Salon Services, Product Sales Rise 3.2%

Professional hair care segment is seeing gains—especially in color. Overall revenues for all salon industry services (hair, skin, nails) plus salon retail grew 3.2%, according to the new 2015 Professional Salon Industry Haircare Study from Professional Consultants & Resources, the leading salon industry strategic consultants and data source. Total US salon services and salon retail sales grew by 3% to $60.27 billion. There were nearly 294,000 US salons and barbershops using and selling salon hair care products. Salon count declined by 2.5%, as large rental suites opened.
 
“The state of the professional salon industry is strong, with an upward growth curve and changing dynamically,” says Cyrus Bulsara, president of Professional Consultants & Resources. “Major economic barriers affecting the salon industry are fading, as innovative new products, salon suites and new management at top manufacturers bring new vitality. Manufacturer sales of hair color, shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, hair styling products and specialty products all increased. We also saw a major paradigm shift toward large family economy chains and rentals. Most rentals still do not retail effectively. Therefore, product sales at mega-salon stores like Ulta increased.  Diversion continued to fulfill consumer demand for professional products.”
 
Hair coloring remained the all-important anchor service at US salons, attracting clients for other services like cuts, styles, straightening and others. Hair coloring services were up nearly 4%, due to an aging baby boomer population plus robust new demands for fashion hair color, including blonding, highlights, baby-lights, balayage, ecaille, ombré/sombré, vibrants, vivids and pastels. Keratin straightening services grew at around 3.2%. Cutting and styling services grew at 2.6%, as the frequency of client visits to salons increased slightly.