History of Q Hair & Beauty - Hairdressing salon in Chichester, West Sussex

History of Q Hair & Beauty

Your local, independent hair and beauty salon.

In 1972 the shops and services of Chichester were very different than they are today and not many independent businesses have survived under the same ownership during that time. An exception is Q Hair & Beauty, which has provided over 40 years of helping women and men throughout the area to make the most of their appearance.

Anthony, owner of Q Hair & Beauty began hairdressing aged 14 and won his first competition aged 17. He spent three years in Newcastle and then two years in Edinburgh, in those years winning both national and international competitions. He was part of a successful world championship team in 1968 and 1970. From 1967 to 1972 he travelled through Europe and Japan as a platform artist for L’oreal.

“High standards of training and creating a six star guest experience are fundamental parts of the Q philosophy and what makes us who we are today.” – Anthony Barnes-Smith

Anthony then moved south on the suggestion of friends and in 1972 he jointly opened his own salon, Just Hair, in South Street (which was the same salon Paul Mitchell once worked in). He quickly built a loyal following of clients who recognised his skill and style, based on a predominantly homegrown team.

As the business developed, he moved into the present premises, a listed building at 37 North Street in 1977. A former school, which was built in 1820, it retains its historic atmosphere despite a fire in the 1980s and all interior work carried out since then has been sympathetically designed to incorporate the original architectural and structural features.

Anthony believes that part of his success is that the business has kept moving with the times. However, he is most pleased with the fact that 26 people who have trained or worked for him have gone on to have their own salons.

High standards of training and acquiring customer service skills are an important part of his team philosophy.