‘Short hair is dying out’: 30% rise in cost of UK haircuts, not fashion, is driving the change

Phil Smith says business has suffered: ‘It’s been disastrous. People are not coming in as often.’ Photograph: Sam Frost/The Guardian

Skin fades and sculpted bobs are out. Messy tops and longer locks are in. For fashion hawks, the move towards lengthier hair is hardly news, but it may not be fashion alone that is driving the shift. Rising costs and tightened belts are among the reasons some believe are behind the trend for longer hair.

The average cost of a haircut for men and women in the UK has soared by more than 30% since 2020, according to government data. As a result, many of us have adapted our hairstyles.