8 value-added barber shop services to consider adding to your menu

Table of Contents

1. Beard and mustache trimming and care
2. Straight razor shave
3. Hair coloring 
4. Braiding
5. Barber facials
6. Scalp massage and treatment
7. Eyebrow trimming and styling
8. Waxing

A visit to the barber shop is a self-care ritual. And, the more barbering services you can offer to each customer, the more you enhance their experience and add to your bottom line.

There are a number of standard barber shop services that customers have come to expect, like beard grooming and straight razor shaves. Other services could potentially pull new clientele through the door, like braiding services and facials.  

Some barbering services are relatively easy to offer with minimal additional investment, while others require more careful consideration. Check out this list of barber shop services you can consider adding to your menu to boost business.

Back to top

1. Beard and mustache trimming and care

Facial hair care is a must-have barber shop service, and you likely offer some beard and mustache services already. But going above and beyond trimming and shaping can set your barber shop apart.

Oil and conditioning treatments help facial hair stay healthy and manageable, and customers are less likely to be using such treatments at home (even if they may trim their own beards). Dyeing services may also be attractive, as at-home beard coloring is notoriously messy. If you already have a color specialist in house, find out if they’re also trained to work on beards.

A hot-towel massage is a relatively low-cost luxury treatment that feels like a nice finishing touch. If you don’t already have one, consider investing in a towel warmer and adding warm towels to top off regular haircuts as well.

Back to top

2. Straight razor shave

A straight razor shave is a classic that every full-service barber shop ought to have on the menu. Though it takes a skilled hand, a straight razor shave is a simple service with a high value proposition. Most barbers are trained in shaving, and the razors are a low-cost supply compared to the menu price.

A straight razor shave is also an experience, which is what customers ultimately come to a full-service barber shop for, in addition to grooming. Not many people shave with a straight razor at home, and it offers a certain level of nostalgia. 

Back to top

3. Hair coloring 

Hair coloring services are also a high-value proposition, provided that you have expert staff and good quality products. Becoming known for coloring services is an opportunity to draw on a broad customer base, from people who dye their hair wild colors to others looking to blend their gray away. 

Customers who color their hair also tend to be loyal–either to a particular shop or colorist. Consider investing in an in-demand colorist–that could pay off with a steady stream of consistent business. 

Back to top

4. Braiding

Offering braiding services is another way to draw in a broader range of clientele and set your barber shop apart. Braiding is a very specific skill for which you’ll need to invest in expert staff–or training your existing barbers. But again, that specialization may pay off big as braiding is in high demand but not offered on every barber services menu.

Back to top

5. Barber facials

Offering more spa-adjacent services like barber facials can also open the door to a variety of treatment options. Since customers are already kicking back for a cut and/or beard maintenance, a facial can be a high-value add-on. Depending on your existing clientele, facial services may need to be encouraged at first, but could become a regular routine.

Different kinds of facials are suited to different skin types. So, start simple and roll this offering out slowly. Do some research and seek expert advice from a cosmologist or esthetician before investing big. Start with a barber facial that works well for most skin types and experiment with marketing. You could start by offering free facials to loyal customers or bundling them with other services. 

Back to top

6. Scalp massage and treatment

Scalp massage and conditioning treatments are spa-like services that don’t require as much additional skill or investment. Existing staff can easily be trained to offer scalp treatments, whose applications are not so different from hair-washing. Consider your clientele and what type of treatments they might like, and introduce these treatments as a relaxing add-on.

Back to top

7. Eyebrow trimming and styling

With entire businesses dedicated to eyebrow services, they’re clearly in demand. Eyebrow trimming is an easy additional service at a full-service barber shop and can often be accomplished with the same tools barbers use during a haircut.

Eyebrow threading and waxing, on the other hand, are more involved and require specialized skills. Find out whether customers would be interested in these options, then look into the cost of supplies and training for staff. If these are likely to be more occasional services, figure out whether the cost-benefit trade-off is worth it.

Back to top

8. Waxing

In addition to brows, other hair removal services can be attractive offerings for full-service barber shops to offer their customers. Simply research the various techniques and supplies, and ask customers about their preferences. Staff may require some training, but the payoff potential is high because waxing and other hair-removal services are likely to become routine treatments, for the same reasons that haircuts are. 

Back to top

Taking it to the street

To expand your reach to customers who may not venture into your shop, you could consider participating in local events. Maybe you could consider renting a booth at a local festival, staging a pop-up in a local business district during primetime, or even participating in a community event. Offering mini-services, sample products, or even discounts in exchange for customer contact info could help you build your customer list and follow-up with special offers for new customers. And, with Clover Go or Flex, taking payments away from your shop is no problem.

Learn how Clover is helping barber shops boost business, engage customers, and serve their communities each day. Contact a Clover Business Consultant to see how a Clover POS system can help you expand your business and manage new services.

Editorial Team

Insights, Personal services, Run your business, Strategy

Related Posts

Full Service Restaurants (FSR)

5 ways to boost bar business in Dry January and Sober October

By embracing the alcohol-free social trends of Dry January and Sober October, bar and restaurant owners can create fresh opportunities to expand... Read more

Meet the Merchant

How Clover helps retailers run their businesses: Reporting edition

Running a retail business can feel like more than a full-time job. See how Clover provides insightful reports to help local retailers... Read more