Salons have sprung up in all major cities across India in recent decades, leaving behind the legacy of barber shops and expanding well beyond hair care.
International companies are increasingly prominent because of their appeal to the Indian upper middle class. The French personal care giant, L’Oreal, has product presence in over 168,000 independent salons in India providing hair care, coloration, and styling products. L’Oreal’s brands include Garnier, Matrix, and Kiehls. Germany’s Schwarzkopf, a part of the Henkel Group, is present in over 5,000 salons in India. Another French company, Dessange International, a luxury brand, has 7 hair salons in India. Its top hair products include Bonacure and Igora Royal.
Lakme is a Hindustan Unilever brand and runs over 400 salon locations throughout India, catering to all aspects of hair care. Mumbai-based Shahnaz Husain Beauty Parlour is an Indian provider of herbal beauty care and cosmetics. Its salons specialize in haircutting and styling, facials, waxing, and threading. Its services include waxing, threading, hair coloring, and haircuts. Bangalore-based Himalaya Herbals has a wide variety of products, including shampoos and conditioners. Looks Salon Group, a Delhi-based organization, aims to open 500 salons across India by 2029.
In some ways, India is transitioning from a consumer to a pioneer in the hair care industry.
The growing middle class population of India and the rise of disposable income are strong drivers of this change, along with changing perceptions of masculinity. Men in India have begun to explore hair and personal care, which is leading to an increase in unisex salons throughout the country.
