Gents parlours thrive on growing clientele

Parlours providing a wide range of beautification and hair care services to their exclusively women clientele are a familiar sight, but gents salons – despite being a niche segment – have too exploded in popularity throughout Dhaka over the years.

Gents parlours offer haircuts, hairstyles, hair colours, facial, skincare, shaving, trimming, manicure and pedicure exclusively to men, said industry insiders, adding that the sector is growing rapidly not only in the capital, but in other districts, cities and smaller towns as well.

Speaking to The Business Post, Chairman of Dhaka Salon Owners Association Aminul Ahmed said, “Both the number of gents salons and customers have been steadily increasing since 2012. This has turned into a trend.

“Now-a-days, many prefer to wait in air conditioned rooms for our exclusive services, instead of visiting a regular and cheaper barber shop. Dhaka alone has nearly 5,000 men’s parlours, but only around 1,000 such establishments are registered with us.”

The association is trying to get these saloons on board to ensure compliance, he added.

Are such services expensive?

Gents salons provide specialised services tailored to every client, and the majority of these establishments have a reasonable price structure for attracting customers from all strata of the society.

Some of the most popular gents salons in the capital are Relax Salon & Gents Parlour, Reliance Gents Parlour, Riyon Gents Parlour and Salon, Perfect Cut Gents Parlour, Western Boy Gents Parlour, Adonis Mens Grooming Salon, Skylark Gents Parlour, Hair and Care Gents Parlour.

Such establishments charge around Tk 350 for a regular haircut, Tk 500 for stylised haircut, Tk 200 for shave with gel, Tk 300 for stylised shave, Tk 200 for shampoo, Tk 250 for hair setting, Tk 200 for 10-minute hair massage, Tk 300 for shaving head, Tk 5,000 for hair straightening, Tk 8,000 for hair rebonding, Tk 7,000 for hair curl, Tk 3,500 for spa, Tk 2,200 for one hour Thai massage, Tk 600 for regular manicure and Tk 800 for regular pedicure.

These prices may vary from parlour to parlour depending on features and services.

Sharing his experience as a customer, final year student Sheikh Zishan Ahmed, said, “I visit a nearby gents’ parlour every week, and sometimes twice a week. I love the environment inside that salon, which is not available in regular barber shops.

“Though barber shops are cheaper, the salon I visit provides services well worth the extra money.”

Another customer, private sector employee Khairul Kabir Pappu said, “The staff at the salon I frequent is well trained and professional. I feel comfortable there.”

Breaking out of pandemic rut

Marketing Manager of Adonis Mens Salon – one of the most popular men’s parlours in Dhaka, Riyadul Islam Akash said, “We maintain proper hygiene rules in our day-to-day operations by sterilising the saloon tools and equipment.

“We went through a difficult situation during the pandemic restrictions, but we are now overcoming the crisis. We are now getting more than forty appointments every day, and our clientele are usually aged between twenty and sixty years.

“Younger customers visit us for haircuts and shaving, whereas senior citizens prefer manicures, pedicures or spa services.”

Echoing the same, a number of other top gent’s parlours stated that the staff and stylists at their establishments are experienced and well trained.

Halima Khatun Nila, manager of Grooming Lounge Gents Parlour from Uttara, said, “People are accepting the fact that men need care for their skin and body too. It brings me joy to see that the sector is expanding.

“I am optimistic that such businesses will be able to make an effective contribution to the country’s economy in the coming days.”