Customer base fragmenting
Barbering has become a lucrative industry, with increasing salaries driven by a shortage of specialists and growing demand for male grooming services. Unlike other beauty professionals such as nail service specialists and cosmetologists, barbers are experiencing the most significant wage growth, jumping 17.4% year-on-year in Russia in March 2025 [enrichment: according to experts].
The average monthly pay for barbers in Russia was 85,500 rubles in March, compared to 58,700 rubles for nail service specialists, 55,300 rubles for cosmetologists, and 45,500 rubles for brow specialists [enrichment: base article]. While these figures are impressive, the high competition among brow specialists and cosmetologists keeps their incomes in check.
Meanwhile, the beauty industry as a whole is thriving, with the average salary offer increasing by 9% year-on-year to 65,500 rubles per month by the end of March 2025, as reported by Avito Rabote. The demand for barber services has soared, with an impressive 17% increase in salary offers, reaching 112,700 rubles per month. However, the story varies across regions, with specialists in Moscow earning an average of 118,800 rubles while peers in St. Petersburg make 83,300 rubles [enrichment: base article].
The rise in barber salaries can be attributed to men investing more in their appearance, with many regarding barber visits as a valued service ritual they are willing to pay more for [enrichment: according to experts]. This demand boosts the market, with the volume of hairdressing and cosmetology services provided to the population increasing by 22% year-on-year to 75.1 billion rubles [enrichment: data from Rosstat].
The barber market is currently dealing with a scarcity of high-class specialists, causing the average check in beauty salons to rise by 14% year-on-year to 2,100 rubles [enrichment: data from "Platform OFD"]. However, the lack of trained professionals can be circumvented by employers increased willingness to hire inexperienced specialists, as reported by HeadHunter.
In summary, barbers in Russia are experiencing the most significant wage growth due to increased male grooming demand, while other beauty professionals like nail service specialists and cosmetologists struggle with competition and saturation of the market. The industry's overall growth is driven by various factors, including digital influence, specialization, market demand, and the general economic climate.
Yakoleva says that the average monthly salary for barbers in Russia reached 85,500 rubles in March 2025, significantly higher than the 58,700 rubles for nail service specialists, 55,300 rubles for cosmetologists, and 45,500 rubles for brow specialists. The boom in the barbering business is due to men investing more in their appearance and valuing barber visits, causing a 17% increase in salary offers to 112,700 rubles per month. In contrast, the high competition among brow specialists and cosmetologists keeps their incomes in check. The financial success of the fashion-and-beauty business, including barbering, is also attributed to automation, digital influence, specialization, market demand, and the general economic climate. Meanwhile, careers in the beauty industry, such as barbering, are thriving, with the average salary offer increasing by 9% year-on-year to 65,500 rubles per month. This growth and demand have positively impacted the business, resulting in a 22% increase in the volume of hairdressing and cosmetology services provided to the population. However, the scarcity of high-class specialists in beauty salons has caused the average check to rise by 14% year-on-year to 2,100 rubles. To overcome this issue, employers are more willing to hire inexperienced specialists.
