09 Aug 2025 3 min read barbershop marketing

Why Overusing Popular Hashtags Can Hurt Your Barbershop’s Reach

We see many barbershops in Korea use the same set of popular hashtags like #바버샵, #홍대바버샵, #남자머리, and then wonder why their Instagram marketing isn’t working. They think, “Hashtag marketing doesn’t really bring results,” but the real issue is that overusing the same hashtags is actually hurting their reach. Here's why:

Throttling: The overuse of the same hashtags on every post triggers Instagram's algorithm to throttle your content. This means fewer people, including potential customers, will see your posts. Instagram’s algorithm detects repetitive behavior, and when hashtags are overused, your content gets buried.
Hashtag Competitiveness: Instagram also takes into account how competitive the hashtags are. Look at these:
- #남자머리 has 1.39 million mentions.
- #바버샵 has 440,000 mentions.
Some hashtags like these are highly competitive, meaning there’s a lot of content being posted under them. Unless your barbershop is already well-established with a large following or have high engagement on posts, you’ll likely struggle to stand out with these mainstream hashtags. Instead, use hashtags with lower competition to make your posts more discoverable. For example, #홍대남자미용실 only has 4,362 mentions, making it a less competitive hashtag that allows you to target a more specific audience, such as people in your area who are looking for barbershops in Hongdae. This gives your posts a better chance of showing up in search results and attracting the right customers.
- #남자머리 has 1.39 million mentions.
- #바버샵 has 440,000 mentions.
Why You Should Use Less Competitive Hashtags:
Instead of using highly competitive hashtags, use area-based hashtags (like #홍대남자미용실) or hashtags related to specific services. These lower-competition hashtags help you reach people in your specific area or with particular needs and make your posts more visible to those who are actually searching for what you offer.
Indirect Targeting:
Think about where your target male audience might be looking. You can use hashtags that relate to their interests or hashtags that reflect local hotspots or events where they hang out. These hashtags can help you indirectly target the foreign and local male community without competing with thousands of others.
Hashtag Strategy – Quantity & Rotation:
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but it’s not about using all 30 every time. To avoid overloading your posts and triggering throttling, mix up your hashtags regularly. Use a combination of:
- Rotating your hashtags is key to keeping your posts fresh and reaching new potential customers.
- Popular hashtags (sparingly)
- Location-based or niche hashtags
- Interest-based hashtags relevant to your target audience
Free Hashtag Consulting:
If you’re unsure about your current hashtag mix or want to improve your Instagram marketing, Korea Fade offers free consulting. We can suggest 20+ hashtags (in both Korean and English) tailored to your barbershop’s business and location, and help you figure out when and how often to rotate them for maximum exposure. Hashtag marketing is free, and for any cost-conscious barbershop owner, it’s a no-brainer to optimize your hashtag strategy to gain more customers.

Key Takeaways:

Avoid overusing the same highly competitive hashtags like #바버샵 or #남자머리—they’ll only hurt your reach.
Use less competitive hashtags like #홍대남자미용실 (with just 4,362 mentions) to improve visibility.
Use a mix of location-based, niche, and interest-specific hashtags to target the right audience.
Rotate your hashtags to prevent throttling and maximize exposure.
If you want help optimizing your hashtags for your barbershop, I’m offering free consulting to create the perfect mix for your business.

Hashtag marketing is a free tool—if you're not using it strategically, you're leaving a lot of potential clients on the table. Take advantage of this and watch your barbershop grow!