The number of beauty businesses in the UK has risen by over a fifth in the last four years, according to new data from Barclays Business.

Barclays has seen a significant increase in the number of small beauty businesses since 2010, in addition to a 24 per cent rise in the combined turnover of these businesses over the same time period.

The proliferation of businesses in the beauty industry, which include beauty salons, hairdressers and tanning parlours, contributes £4bn to the UK economy. The majority of beauty business SMEs are sole traders (62 per cent), with six per cent of owners under the age of 25, twice the rate of under-25s owning SMEs more generally (2.3 per cent). In addition, a quarter of beauty businesses are owned by men.

London is the region with the biggest percentage of beauty businesses, for 19 per cent of Barclays SME customers, and also saw the most dramatic rise over the past four years (33 per cent). More than 6.5 per cent of the UK SME beauty businesses are based in Wales.

Jeff Lane, Barclays Business Banking area manager for South East Wales, said: “We’ve seen a significant rise in the number of beauty business owners coming to us for support, particularly over the last four years.

"It’s an industry where small and medium businesses are increasingly finding opportunities from market demand, and we’ve also seen a jump in the number of younger entrepreneurs in this sector. The growth of the UK’s ageing population and a boom in online consumer behaviour has also fuelled expansion. The fast-growing men’s market is an area predicted to rise in the next few years.

"We support businesses in all stages in growth - from offline businesses looking to obtain their first premises or seeking advice on their business plans through to digital offerings for online companies. Many Welsh businesses are following in the footsteps of beauty brands such as Jo Malone and Molton Brown, which have huge international appeal, and we also support companies wanting to reach their full potential overseas.”

Karen Williams, director and founder of DK Sebastian, the hair and lifestyle salon based in Cwmbran, said: “Running a beauty business is tough with no rest bite and being tied to the business 24 hours a day but with the great team around me the rewards far outweigh the downsides even after working long hours. The joy of seeing our efforts or simply a compliment from a happy customer makes it all worthwhile. We are a unisex salon and men’s styling has been a significant growth area of the business. We have recently introduced a male grooming service this summer offering wet shaves and facials to compliment the styling services. Our business philosophy is simple, find great staff, pay them well and ensure they value our customers and our business as much as we do.”