99
17%
2
Market Overview
99 hair salons compete for customers in a city of 160,000. That's a crowded market by any measure — and the fight for footfall is intensified by the surrounding business density: 218 cafés, 172 restaurants, 114 pubs, and 158 fast-food outlets all pulling people towards different parts of Oxford's high streets.
The single biggest competitive advantage available right now? A website. Only 17 of Oxford's 99 hair salons — 17% — have one. That leaves 82 salons relying on walk-ins, word of mouth, and third-party listings alone. In a university city where residents are digitally literate and search-first in their booking habits, that's a serious blind spot.
Among those 17 with an online presence are names like The Quirky Barbers, Evergreen Hair and Beauty, Giovanni's Barber Shop, Classique, and Cowboymod and Son. These businesses are already a step ahead in capturing the growing share of customers who research salons online before committing.
Oxford's population mix — students, academics, long-term residents, and visitors — means demand is varied and cyclical. The student intake each autumn brings a wave of new potential customers with no existing loyalty, who will default to whichever salon they can find online. For the 83% without a website, that's business walking straight past the door.
What Customers in Oxford Care About
Convenience to their daily route
With 99 salons spread across a compact city, most customers will choose whichever one sits closest to their commute, campus, or regular high-street errands — location is the first filter.
A website with prices listed
When 83% of local salons have no online presence at all, the ones that show services and pricing on a simple website immediately look more trustworthy and professional to anyone searching.
Experience with diverse hair types
Oxford draws students, researchers, and academics from across the globe — salons comfortable working with a range of textures, thicknesses, and styles have a clear advantage over those that don't.
Fair pricing for student budgets
A large share of Oxford's population is budget-conscious and changes every academic year — salons that offer transparent, competitive pricing without hidden extras capture trade that others lose.
A shopfront worth noticing
With 218 cafés, 114 pubs, and 30 bars competing for attention on the same streets, a well-maintained exterior and clear signage is what separates a salon people spot from one they walk straight past.
Hair Salons operating in Oxford
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 |
|---|---|
| Hair by Mark | Hairdresser |
| Antalaya | Hairdresser |
| The Little Barber Shop | Hairdresser |
| Graham | Hairdresser |
| Royal Barber | Hairdresser |
| My Barbers | Hairdresser |
| The Men's Cut | Hairdresser |
| Whispers | Hairdresser |
| Beyond Hair & Beauty | Hairdresser |
| Empire Barbers | Hairdresser |
| Sidney Barbers | Hairdresser |
| Acute Cut | Hairdresser |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Hair Salons Owners in Oxford
Get a website — even a basic one
82 of Oxford's 99 hair salons have no website at all. A single page listing your location, services, prices, and phone number puts you ahead of the overwhelming majority of your competitors. Customers searching "hair salon Oxford" currently have just 17 options to choose from — make sure you're one of them.
Prepare for the September intake
Oxford's student population resets every autumn. Thousands of new arrivals need a salon and have zero existing loyalty to anyone. A Google Business Profile with updated hours, recent photos, and positive reviews means you show up when they search during their first week in the city.
Stand out on a busy high street
Oxford's commercial centres host 218 cafés, 172 restaurants, and 158 fast-food outlets — all fighting for the same foot traffic. Your shopfront, window display, and signage need to catch the eye of people who weren't specifically looking for a haircut but might walk in on impulse.
Competition Snapshot
99 salons in a city of 160,000 makes this a crowded market, and Oxford's high streets are dense with competing businesses — 218 cafés, 172 restaurants, and 114 pubs all draw the same foot traffic. What's underserved is the digital space. With only 17 salons online, the bar to stand out digitally is remarkably low. A basic website and an active Google Business Profile currently put you ahead of 83% of local competitors. Physical presence alone won't cut it — the salons that will grow are those combining a visible high-street location with the ability to be found and booked online.
Other Industries in Oxford
Hair Salons in Other Cities
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