Hairdressers, barbers and beauticians saw their turnover increase for the second year in a row in 2015. The sector earned €2.1bn last year, according to the national statistics office CBS.

Small, independent proprietors offering specialised treatments have proliferated in recent years and customers are often willing to spend more on these quality services, reports the Volkskrant.

Between 2010 and 2014, the number of sole proprietorships increased from 35,000 to 44,000.

Hipsters

In particular, ‘hipster’ barber shops offering luxuries like beard maintenance and drinks have seen a surge in popularity, helping take the overall number of hair and beauty businesses in the Netherlands from 42,000 to 52,000 between 2010 and 2015.

Despite the popularity of male grooming, the gender make up of the industry remains unchanged. Just one in 10 hairdressers and beauticians is a man.