GITNUXREPORT 2025

Cosmetology Industry Statistics

Global beauty market worth $493B; industry growth and eco-friendly trends thrive.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The most popular service offered in salons is hair coloring, accounting for approximately 35% of all salon services

Statistic 2

62% of consumers prefer natural ingredients when choosing beauty products

Statistic 3

The average salon client visits approximately 8 times per year

Statistic 4

The top three most common beauty treatments are haircuts, coloring, and manicures

Statistic 5

85% of salon owners report increasing interest in eco-friendly products

Statistic 6

55% of consumers read product reviews before purchasing cosmetics

Statistic 7

The majority of salon clients are aged between 25-44 years old, constituting roughly 65% of the customer base

Statistic 8

The use of vegan or cruelty-free products in the beauty industry increased by over 15% from 2019 to 2022

Statistic 9

The percentage of Americans using salon services has remained stable at about 75% annually over the last decade

Statistic 10

40% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable beauty products

Statistic 11

Social media influence drives approximately 60% of new product purchases in the beauty industry

Statistic 12

The average monthly expenditure on hair care products in the U.S. is around $25 per household

Statistic 13

The rise of at-home beauty kits and DIY products has seen a growth rate of 15% annually over the past three years

Statistic 14

In 2022, over 12 million Americans visited a cosmetology specialist for skincare treatments

Statistic 15

The top reasons consumers seek cosmetic procedures are anti-aging, skin rejuvenation, and acne treatment

Statistic 16

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 23% decline in salon visits globally in 2020, but recovery is projected in 2023

Statistic 17

The global beauty and personal care market was valued at approximately $493 billion in 2021

Statistic 18

The U.S. cosmetology industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.41% from 2022 to 2028

Statistic 19

The demand for natural and organic beauty products increased by 8% annually from 2015 to 2020

Statistic 20

The beauty industry spends over $2 billion annually on advertising and promotional activities

Statistic 21

The global hair care market was valued at approximately $87 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% through 2027

Statistic 22

The U.S. nail salon industry generates over $8 billion in annual revenue

Statistic 23

Haircare accounts for about 42% of total salon revenue globally

Statistic 24

The colored hair segment is projected to account for over 50% of the global hair color market by 2025

Statistic 25

The number of new beauty salons opened in the U.S. increased by 4% in 2022

Statistic 26

Organic skincare sales grew by over 10% in 2022, surpassing $5 billion in the U.S.

Statistic 27

The men's grooming market is expected to reach $81 billion globally by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%

Statistic 28

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in beauty industry marketing, with 25% of brands adopting AI tools by 2022

Statistic 29

The global skincare market is expected to reach $189 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.4%

Statistic 30

The top 5 countries with the largest beauty markets are the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea, and France

Statistic 31

Salon retail product sales account for about 20-30% of total salon revenue

Statistic 32

The number of cosmetology schools in the U.S. has increased by 12% over the past five years, indicating growth in industry training programs

Statistic 33

The global lash extension market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% between 2021 and 2028, reaching $1.3 billion by 2028

Statistic 34

The anti-aging segment of the beauty market is projected to reach $88 billion globally by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.8%

Statistic 35

Approximately 1.3 million people are employed as licensed cosmetologists in the United States

Statistic 36

The average hourly wage for a cosmetologist in the U.S. was $14.55 in 2021

Statistic 37

58% of beauty salons in the US operate as independent businesses

Statistic 38

Nearly 70% of cosmetologists in the U.S. are women

Statistic 39

The average age of a licensed cosmetologist is 42 years old

Statistic 40

The average technician license renewal cost in the U.S. is around $50, varying by state

Statistic 41

The average revenue per salon employee is approximately $50,000 annually

Statistic 42

The average professional cosmetology annual income in the U.S. is approximately $40,000

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Key Highlights

  • The global beauty and personal care market was valued at approximately $493 billion in 2021
  • The U.S. cosmetology industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.41% from 2022 to 2028
  • Approximately 1.3 million people are employed as licensed cosmetologists in the United States
  • The average hourly wage for a cosmetologist in the U.S. was $14.55 in 2021
  • 58% of beauty salons in the US operate as independent businesses
  • The demand for natural and organic beauty products increased by 8% annually from 2015 to 2020
  • The beauty industry spends over $2 billion annually on advertising and promotional activities
  • The most popular service offered in salons is hair coloring, accounting for approximately 35% of all salon services
  • The global hair care market was valued at approximately $87 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% through 2027
  • The U.S. nail salon industry generates over $8 billion in annual revenue
  • Nearly 70% of cosmetologists in the U.S. are women
  • The average age of a licensed cosmetologist is 42 years old
  • Haircare accounts for about 42% of total salon revenue globally

The booming cosmetology industry is transforming the way we look and feel, driven by a $493 billion global market, rapid growth in natural and organic products, and innovative trends shaping a beauty landscape poised for continued expansion.

