A beautician and a barber say they are struggling to keep their shops open as “dead high streets” are being filled with too many similar businesses.

The owner of one salon thinks there is “too much competition” for customers following an increase in nail shops and hairdressers opening after the pandemic.

Although exact numbers are hard to confirm due to at-home and mobile businesses, some towns have more than 30 different barbers and nail salons according to Google Maps.

Sheerness has 23 nail bars and eight barbers, Gravesend has 27 nail shops and more than 20 barbers, Maidstone has 34 nail salons and more than 30 barbers, Ashford is the same, Dover has slightly fewer with almost 20 nail shops and 17 barbers, while Ramsgate has just four nails salons but 19 barbers.

Faiza Sidtiqua has been in the industry for 18 years and opened her business, Beauty Bells, in Sheerness in 2017.

The 42-year-old, from Murston, also ran another salon in Sittingbourne but due to rising costs and a lack of custom she had to close that store and say goodbye to most of her staff.

She said: “Business was really good before the pandemic but now it is really hard.

“There is lots of competition in Sheerness and it is a small town.

“After Covid and lockdown taxes got more expensive, the cost of everything increased but people are earning the same amount of money.

“Because of that they have stopped treating themselves to beauty treatments as it is not essential; they want to save money.”

As a result, the mum-of-two said she is struggling to afford staff.

She continued: “Before Covid, it was totally different but now the High Street is very dead.

“A lot of shops in high streets all over the county closed and began selling online but nail, beauty, and hair treatments can’t be done online so more of those businesses began filling up the empty units.

“They are everywhere, on every street. Just down from me, in Sheerness, there are seven beauty shops which means custom and customers are divided.

“The money I used to make is being divided between seven shops.”

Faiza says she used to make £200 to £300 a day and now, because that income is being split between herself and the other businesses, she barely makes £100 to £200 at the weekend.

She said: “I work full-time and have just one other staff member who works on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

“I can’t hire full-time staff as I can’t afford it. You have to pay for a lot before you even pay the staff. I work here every day but make no profit.

“If you go into any beauty shop at the moment you will most likely see the boss or owner working because they can’t afford to pay for more staff.

“At the moment I am steady – I make enough money to cover my bills and not dip into my own pocket – but I am not making a handsome amount.”

When she ran two businesses, Faiza had five hairdressers, one nail specialist, and two beauty workers on her team.

Now it is just her and one other member of staff. Despite this, Faiza has only increased her prices by £1 merely as a result of her bills increasing.

She added: “I don’t want to increase my prices too much as I know my customers are struggling with the cost of things as well.

“I do barter deals with them and I have also started a loyalty scheme where they can get a free treatment.

“My rent, insurance, electricity, council tax, and all my other bills cost about £4,000 a month and I make just about £4,000 a month. So I am not making much profit.”

It isn’t just the businesses in Swale that are struggling.

One barber in Gravesend has also noticed a lack of footfall.

Ali Falih has worked at Golden Fade Barbers, which opened in 2018, since 2020.

The 42-year-old said: “There is a lack of footfall in the town. Gravesend is empty and it is always like this.

“Covid did cause a problem but the town has nothing but cafes and charity shops now.

“There is nothing left here that brings people in to shop. People would come, do their shopping, and then get a haircut afterwards but that just isn’t happening anymore.”

Ali, who has lived in the area since 1999, thinks parking costs are also affecting business.

He said: “Parking is also an issue. People still need their hair cut but the service cost along with parking prices is making the whole thing cost around £20 for customers – they just don’t want to pay it.

“We make money but not like we used to. I’ve worked as a barber in the town since 2015 and it was very busy but now no one comes here.

“Rent is also expensive and it has made Gravesend dead. The town is dead as no one wants to open a business here.

“The council is struggling to fill empty units which is why you’re getting so many of the same shops.”

However, Gravesend council has said footfall in Gravesend town centre is actually on the rise.

A spokesman said: “Footfall this week is 22.8% up on the same week last year and 7.6% up on last week.

“Over a rolling 12 months, footfall is up 11.5% on last year.”

One 86-year-old Gravesender agrees and doesn’t think there is a problem with footfall or the number of salons and barbers in the town.

David Bennett, from St Ides Way, said: “I don’t think there are too many nail salons and barbers on the high streets.

“It is good in Gravesend. I’ve lived here my whole life and I don’t think it is a bad town, there are things to do here.

“The High Street has improved in most ways over the time I’ve lived here. You can still get whatever you want from the shops here.

“I don’t feel like the pandemic led to more salons and barbers here, there is a good amount.”

Caih Santos, who lives a few minutes from Gravesend town centre, often gets her nails done down the High Street.

The 31-year-old agreed with David, saying: “There are a lot of nail salons here but I don’t think it is a problem.

“It is nice to have choices and different places to go and choose from, especially as some are better than others.

“Even with the cost-of-living crisis people still like to treat themselves and get their nails done.

“I’m originally from London and nail shops and salons in Gravesend are closer together than how you’d find them spaced out in the city.”