Industry Guide

Hair salon & beauty website design UK

A complete guide to creating an effective website for your hair salon, beauty salon, barber shop, or spa. Learn essential features, online booking systems, Instagram integration, and what to budget for a salon website in the UK.

Essential features Cost guide

82%

of clients research salons online first

67%

prefer online booking over phone calls

40%

of bookings happen outside business hours

4.5+

star rating expected for new bookings

Why It Matters

Your salon website is your digital shop window

In the beauty industry, first impressions are everything. Your website is often the first interaction potential clients have with your salon. Before they see your skills or experience your service, they are judging your professionalism online. A dated, slow, or hard-to-navigate website suggests your salon might offer a similar experience.

Client expectations have shifted dramatically. People now expect to browse your full service menu with prices, view your work in a portfolio, check your reviews, and book an appointment online - all without picking up the phone. If your salon does not offer this, you are losing bookings to competitors who do.

Whether you run a high-street hairdresser, a boutique beauty salon, a busy barber shop, or a luxury spa, your website needs to showcase your skills and make booking effortless. This guide covers everything you need to create a salon website that converts browsers into clients.

What makes a great salon website?

A great salon website does three things brilliantly: it shows stunning examples of your work, it makes booking an appointment simple, and it works flawlessly on mobile phones. Instagram is where you build your following, but your website is where you convert that following into bookings. Get these fundamentals right, and your website becomes your best-performing staff member.

Must-Have Elements

Essential features for salon websites

These are the features your salon website needs, ordered by importance. Start with the critical items and add more as your budget allows.

Service menu with prices

Critical

Complete list of treatments and services with clear pricing. Use 'from' prices where costs vary.

Online booking

Critical

Integration with Fresha, Treatwell, Booksy, or similar. Clients expect 24/7 booking capability.

Mobile responsiveness

Critical

Perfect display on all devices. Most salon searches and bookings happen on mobile phones.

Before/after gallery

Critical

Showcase your best work with high-quality transformation photos. Essential for hair colouring and styling.

Team profiles

High

Photos and bios of stylists/therapists. Clients want to know who will be treating them.

Location and hours

High

Address with Google Maps, opening hours, parking information, and accessibility details.

Instagram integration

High

Embedded feed or prominent links. Instagram is the primary discovery platform for salons.

Google reviews display

High

Show your ratings and recent reviews. Social proof is crucial for new client acquisition.

Contact information

High

Phone number, email, and contact form. Some clients still prefer to call or message directly.

Gift vouchers

Medium

Online gift card purchases. Popular for occasions and generates advance revenue.

Cancellation policy

Medium

Clear policy on cancellations, deposits, and no-shows. Protects your time and sets expectations.

Loyalty programme

Optional

Reward repeat clients. Works well for regular services like cuts, nails, and brows.

Product sales

Optional

E-commerce for retail products you stock. Can be a good additional revenue stream.

Prioritise the Booking Experience

The most important job of your salon website is to get visitors booked in. Every design decision should make booking easier. Can someone find and complete a booking in under a minute? If not, you are losing clients to salons with simpler processes.

Taking Bookings Online

Online booking systems for salons

Choosing the right booking platform affects your workflow, costs, and client experience. Here is an honest comparison of popular options in the UK.

Fresha

Free (2.19% + 20p per transaction)

Pros

No monthly fees, good feature set, marketplace exposure, built-in payments

Cons

Transaction fees add up, limited customisation, platform owns client relationship

Best For

New salons, those wanting low upfront costs, businesses testing online booking

Treatwell

Commission-based (varies by region)

Pros

Large marketplace exposure, attracts new clients, handles payments, strong brand recognition

Cons

High commissions on marketplace bookings, less control over pricing, competes for clients

Best For

Salons wanting new client discovery, city centre locations, those with capacity to fill

Booksy

From £30/month

Pros

Popular with barbers, good mobile app, social media integration, marketing tools

Cons

Monthly cost regardless of usage, can be complex to set up, some features require higher tiers

Best For

Barber shops, busy salons with predictable bookings, those wanting advanced features

Square Appointments

Free tier available (paid from £29/month)

Pros

Integrates with Square POS, free for individuals, handles payments, inventory management

Cons

Limited features on free tier, less beauty-specific, requires Square ecosystem

Best For

Salons already using Square, single stylists, those wanting integrated payments and POS

Timely

From £15/month per user

Pros

Beautiful interface, strong reporting, automated marketing, client history tracking

Cons

Per-user pricing adds up, less marketplace exposure, monthly commitment

Best For

Established salons, multi-staff businesses, those wanting detailed analytics

The Deposit and No-Show Question

No-shows cost UK salons significant revenue each year. Modern booking systems help with deposits, card-on-file requirements, and automated reminders. Consider requiring deposits for longer or more expensive treatments. Your website should clearly display your cancellation policy so clients know what to expect before they book.

