Among the Worlds Grooming Giants, What Helped East West Barbershop Break into the Global Top 10?

In less than a decade, the Vietnamese company has grown to more than 130 locations, gradually expanded overseas, and entered a competitive arena long dominated by brands from the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China.

What has enabled a Vietnamese barbershop brand to stand alongside grooming chains that have been established for decades?

The Common Formula Behind the World's Grooming Empires

The global men's grooming industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with barbershop and salon chains operating hundreds, even thousands of locations worldwide.

Brands such as Great Clips, Supercuts, Sport Clips Haircuts, TONI&GUY, QB House, and Jawed Habib Hair & Beauty have all built their success on a similar foundation: standardized services, franchise expansion, and continuous investment in professional training.

Great Clips leads the market with more than 4,400 salons across North America, supported by its quick-service haircut model and online check-in technology.

Supercuts has expanded to around 1,800 locations through its convenient neighborhood salon concept, while Sport Clips has carved out a distinctive identity by creating a sports-themed grooming experience designed exclusively for men.

In the premium segment, TONI&GUY has built its reputation on hair fashion and a global education network. Japan is home to QB House and 3QCUT, both known for their efficient 10-minute haircut model. India's Jawed Habib Hair & Beauty operates more than 900 salons, while China's Yongqi Beauty & Hair has grown to over 1,000 stores offering a broad range of beauty services.

Among a list dominated by brands from the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and India, the inclusion of  East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) reflects the growing presence of Vietnam's barber industry on the global stage.

From Global Giants to the Rise of a Vietnamese Brand

Founded in 2018, East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has grown to more than 130 locations across Vietnam while expanding into Thailand, China, Europe, and the United States. In less than ten years, it has become one of Asia's largest barbershop chains.

What sets East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) apart is the way it has redefined the modern men's haircut experience.

The company pioneered what it calls the “Experience Barbershop” concept, where customers can relax in contemporary spaces featuring green interiors, children's play areas, car-themed barber chairs, billiard tables, chess boards, pianos, and reading corners.

The experience is complemented by a wide range of personal care services, including massage, hair restoration treatments, haircuts, perms, coloring, nail care, shoe cleaning, and phone sanitization.

Rather than offering only a haircut, the brand aims to transform every visit into a leisure and lifestyle experience.

Alongside its investment in customer experience, the company has focused on building a standardized operating system.

Its network of more than 1.000 professionally trained barbers helps ensure consistent service quality across every location, creating a solid foundation for franchise expansion both in Vietnam and overseas.

Standardized Operations and Social Responsibility: The Key to Taking a Vietnamese Brand Global

Looking at the world's leading grooming brands, one pattern becomes clear. Although each has chosen a different business model, they all share the same fundamentals: standardized operations, professional workforce development, and a consistent customer experience.

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has chosen the same path. The company has developed its own barber training system to ensure that customers receive the same level of service regardless of which location they visit.

Beyond business growth, the brand has also integrated social impact into its long-term strategy. It provides free vocational training for young people, operates mobile barbershops offering complimentary haircuts, and allocates a portion of its profits to community welfare programs.

The combination of a scalable business model, professional training, and social responsibility has become a defining characteristic of East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop).

Its inclusion among the world's Top 10 largest hair brands is more than a milestone for one company. It signals that Vietnam's barber industry has begun to establish a meaningful presence in the global marketplace.

As consumers place greater emphasis on experience, service quality, and consistency, these strengths are expected to provide a solid foundation for a Vietnamese brand to further expand its international footprint in the years ahead.