A hairstylist who incorporates barbering into their menu isn’t just expanding services; they are expanding opportunity.
Building barbering into your business gives you access to a greater clientele and opens the door to fuller books and greater revenue streams. From fades and beard work to grooming packages, barbering allows you to curate a one-stop experience that keeps clients in-house and satisfied, saving them from the trial and error of finding a separate service provider.
When is the Right Time?
If you’re not a barber, now is the best time to explore, as the typical barbering client is stepping deeper into the world of color. We’re seeing more men embracing gray blending, highlights, toning, creative color and overall self-care. If these clients are already in your chair for a cut or beard service, why not give them the full experience? When you combine barbering with modern color services, you increase ticket value, build stronger client loyalty and separate your business from shops that only offer a cut.
Understanding that anytime you’re ready to grow is a good time to is important, but there are key moments when adding barbering services can make an impact on your schedule and your income. When business slows down, during summer or the holidays, barbering can help fill the gaps. Barbering clients typically book fast, stay loyal, and value convenience.
During typical 35-45 minute color processing times, you can fit in a cut, beard trim or grooming service without disrupting flow. That’s extra revenue added to the same hour you were already working. Grooming services are also perfect for quick appointment windows that are too short for a chemical service, while adding meaningful income.
In slow seasons, attracting clients scouting for barbering services can keep your books steady. During the holidays, barbering clients flood in seeking quick, clean, and professional grooming services before events, photos, and travel, creating the perfect opportunity to build long-term relationships, if done right.
What the Numbers Say
Growing your barbering clientele isn’t just about adding more cuts. It’s about using your time intelligently, filling vacancies in your books and turning slow periods into profitable ones. Barbering and grooming services can be one of the most effective ways to keep your business moving forward year-round.
Here are some numbers to help you break down how adding a little barbering can grow your business:
Monthly Growth
Add just 5 clients per week
5 clients × $45 average ticket × 4 weeks = $900 extra per month
If you add 10 clients per week
10 × $45 × 4 = $1,800 extra per month
If you add 15 clients per week
15 × $45 × 4 = $2,700 extra per month
With color or beard add-ons, these numbers easily jump by 20–40%.
Quarterly Growth (3 Months)
5 new clients per week
$900 per month × 3 = $2,700 per quarter
10 new clients per week
$1,800 × 3 = $5,400 per quarter
15 new clients per week
$2,700 × 3 = $8,100 per quarter
Annual Growth (12 Months)
5 new clients per week
$900 × 12 = $10,800 per year
10 new clients per week
$1,800 × 12 = $21,600 per year
15 new clients per week
$2,700 × 12 = $32,400 per year
2 additional color clients per week
2 × $100 × 4 = $800 extra per month and $9,600 per year
Building Your ToolkitNow that you know why, here’s how you start.
When it comes to your first steps, your tools are your foundation. Start by investing in a quality pair of clippers and trimmers.
You want tools that are well-balanced and comfortable in your hand. When a clipper is balanced, you can use it all day and not overwork your wrist during the haircut. When it comes to tools I like, I prefer something with more weight because I have more control over the flick of my wrist. Many stylists worry about the weight or feel of a tool, so it's not a bad idea to avoid online shopping. Walk into your local professional supply store and actually hold the tools in your hand.
The right fit matters.
You’ll also need a foil shaver. I would recommend the Andis Pro Foil Shaver and the Resurge Shaver. In most states, cosmetologists aren’t permitted to use a straight razor, so if you’re not looking to obtain a barber license right away, the foil shaver becomes your safe and effective alternative. This tool isn’t about creating a “barber experience,” it’s about delivering efficient and clean results within your license.
Education is the next key step. As you attend shows this season, make it a priority to take a few barber-focused classes and learn the fundamentals, such as:
Fade: Is a graduation going from short to long, completely around the head shape.
Taper: A fade that lives in a small area, typically in the guest’s temple or nape of the neck. The purpose is to give a small graduation that removes the hair from around the hairline
Edge: A finishing touch, using your trimmers to give the haircut its finish and create a sharp line around the hairline.
Once you feel confident with the basics, like those above, you can begin to layer in more advanced skills at your own pace. You can also grow through online communities that offer real education and support—like Hustle Economics, which provides barbering fundamentals, business insights, and more.