Visual Appeal

Photography tips for salon websites

Your portfolio is your most powerful sales tool. Great photos of your work convince potential clients to book. Here is how to capture your skills effectively.

Invest in before and after shots

Transformation photos are your most powerful marketing tool. Use consistent lighting and angles. Take photos before any styling and after the final result, from multiple angles.

Create a photo station

Set up a dedicated area with good lighting for client photos. Ring lights work well for faces, and natural light from windows is ideal. A clean, neutral background keeps focus on the hair or treatment.

Get client permission

Always ask permission before photographing clients and using images on your website or social media. A simple consent form protects you legally and builds trust with clients.

Capture your team

Professional photos of your stylists and therapists at work build trust. Clients want to see friendly, skilled professionals. Update team photos when staff changes.

Show your space

Interior shots help clients imagine visiting. Photograph your reception, styling stations, treatment rooms, and any special features. Clean, well-lit images only.

Optimise for web

Compress images for fast loading without losing quality. Keep files under 200KB each. Large images slow your site and frustrate mobile users.

Update regularly

Fresh portfolio content shows you're active and current with trends. Aim to add new work weekly, even if just to Instagram. Seasonal updates keep your gallery interesting.

Showcase range

Display variety in your portfolio - different hair types, colours, lengths, skin tones, and treatments. Potential clients want to see you can handle their specific needs.

Before and After is Everything

For hair colouring, extensions, keratin treatments, and dramatic cuts, before and after photos are essential. They demonstrate your skills more effectively than any description. Use consistent angles, lighting, and backgrounds. These images will be shared, saved, and referenced by potential clients deciding whether to book.

Building Trust

Social proof for salon websites

Reviews, testimonials, and social media presence convince hesitant visitors to book. Here is how to leverage social proof effectively.

Google Business Profile

Critical

Claim and optimise your profile. Add photos weekly, respond to all reviews within 24 hours, keep hours accurate. This is often how clients find you.

Review collection

Critical

Ask happy clients to leave Google reviews. Send a follow-up message after appointments with a direct link. Make leaving reviews as easy as possible.

Website review display

High

Embed Google reviews on your homepage and booking page. Show your star rating prominently. Fresh reviews build confidence at the point of booking.

Instagram integration

High

Embed your feed on your website. Link to your profile. Use relevant hashtags to increase discovery. Post your best work consistently.

Testimonials

Medium

Collect written testimonials from loyal clients. Display with photos where possible. Include specific details about treatments received.

Awards and certifications

Medium

Display any industry awards, qualifications, or brand partnerships. Being a stockist or certified in specific treatments builds credibility.

Key insight: For salons, Instagram often matters more than Facebook. Your website should prominently feature your Instagram, making it easy for visitors to see your latest work and follow you for inspiration.

Budget Planning

Salon website costs in the UK

What to expect when budgeting for a salon website. Prices vary based on features and complexity.

Basic Salon Site

Typical timeline: 1-2 weeks

£600 - £1,200

Typically includes: Service menu, contact details, gallery, mobile-responsive design, basic SEO

Suitable for: New salons, freelance stylists, simple service offerings

Professional Salon Site

Typical timeline: 2-4 weeks

£1,200 - £2,500

Typically includes: Above plus online booking integration, team profiles, Instagram embed, Google reviews, blog

Suitable for: Established salons, multi-staff businesses, those wanting to grow online bookings

Site with E-commerce

Typical timeline: 4-6 weeks

£2,500 - £4,000

Typically includes: Above plus gift voucher sales, product e-commerce, loyalty programme integration, advanced galleries

Suitable for: Salons with retail products, spas, businesses wanting multiple revenue streams

Premium/Multi-location

Typical timeline: 6-12 weeks

£4,000+

Typically includes: Custom functionality, multiple locations, advanced booking features, bespoke design, membership systems

Suitable for: Salon groups, franchises, premium spas, complex booking requirements

Ongoing Costs to Budget For

£50-200

per year for hosting

£10-30

per year for domain

£0-50+

per month for booking platform

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Mobile-First

Mobile booking experience for salons

Most salon bookings happen on mobile. Your website must provide a flawless experience on phones and tablets.

One-tap booking

Clients often book while commuting, during lunch, or late at night. Any friction loses bookings.

Solution: Prominent 'Book Now' button always visible. Minimal steps to complete a booking. Guest checkout option.

Click-to-call

Some clients prefer to call with questions. Making this easy reduces frustration.

Solution: Phone number in header, tappable to call directly. Visible on every page.

Fast loading

Slow sites on mobile networks cause abandonment. Portfolio images can be problematic if not optimised.

Solution: Compress all images, use lazy loading for galleries, test on 3G connections.

