to survive.
The biggest surprise in the data? Only 8 of those 42 salons — just 19% — have a website. That leaves 34 businesses with little to no online presence beyond a social media page or a Google Maps listing. For customers searching online, their options are effectively limited to the handful of salons that show up. Names like Ruby Red Hair, Luke Parsons, Authentic Turkish Barbers, Sweeney Todd, Top Notch, Streetlife Hair, Cut, and Simon Reilly have already claimed that space.
Kilkenny's city centre also has a heavy concentration of cafés (57), pubs (46), and restaurants (41) nearby. Foot traffic is there, especially on weekends, which means location and visibility on high-street routes still matter for walk-in trade. But with so many salons packed into a relatively small area, relying on footfall alone isn't a reliable strategy anymore.
The bottom line: Kilkenny's hair salon market is crowded, and the vast majority of competitors are invisible online. That gap is the single biggest opportunity for any salon willing to invest in a basic digital presence.
What Customers in Kilkenny Care About
Who does colour well
Kilkenny clients ask around before committing to a colour appointment — balayage, highlights, and grey coverage are the services people travel across town for, and word-of-mouth reputation on colour work is the strongest driver of new bookings.
Parking near the salon
With salons clustered around Kilkenny's compact city centre, customers regularly mention whether they can park within a few minutes' walk, especially for longer appointments like cuts and colour combined.
Same-day or evening slots
Kilkenny is a working city, and many customers look for salons that offer early morning, late evening, or Saturday availability — the salons that accommodate last-minute bookings tend to pick up clients from those with rigid schedules.
Men's cuts that aren't afterthoughts
With dedicated barbers like Authentic Turkish Barbers and Sweeney Todd operating in the city, male customers increasingly expect a proper consultation rather than a quick clipper cut — and they'll switch salons to get it.
Prices posted up front
In a market with 42 salons competing, Kilkenny customers compare pricing before they book — salons that list their service menu and rates online, even on a basic page, win calls that go nowhere on salons that don't.
Hair Salons operating in Kilkenny
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 |
|---|---|
| JD's Barber Shop | Hairdresser |
| Ruby Red Hair | Hairdresser |
| Crown | Hairdresser |
| City Hair Studio | Hairdresser |
| Anton's | Hairdresser |
| Studio One | Hairdresser |
| Boston Barber Bars | Hairdresser |
| Peter Mark | Hairdresser |
| Alison Hehir's Studio | Hairdresser |
| Luke Parsons | Hairdresser |
| Fine Cutz | Hairdresser |
| Mural Turkish Barbers | Hairdresser |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Hair Salons Owners in Kilkenny
Claim your Google Business Profile this week
With 34 of Kilkenny's 42 salons lacking a website, the simplest way to get ahead is to fully set up and verify your Google Business Profile — add photos, list your services, and respond to reviews. Most of your competitors haven't bothered. That alone puts you in the top results when someone searches 'hair salon Kilkenny' on their phone.
Partner with a nearby café or pub
Kilkenny has over 100 food and drink businesses within the city centre. A simple referral arrangement — leave your cards at a popular café, offer their staff a discount — puts your name in front of locals every day without spending on ads. Cross-promotion works especially well in a city this size where people shop and eat locally.
Build a simple booking page
You don't need a full website to stand out. A single-page site with your location, price list, and an online booking link would immediately put you ahead of the 81% of Kilkenny salons that have nothing online at all. Free tools can have this running in an afternoon, and it captures the growing number of customers who won't pick up the phone to book.
Competition Snapshot
Kilkenny's hair salon market is crowded — 42 salons in a city of 27,000 means there's no shortage of choice for customers. Walk-in and appointment competition is intense, particularly around the city centre where foot traffic is strongest. What's underserved? The online space. Only 8 salons have any web presence at all, meaning the majority are competing only on location and reputation. To stand out in Kilkenny, a salon needs a visible online listing, a clear specialty — whether that's colour, men's grooming, or bridal — and a way to capture bookings without relying on someone walking past the door.
Other Industries in Kilkenny
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