Consumer Preferences and Behavior

  • The most popular service offered in salons is hair coloring, accounting for approximately 35% of all salon services
  • 62% of consumers prefer natural ingredients when choosing beauty products
  • The average salon client visits approximately 8 times per year
  • The top three most common beauty treatments are haircuts, coloring, and manicures
  • 85% of salon owners report increasing interest in eco-friendly products
  • 55% of consumers read product reviews before purchasing cosmetics
  • The majority of salon clients are aged between 25-44 years old, constituting roughly 65% of the customer base
  • The use of vegan or cruelty-free products in the beauty industry increased by over 15% from 2019 to 2022
  • The percentage of Americans using salon services has remained stable at about 75% annually over the last decade
  • 40% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable beauty products
  • Social media influence drives approximately 60% of new product purchases in the beauty industry
  • The average monthly expenditure on hair care products in the U.S. is around $25 per household
  • The rise of at-home beauty kits and DIY products has seen a growth rate of 15% annually over the past three years
  • In 2022, over 12 million Americans visited a cosmetology specialist for skincare treatments
  • The top reasons consumers seek cosmetic procedures are anti-aging, skin rejuvenation, and acne treatment

Consumer Preferences and Behavior Interpretation

In an industry where hair coloring dominates and eco-consciousness, social media buzz, and consumer review influence are reshaping choices, one might say beauty is more than skin deep—it's about looking good, feeling good, and doing good, all while keeping your wallet and planet in check.

Industry Impact and External Factors

  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 23% decline in salon visits globally in 2020, but recovery is projected in 2023

Industry Impact and External Factors Interpretation

While the pandemic temporarily snipped the salon industry's growth, the 2023 forecast suggests that consumers are eager to restore their beauty routines, proving that hair today, gone tomorrow, is not the future.

Market Size and Growth Trends

  • The global beauty and personal care market was valued at approximately $493 billion in 2021
  • The U.S. cosmetology industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.41% from 2022 to 2028
  • The demand for natural and organic beauty products increased by 8% annually from 2015 to 2020
  • The beauty industry spends over $2 billion annually on advertising and promotional activities
  • The global hair care market was valued at approximately $87 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% through 2027
  • The U.S. nail salon industry generates over $8 billion in annual revenue
  • Haircare accounts for about 42% of total salon revenue globally
  • The colored hair segment is projected to account for over 50% of the global hair color market by 2025
  • The number of new beauty salons opened in the U.S. increased by 4% in 2022
  • Organic skincare sales grew by over 10% in 2022, surpassing $5 billion in the U.S.
  • The men's grooming market is expected to reach $81 billion globally by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%
  • Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in beauty industry marketing, with 25% of brands adopting AI tools by 2022
  • The global skincare market is expected to reach $189 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.4%
  • The top 5 countries with the largest beauty markets are the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea, and France
  • Salon retail product sales account for about 20-30% of total salon revenue
  • The number of cosmetology schools in the U.S. has increased by 12% over the past five years, indicating growth in industry training programs
  • The global lash extension market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% between 2021 and 2028, reaching $1.3 billion by 2028
  • The anti-aging segment of the beauty market is projected to reach $88 billion globally by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.8%

Market Size and Growth Trends Interpretation

With a $493 billion valuation and a steadyStream of innovations, the beauty industry is nearly as obsessed with reinvention as it is with beauty itself—proving that in this industry, growth and glamour go hand in hand, fueled by savvy marketing, rising demand for organic and men's products, and a splash of AI flair.

Workforce and Employment Statistics

  • Approximately 1.3 million people are employed as licensed cosmetologists in the United States
  • The average hourly wage for a cosmetologist in the U.S. was $14.55 in 2021
  • 58% of beauty salons in the US operate as independent businesses
  • Nearly 70% of cosmetologists in the U.S. are women
  • The average age of a licensed cosmetologist is 42 years old
  • The average technician license renewal cost in the U.S. is around $50, varying by state
  • The average revenue per salon employee is approximately $50,000 annually
  • The average professional cosmetology annual income in the U.S. is approximately $40,000

Workforce and Employment Statistics Interpretation

With 1.3 million licensed cosmetologists, mostly women earning about $40,000 annually and operating largely as independent entrepreneurs, the beauty industry highlights both its significant economic footprint and the ongoing challenge of fair wages and sustainable careers in a sector where the average hourly rate lags behind average expectations.