How are Brits approaching their festive hair and beauty appointments this year?

When it comes to the festive season, we know that this can become hectic, buying presents, planning events, and scheduling in our hair and beauty appointments. The lead up to Christmas can become busy for clients and beauty professionals alike.

So, when do people look to get their appointments in for the holidays? Are we a nation of planners, or do we leave our bookings to the last minute? And how can the nation ensure that they get the appointments they wanting before Christmas?

Our Research

We surveyed 2,000 UK consumers to learn more about when they’re choosing to book their hair and appointments ahead of this Christmas, how much they plan on spending this year on their festive glow-ups, and what the most popular treatments are for Brits this festive season.

So, what exactly are our hair and beauty intentions for the holidays? Read on to find out more about our study.

Brits refuse to cut back on their festive glow-ups this year

We found that despite rising costs of living, many consumers have no plans to cut back on their beauty routines in the lead up to Christmas.

Almost half of those surveyed (44%) said that they are planning to spend the same amount on their hair and beauty appointments that they have in previous years.

Furthermore, almost of quarter (23%) have budgeted more for this year, with the intention of increasing their salon spending this festive season in comparison to previous years.

The North East city of Sunderland boasted the highest number of residents who are planning to spend more than they had done in previous years (60%).  

Whilst overall, just a third (34%) of Brits are planning on cutting back spending less on their hair and beauty appointments this year.

Our study found that the average amount Brits are budgeting for their hair and beauty appointments this year is £58.80.

If every UK adult were to spend this much it would equate to a total of £3.1 billion spent on salon bookings across the festive period.

Some are set on spending more too, as one in six (16%) are planning on spending upwards of £100 on hair and beauty appointments in the lead up to Christmas, while 2.1 million will be spending upwards of £200.

When it comes to the cities and towns with the biggest spenders, residents of Lisburn (Northern Ireland) revealed they’ll be budgeting £171.50 on average for their hair and beauty appointments over the festive season.

Belfast (£85.20), London (£83.90), Leicester (£80.20), and Warrington (£79.70), were also found to have budgeted the most for festive glow ups.

In comparison, consumers in Swansea were discovered to have the smallest budgets allowing just £30.90 for their pre-Christmas salon appointments. Residents of Dudley (£31.20), St. Albans (£33.40), Wrexham (£34.80), and Kingston upon Hull (£35.40) were also likely to spend relatively small amounts.

All Brits want for Christmas is a wash, cut and blow dry

When asked about the top treatments Brits are booking in the lead up to Christmas, our study found that a wash, cut and blow dry is the most popular treatment amongst UK adults, as nearly half (47%) are getting booked in for this salon service over the festive season.

A third (36%) are looking to get a trim ahead of Christmas too, seeking to maintain a current style rather than going for a full refresh.

Following two years of disruptions to festive plans due to the pandemic, it’s understandable that those heading out to Christmas parties and events this year are keen to go all out.

We learnt that one in eight women (12%) plan on having their hair styled especially for a festive event, and one in ten men (10%) will be joining them in this.

A further 12% will be opting for a full head colour at their chosen salon, while eyebrows are the focus for Brits as another 12% are booking in for eyebrow shaping.

A quarter of UK women (25%) will be opting for a gel or acrylic manicure this December, but it’s not just the ladies who will be prepping their nails for the holidays as 5% of UK men are also booking in for a manicure in the lead up to Christmas.

When are we getting our festive appointments booked in?

But when are we booking our appointments in? Well, the majority of Brits are well prepared, booking their Christmas pamper appointments in October (35%).

Getting ahead of the Christmas rush, one in nine (11%) booked their festive hair and beauty appointments in as early as September, while 4% - the equivalent to 2.1 million Brits - booked in with their favourite salons or freelancers even earlier, scheduling their festive appointments back in July.

Regionally, Dundee and Dudley were found to have the highest numbers of well-prepared residents. One in eight (13%) UK adults living in these places had secured their festive glow up appointments in July of this year.

However, a quarter (24%) of consumers admit to leaving their bookings until the last minute, trying to book their Christmas appointments in December, possibly leaving them struggling to find a spot when they want to book it.

Men are more last minute than women when scheduling their festive hair and beauty appointments. More than a third (37%) said they’ll leave making a booking until December, compared to just 13% of women.

Wrexham residents are most likely to leave hair and beauty bookings until the final hour, with almost half (45%) saying they plan to do so in December.  

Similarly last minute were consumers in Blackpool (43%), Carlisle (43%), Edinburgh (40%), Leicester, Cambridge, and Derry (38%).

We chatted with hairdresser to the stars and one of the UK’s most respected hair stylists, Vincent Allenby, based in London and Manchester, who shared his insight for consumers trying to book in last minute:

“Most clients prioritise their festive hair care as they want to look their best especially at this time of year. Get a call in now with your salon and ask for your preferred stylist but be flexible, hairdressers are maxed the top over Christmas - it is the industry’s busiest time of the year, and we work extra hours including very early starts or late to accommodate everyone, especially regulars.  

So, my advice is to book in and get your essential colour/cut done for mid-December and then be flexible about styling and blow-dry appointments - maybe take a same day slot as your event so you look fantastic but opt for the early morning time slot and keep your hair in pin curls or wrapped in a silk scarf, to maintain the styling.  

Last minute walk-ins are a rare opportunity, but cancellations do happen, so if you really need an appointment on the same day, phone first and be willing to have a different stylist if your favourite is maxed.” 

Conclusion

It is great to see that this year Brits will still be heading to the salon in an effort to look and feel their best, with some people even budgeting in more this year for their festive glow-ups.

And it’s encouraging that many people are booking in their appointments early this year, giving themselves and their chosen beauty professional’s good time to plan for the holiday season.

Christmas is a busy time for hair and beauty salons and freelancers, and organisation is key to make sure you can fit in as many clients as you can in the lead up to Christmas. Sending out reminders to your clients to book in or letting them know when you are nearing capacity for appointments can be a great way to ensure that your clients aren’t missing out on the treatments they want.

Whilst you may not be able to get everyone booked in, extending opening hours or adding a day onto your schedule if you have the means to can be a great way to show your consumers that you’re going above and beyond to get them their treatments.