Hairdressers and Barbers in Sunderland

Finding a hairdresser you trust usually comes down to word of mouth, but it helps to know what is out there first. Sunderland has a good spread of independent salons and barbers, from established city centre names to small neighbourhood shops where the same stylist has looked after families for years. This guide covers seven places we have confirmed are trading and taking bookings in 2026, across the city centre, the south side, Southwick and Washington. Most now take appointments online through booking apps such as Fresha or Treatwell, which makes it easy to check availability before you commit. Prices and opening days vary, so always check the current menu when you book.

Jonathan Pickup Hair

On the first floor of 10 Blandford Street, Jonathan Pickup Hair has been part of the city centre since March 2007. Its founder spent nearly a decade as franchise director of the Toni&Guy salon in Newcastle before opening his own place, and the salon has been a finalist in the British Hairdressing Awards on five occasions.

The menu covers cuts and restyles for women and men, colour, highlights and conditioning treatments, with the team using Schwarzkopf professional products. It stays open later on Thursdays and starts early on Saturdays, which helps if you work in town during the week. The salon is upstairs, so mention it when booking if stairs are difficult.

Best for: Clients who want an experienced city centre salon for cuts and colour.

Sumner and Johnson Hair

South of Mowbray Park, Sumner and Johnson Hair occupies 83 Tunstall Road, a shop that has been a hairdresser for more than 30 years. Stylists Sara Sumner and Paul Johnson took over the former Alexandra Hairdressing premises and have kept it as a neighbourhood salon for Ashbrooke, Tunstall and the streets around.

It opens Tuesday to Saturday, with a later finish on Thursdays, and bookings are made through Fresha. The appeal here is a small, familiar team on a residential road rather than a busy city centre floor.

Best for: Ashbrooke and Tunstall residents who prefer a familiar local salon.

Sunderland Hair and Beauty Salon

For a wider choice of treatments in one place, Sunderland Hair and Beauty Salon on Windsor Terrace in Grangetown combines a hair salon, beauty rooms and a skin clinic. It is one of the most reviewed salons in the city on Fresha, with more than 5,000 client reviews.

Hair services run from cuts and blow dries to a Japanese head spa treatment, while the beauty side covers nails, facials, waxing and aesthetics. It opens six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, with a later finish on Thursdays. If you want to book a haircut and a beauty treatment on the same trip, this is the most straightforward option on the south side of the city.

Best for: Anyone who wants hair and beauty appointments under one roof.

Hair by Jacky

In Farringdon, Hair by Jacky is a small salon at 33 Allendale Road run by a stylist with around 15 years' experience. It works by appointment rather than as a walk-in shop, which keeps things calm and personal.

Colour is a particular strength, including colour correction for hair that needs rescuing and blonding work, and the salon also styles hair for proms and other occasions. It opens on selected days, including Saturdays, so check availability on Fresha before planning around a date.

Best for: Clients in the south-west of the city looking for colour work one to one.

Thirty-Eight

Over in Washington, Thirty-Eight at 42 Valley Forge was previously known as Salon38. It is a busy hair and beauty salon with more than 800 reviews on its booking page, and a menu broad enough to cover most of a household.

Hair services include cuts, colour, extensions and children's haircuts, and the beauty team offers nails, brows, spray tanning and massage. For people living in the Washington villages it saves the trip into Sunderland or Newcastle, and it is a practical choice when several members of a family need booking in.

Best for: Washington families who want one salon for hair and beauty.

Mr Tillys Studio

For barbering in the city centre, Mr Tillys Studio is at 2 Bridge Street, on the Mackies Corner block. It is a few minutes' walk from Sunderland station and Park Lane Interchange, which makes it handy for students and people working in town.

The studio offers haircuts and beard trims, with student pricing on the menu. It opens from Tuesday to Saturday, with later finishes on Thursdays and Fridays and an early Saturday start, and bookings are made through Fresha, where it has a strong record of recent reviews.

Best for: Students and city centre workers who want a booked barber appointment.

No 180 Southwick Barbershop

North of the river, No 180 Southwick Barbershop on Southwick Road is a neighbourhood barber that describes itself as family-friendly and LGBTQ+ inclusive. It serves Southwick, Carley Hill and Castletown without the need to head into town.

The menu covers skin fades and classic cuts, beard trims, children's haircuts and cuts for older customers. It opens on Saturdays, which helps families bring children in outside school hours, and appointments can be booked through Fresha.

Best for: Families north of the Wear who want a local barber for all ages.

Booking tips

Most of the salons and barbers here take bookings online, and several open late on one evening a week, usually Thursday. Many independent salons close on Sundays and Mondays, so plan ahead if you need a weekend appointment. If you are booking a colour service for the first time, salons often ask for a patch test at least 48 hours beforehand, so allow time for that. For more on what the city has to offer, see our guide to things to do in Sunderland or browse the directory.

Know a salon or barber we have missed? Get in touch.