India's Premium Salon Segment Growing 10-15% Annually

India's premium salon segment is growing at 10-15% annually, industry leaders told ETRetail.com, a pace that outstrips the broader beauty and wellness market and signals where salon investment is heading next.

The figure came directly from sector executives discussing the state of the business. That growth rate matters for working salon owners because it defines the economics of the upgrade cycle: chairs, staff training and product backbars devoted to premium services are appreciating assets, not costs.

What does 10-15% growth mean for salons?

Double-digit expansion in the premium tier tells a salon two things. First, demand for high-ticket services — advanced colour, keratin and skin treatments — is rising faster than the market average, which supports higher menu pricing in that category. Second, competition for premium-trained stylists and premium product lines will intensify as chains and independents chase the same growth.

For a mid-size salon weighing a refurbishment or a premium product partnership, the number is the strongest available signal that the segment can absorb additional capacity.

Who reported the figure?

Industry leaders — senior executives speaking to ETRetail.com — supplied the growth estimate. They framed the premium segment as the standout performer within Indian beauty and wellness, the portion of the market where clients trade up rather than trade down.

That framing has practical weight. When the premium tier compounds at 10-15% a year, salons positioned in the mass segment face a steady squeeze: their most valuable clients are the ones most tempted upward.

How should owners respond?

The executives' number points to three operational levers:

• Service mix: shift chair time toward premium treatments, where pricing power is strongest.
• Staff development: train existing stylists in premium techniques rather than competing solely on hiring, since demand for credentialed premium staff will tighten.
• Product backbar: secure premium product lines early; distribution in a fast-growing tier tends to concentrate among salons that commit first.

None of this requires a full repositioning. Even a partial premium play — one treatment room, one advanced-service specialist — captures a share of the 10-15% expansion.

What to watch next

The leaders' estimate covers the current annual run rate. The next data point worth tracking is whether the segment sustains that band through the coming fiscal year — or whether chains' expansion into tier-two and tier-three cities pushes it higher.