51
16%
Market Overview
51 hair salons compete for business across Waterford — a city of around 60,000 people. That's a concentrated market with real choice for consumers and genuine pressure on individual businesses to stand out.
Only 8 of those 51 salons have a website, meaning 84% of Waterford's hair businesses have no discoverable online presence. In a city where most customers now search online before booking or walking in, that's a significant gap. The salons that do maintain a website — names like Blade Barbers, Sculpting Studio Hair Design, Peter Mark, The Collective by Lloyds, and Gainfort Hair & Beauty — have a clear first-mover advantage when it comes to attracting new clients.
Waterford's hair salon sector operates alongside a busy food and drink economy: 54 restaurants, 59 cafés, 70 fast food outlets, 26 bars, and 46 pubs. These businesses generate heavy daily footfall through the city centre and surrounding areas, creating natural passing trade for salons positioned on busy routes.
The competitive picture is one of high business density paired with low digital readiness. Most salons in Waterford still rely on repeat customers and local reputation. For any owner willing to invest in even a basic online presence, the gap between them and the majority of competitors is wide.
What Customers in Waterford Care About
Proximity to city centre
With 51 salons spread across Waterford, most customers will pick somewhere within easy walking or driving distance from where they live or work rather than trekking across town.
Stylists who get your hair
Waterford customers want someone experienced with their specific hair type — whether that's thick, fine, curly, or heavily colour-treated — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Evenings and Saturday slots
Most people in Waterford work standard hours, so salons that offer late openings or reliable Saturday availability fill up faster than those that don't.
No shock at the till
Customers want the full cost explained upfront, especially for colour and highlights where add-ons can push the final price well beyond what they expected.
A trusted local recommendation
In a city of 60,000, word travels fast — a personal referral from a friend, colleague, or neighbour still carries far more weight than any advert or social post.
Hair Salons operating in Waterford
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 |
|---|---|
| Tara Barbers | Hairdresser |
| Generation Hair Salon | Hairdresser |
| Toni's Hair Salon | Hairdresser |
| Studio 66 Hair & Beauty | Hairdresser |
| Prestige Hair Studio | Hairdresser |
| The Jolly Barber | Hairdresser |
| Ardkeen Barbers | Hairdresser |
| Siobhán’s Hair Design | Hairdresser |
| Phillip Cullen | Hairdresser |
| Headcase | Hairdresser |
| Hogan Hair Dresser | Hairdresser |
| New Art Riot | Hairdresser |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Hair Salons Owners in Waterford
Get a website — even a bare-bones one
84% of Waterford salons have no website at all. A simple one-page site with your services, prices, location, and phone number immediately puts you ahead of the majority. You don't need anything complicated — just something that shows up when someone searches 'hair salon Waterford.'
Claim your Google Business Profile
With only 8 salons online, the ones that appear in Google's local map results will capture a disproportionate share of new customers. Make sure your profile has correct opening hours, your address, and a few good photos of your work.
Partner with nearby businesses
Waterford has 54 restaurants, 59 cafés, and 46 pubs driving daily footfall past your door. Leave flyers at a neighbouring café, offer a referral deal to staff next door, or team up with a local pub for a giveaway. In a city this size, local partnerships beat paid ads every time.
Competition Snapshot
51 hair salons in a city of 60,000 means customers have no shortage of options on the ground. But the competition is far less fierce online. With 84% of salons lacking any website, the digital space is wide open. The handful of established names — Peter Mark, Blade Barbers, Sculpting Studio — have a head start, but the barrier to standing out is low. A salon with a basic website, a handful of Google reviews, and clear pricing will outpace most Waterford competitors without much effort. The real overcrowding is offline; online, it's seriously underserved.
Other Industries in Waterford
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