56% of Hairstylists in Favour of ‘Silent’ Hair Services According to Research

56% of hairstylists would prefer ‘silent’ services, according to research, with 53% of clients also in agreement.

What’s more, offering this as an option could create a 25% revenue boost to the industry, as clients said they would book more return visits if a quiet appointment could be guaranteed.

Ripe Hair & Beauty surveyed 2000 consumers and 100 freelance and salon hairstylists across the UK to compare how both parties perceive salon interactions across a number of different areas.

The research found that just 44% of hairstylists and 47% of clients said they would rather have a conversation while in the chair, with many others preferring the relaxation of a quiet service.

The findings come following recent news that silent services are on the rise, with several notable salons and groups introducing the concept in response to increased demand from consumers.

Many campaign groups have also highlighted that the traditional ‘chatty’ hair salon appointment can be overwhelming for neurodiverse clients or those with social anxiety, which has become more prevalent since the pandemic.

Crucially for the industry, clients said they would book more frequently if silent options were available. The findings showed that on average, return visits could increase by around 1.7 times per customer, per year.

According to Ripe data, the typical client visits a salon 6.7 times a year, spending £55.40 per appointment and £371.18 annually. Silent services could increase this to 8.4 visits a year with a total annual spend of £465.36 – an uplift of 25%.

John Woosey, founder of Ripe Hair & Beauty Insurance, commented: “To chat or not to chat – that is the question. Increasingly, it seems the latter is becoming more favoured – not just by clients but by hair pros, too. Salon owners and freelancers alike need to understand that people of every age and every walk of life could come through their doors, so being welcoming to all is key – even if it goes against everything we have to come to understand of typical hairdressing etiquette. Those that do stand to deliver a significant boost to their bottom line. So, is it time to rip up the rulebook and offer the silent treatment for your clients? The data would suggest so.”