Easy navigation

Clients need to find services, prices, and booking quickly. Complex menus frustrate mobile users.

Solution: Simple menu structure, clear categories, prominent calls to action.

Readable service menu

Your price list must be easily scannable on a phone screen without zooming.

Solution: Well-formatted HTML menu, not PDF. Clear categories, readable font sizes.

Gallery that works

Portfolio is crucial for salons. It must display beautifully on small screens.

Solution: Swipeable galleries, zoomable images, fast loading thumbnails.

Test the Booking Flow Yourself

Try booking an appointment on your own site using your phone, ideally on a slower connection. Can you find available times quickly? Is selecting your service straightforward? Any confusion or delay means lost bookings. The best salon websites make booking feel effortless.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about salon websites

Answers to common questions about salon website design, costs, and features.

How much does a hair salon website cost in the UK?

Hair salon and beauty website costs in the UK typically range from £600-£4,000 depending on complexity. A basic brochure site with service menu and contact details costs £600-£1,200. Sites with online booking integration cost £1,200-£2,500. Fully custom solutions with gift vouchers, loyalty programmes, and e-commerce for products can reach £4,000 or more. Ongoing costs include hosting (£50-200/year) and any booking platform fees.

What features does a salon website need?

Essential salon website features include: clear service menu with prices, online booking integration, stylist or therapist profiles with photos, before and after gallery, location with opening hours, mobile-responsive design, contact information, and links to social media (especially Instagram). Optional features include gift voucher sales, loyalty programme integration, product sales, and Google reviews display.

Which online booking system is best for salons in the UK?

Popular UK salon booking systems include Fresha (free with payment processing fees), Treatwell (commission-based but good exposure), Booksy (from £30/month, popular with barbers), and Square Appointments (free tier available, integrates with Square payments). Choose based on your budget, whether you want marketplace exposure, and which features you need like deposits, no-show protection, and team scheduling.

Should I display prices on my salon website?

Yes, displaying prices on your salon website is strongly recommended. Clients research salons online and hidden prices create frustration and distrust. Clear pricing helps potential clients decide if your salon fits their budget before booking. Use 'from' prices for services that vary (like highlights), and keep your online prices accurate and up to date. Transparent pricing reduces time-wasting enquiries and builds trust.

How important is a gallery or portfolio for salon websites?

A gallery or portfolio is critical for salon websites. Hair and beauty is a visual industry - clients want to see your work before booking. Include high-quality before and after photos, showcase different styles and treatments, and update your gallery regularly. Get permission from clients to photograph their transformations. Instagram feeds can supplement your gallery but shouldn't replace a dedicated portfolio section.

How do I integrate social media with my salon website?

Integrate social media by embedding your Instagram feed on your homepage or gallery page, adding social icons linking to all your profiles, including share buttons on portfolio images, and displaying your latest posts. Instagram is particularly important for salons - your website should make it easy for visitors to follow you. Consider plugins that automatically pull in your latest Instagram posts to keep content fresh.

Can I sell gift vouchers through my salon website?

Yes, selling gift vouchers online is an excellent revenue stream for salons. Options include booking platforms with built-in voucher sales (Fresha, Treatwell), dedicated voucher platforms (GiftUp, Voucher Cart), or custom e-commerce integration. Gift vouchers generate advance revenue, attract new clients, and are popular for birthdays, Christmas, and special occasions. Ensure your system handles redemption tracking and expiry dates.

How can I add a loyalty programme to my salon website?

Loyalty programmes can be integrated through your booking platform (many include loyalty features), dedicated apps like Stamp Me or LoyaltyLion, or custom development. Display loyalty benefits on your website to attract sign-ups. Popular approaches include points per visit, referral rewards, or birthday discounts. The key is making it easy for clients to track and redeem rewards, ideally through their booking account.

How do I display Google reviews on my salon website?

Display Google reviews using widgets from services like Elfsight, Taggbox, or EmbedReviews, or through custom development that pulls from the Google Places API. Showing reviews builds trust and social proof. Aim to display your overall rating, recent reviews, and a link to leave new reviews. Respond to all reviews (positive and negative) professionally. A strong Google review profile also helps your local SEO ranking.

How do I get my Instagram feed on my salon website?

Embed your Instagram feed using official Instagram embedding, third-party widgets like Elfsight or SnapWidget, or plugins if using WordPress. Most modern website builders include Instagram integration. Keep your feed updated with your best work - remember it's often the first impression of your styling skills. Ensure the feed loads quickly and doesn't slow down your site. Link images to your full Instagram profile for easy following.

Need a website for your salon?

Web Cardiff creates professional websites for hair salons, beauty salons, barbers, and spas across Wales and the UK. Mobile-optimised sites with seamless booking integration that showcase your work and fill your appointment book. Let us discuss your project.

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