The future of hairdressing: what will it be like in 30 years?

Celebrity hairstylist Michael Van Clarke celebrated his salon's 30th anniversary last year and shared his thoughts on what the hair industry will be like in 30 years and how to prepare for the future of hairdressing now. HJ magazine wrote about this in an article .

Natural beauty and wellness are deeply connected to consumers today and will continue to be in the coming years. Looking 30 years into the future, I believe there will be key changes in society.

Clients will have more money and less time

I believe that market demand will continue to be divided into two groups - speed and entertainment. A good example of speed is going to Starbucks for coffee. Clients who need speed in the salon will be results-oriented and will look for highly efficient time offers from beauty salons.

An example of entertainment is London's Soho House - a glamorous, social and inspiring space that offers care, relaxation and nourishes the soul with emotions. A space like Soho House could take the best of it and make an express version of it that's just as good and consistently fast. Thus, the needs of both types of market demand are met. This can be applied to hair dryers, coloring, cosmetology, manicure and massage.

Health movement

Hairdressers gain trust and directly influence the health of the client's hair. The number of UK salons offering hair-only services is declining, while the number of salons offering beauty treatments for more than just hair is growing.

The value of time for yourself

Today and in the future, you will see clients paying handsomely to have “me time” in a peaceful and relaxing environment.

Retail stores have adapted to the possibilities of the online world, and with the help of “online building blocks” they provide customers with a wide range of services - from cafes and restaurants to places to relax. Likewise, salons in the future will need more square footage to give clients the time and space to relax and be inspired by something new and interesting.

There are many opportunities to keep clients in your salon and keep them coming back regularly. Food and beverage areas, expanded beauty and spa areas, and additional work areas are just a few reasons why members choose to join membership clubs. The most important thing is to do something interesting, relaxing and useful for them.

From personal experience, I have learned not to think too far ahead. If we climb a hill, a new mountain range appears in front of us.