MENU
SEARCHA new industry report shows strong growth for the beauty industry along with some significant shifts.
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, a leading salon industry strategic consultant and data source.
According to the study, total U.S. salon services and salon retail sales grew by 3% to $60.3 billion. There were nearly 294,000 U.S. salons and barbershops using and selling salon haircare 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 haircolor, shampoos, conditioners, hairsprays, hairstyling 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.”
Color services remained the all-important anchor service at U.S. salons, attracting clients for other services like cutting, styling and straightening services. Color services were up nearly 4%, due to an aging baby-boomer population plus robust new demands for fashion haircolor, including blonding, highlights, babylights, balayage, ecaille, ombre/sombre, vivids and pastels. Keratin straightening services grew at 3.2%. In addition, cutting and styling services grew at 2.6%, as the frequency of client visits to salons increased slightly.
Major highlights of the study include:
The men’s sector grew at nearly 1.5 times the industry’s growth rate. The study analyzes men’s salon services and product lines in depth.
A major paradigm shift continued from independent salons and mid-tier mall chains toward family-economy chains and suite rentals, plus high-end men’s barbershops.
Sales at two major U.S. distributors grew, with CosmoProf’s sales up 4.2% and sales at L’Oreal’s SalonCentric up 4%.
Leading chair/suite rental organizations like Sola, Salon Plaza, Salon Lofts, Solera, Phenix, Salons by TJ and Salon Concepts grew rapidly.
Great Clips and Sport Clips registered 9.8% and 17% growth, respectively.
Styling product sales increased by mid-single digits as consumers continued home hairstyling, facilitated by new genres of styling tools.
Sales of specialty products, including those for hair loss, shine and thermal protection grew rapidly at 7%, led by sales of oils like argan, macadamia, marula, rose and diamond.
Sales of shampoos and conditioners grew at low single-digits, as women shampooed less often and turned to dry shampoos.
Salon retail product sales grew slightly, primarily due to dry shampoos, haircolor-protection products, new types of hair and scalp masks, cleansing and protein-infusion products.
Visit proconsultants.us or contact Bulsara at cyrus.bulsara@proconsultants.us.
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
