50
32%
Market Overview
Fifty hair salons operate in Morningside, Edinburgh — a significant number for a single neighbourhood. The market includes established names like Cheynes and Jason Hall Hairdressing alongside newer entrants such as Koda Hair and hair by boom, with barbershops like Close Cut Barbers, Links Barbers, and Duke's Barbers adding further competition. Customers here are spoilt for choice.
The most striking figure is website adoption: only 16 of the 50 salons (32%) have a web presence. That means 34 salons are essentially invisible to anyone searching online. In a neighbourhood that also supports 54 cafes, 27 restaurants, 9 pubs, and 23 fast food outlets, foot traffic is clearly not the problem — getting noticed digitally is.
Competition is dense. Morningside's high street pulls consistent foot traffic from locals running errands, grabbing coffee, and dining out, but that same foot traffic is split across a large number of salons and barbershops. There's no shortage of supply. A new entrant or existing salon looking to grow needs to think carefully about differentiation, because the sheer volume of competitors means reputation alone isn't enough to guarantee steady bookings.
What Customers in Morningside Care About
Weekend slot availability
With 50 salons in the area, Saturday appointments fill fast — customers will simply walk to the next option if they can't book at their preferred time.
Stylists who get their look
Morningside draws a mix of university staff, young professionals, and families, so customers want stylists who can handle everything from low-maintenance cuts to trend-led colouring without the hard sell.
A website they can actually find
Only 32% of salons here have a website, so customers actively searching online are choosing from a shortlist — those without a site barely register.
Named stylists with track records
Established salons like Cheynes and Jason Hall Hairdressing have built loyal client bases over years; customers switching salons want to know who specifically will be cutting their hair.
A coffee stop nearby after
With 54 cafes within walking distance, customers often pair a salon visit with brunch or a coffee — salons near the busier café clusters benefit from this habit.
Hair Salons operating in Morningside, Edinburgh
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 |
|---|---|
| Labelle's Barbershop | Hairdresser |
| Craig Davidson Hair | Hairdresser |
| Cheynes | Hairdresser |
| Callum Orr Hair | Hairdresser |
| Hair By Boom | Hairdresser |
| Satis | Hairdresser |
| Smooth Dimension | Hairdresser |
| Carruthers & Woodrow | Hairdresser |
| Koda Hair | Hairdresser |
| All About Eve | Hairdresser |
| Jason Hall Hairdressing | Hairdresser |
| Close Cut Barbers | Hairdresser |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Hair Salons Owners in Morningside
Get a website sorted — most competitors haven't
Only 16 of Morningside's 50 salons have a website. Even a basic one-page site with your services, prices, and a booking link puts you ahead of two-thirds of the competition in local search results.
Consider Sunday or early morning hours
The neighbourhood is busy with families and working professionals who struggle to book weekday slots. With 50 salons competing for the same customer base, offering hours that others don't is a straightforward way to fill your appointment book.
Build relationships with nearby cafes and shops
Morningside has 54 cafes, 27 restaurants, and multiple pubs within close range — that's a lot of foot traffic from people already out and about. Cross-promotions with neighbouring businesses, like leaving flyers at a popular café or offering a referral discount, costs almost nothing and reaches locals who might not be searching online.
Competition Snapshot
Fifty salons packed into Morningside makes this a crowded market. Established names like Cheynes and Jason Hall Hairdressing hold strong positions through reputation and repeat customers, while smaller operators compete mainly on location and walk-in availability. The barbershop segment is particularly busy with multiple options within short walking distance. The biggest opportunity is digital: 68% of salons have no website at all. A salon that invests in basic online visibility and booking can reach customers that most competitors simply can't. Standing out here takes more than a good haircut — it takes being findable.
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