Walk into an old-school barbershop on a Saturday and you’ll feel it—the hum of clippers, the trash talk, the “who’s up next?” shuffle. That energy came from one simple mechanic: first come, first served. Today, though, the next name on the list might be in an app, not on a chalkboard. So are booking apps killing walk-ins—or just changing how the vibe works?
First, the reality check. Most barbershops now take the majority of their bookings online. One platform that analyzes barbershop data reports about 77% of barbershop appointments are booked online, with only ~23% coming from walk-ins, phone calls, or in-person scheduling. That’s a huge flip from the “just swing by” era and it explains why chairs feel a little more…scheduled.
But the walk-in isn’t dead. A separate survey of barbershop clients found 7 in 10 still walk in at least sometimes, and 35% say they walk in “usually or always.” Translation: plenty of your customers still love spontaneity—if you make room for it.
Why shops leaned hard into apps. Two words: predictability and protection. Consumers increasingly prefer some automation for the boring stuff—appointment reminders and booking—because it means less back-and-forth and fewer mistakes. In a multi-country study commissioned by Square, 63% of salon/barber/spa clients preferred automation for certain admin tasks, including booking (34%). Add in automatic confirmations and saved cards and a full book becomes easier to manage.
Apps also help with the most expensive problem in grooming: no-shows. Digital booking systems make it simple to require cards on file or charge fees for missed appointments. That isn’t just theory—the Wall Street Journal reported a rise in no-show/cancellation fees across salons and personal services as platforms like Square, StyleSeat, and Squire made enforcement easy. Shops cite fewer missed slots (and less lost income) when they adopt clear policies.
And the platforms themselves aren’t niche anymore. Booksy says its marketplace serves 125,000+ beauty businesses and 30–38 million consumers worldwide, while Square Appointments has processed hundreds of millions of bookings since launch and counted ~10 million consumer bookings in a single month in 2023. When this many clients are living inside booking apps, ignoring them means being invisible to a big chunk of demand.
So…about the “vibe.” The fear is real: a calendar full of back-to-back slots can feel transactional. The fix isn’t to ditch apps—it’s to design for both types of clients. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
• Keep a protected walk-in lane. Block the first 1–2 hours each day (or a recurring “Walk-In Window,” like 2–4 p.m.) that can’t be booked online. Your regulars learn the rhythm, your barbers get breathing room, and the room keeps that live energy.
• Publish waitlist options in your app. Many systems now support real-time waitlists; clients can add themselves, see ETAs, and get pinged when it’s their turn. That recreates the “who’s up?” buzz without a pileup by the door.
• Signal culture in your profile. Your marketplace listing (Booksy, Square Go, Squire) should say you welcome walk-ins during posted windows. People browsing on their phones see the invitation, not a “book-or-bounce” ultimatum.
• Use policies to protect time—without killing goodwill. Clear, posted no-show rules with fair grace periods reduce losses and set expectations. Most platforms make this easy, and the mainstreaming of these fees means clients increasingly expect it—especially when it’s explained up front.
• Engineer small moments. If the shop feels overly quiet during thick appointment blocks, bring back the barbershop social DNA: a quick “who’s got next after Tony?” call-out for the waitlist, a complimentary neck shave add-on for early walk-ins, or a standing “Walk-In Wednesday” promo that packs the room.
Bottom line: booking apps didn’t kill the vibe—they exposed the parts of the vibe that relied on chaos. Use the software for what it’s best at (visibility, reminders, fewer no-shows), then design a predictable space for spontaneity to live. The busiest, happiest shops in 2025 will be hybrid: bookable, discoverable, and still unmistakably barbershop.
References
Mangomint. (2024). Barbershop booking statistics and insights. https://www.mangomint.com/blog/barbershop-booking-statistics/
Zenoti. (2023). Customer data insights for barbershop owners: What your clients really want. https://www.zenoti.com/thecheckin/customer-data-insights-for-barbershop-owners-what-your-clients-really-want
Square & Wakefield Research. (2024). The Future of Customers Report. https://squareup.com/us/en/the-bottom-line/reaching-customers/future-of-customers-2024
The Wall Street Journal. (2024). The era of “no-show” fees is here—and it’s going to cost you. https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/appointment-fees-square-no-show-12163052
Booksy. (2024). Booksy bolsters its executive team with key hires from tech giants. https://biz.booksy.com/en-us/blog/booksy-bolsters-its-executive-team-with-key-hires-from-tech-giants
Block, Inc. (2023). Square Go investor announcement. https://investors.block.xyz/investor-news/news-details/2023/Square-Go-Squares-New-Booking-App-Seamlessly-Connects-Consumers-with-Beauty-and-Personal-Care-Businesses/default.aspx
Waitwhile. (n.d.). Virtual appointment books for salons & barbershops. https://waitwhile.com/blog/waitlist-app-for-barbershops/
