GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Salon Industry Statistics

Diversity enhances salon success; majority support inclusive hiring and marketing efforts.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

40% of clients prefer to visit salons with diverse staff

Statistic 2

58% of minority clients feel less comfortable in predominantly white-owned salons

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55% of clients express a desire for more inclusive beauty products

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52% of salon clients of color have switched salons due to lack of inclusivity

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29% of clients feel underrepresented in mainstream beauty advertising

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41% of salon clients have concerns about cultural insensitivity

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37% of minority clients avoid certain salons due to perceived discrimination

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35% of African American clients feel misunderstood by mainstream salons

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54% of hairstylists have been asked for culturally specific hair solutions, indicating a growth in demand

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54% of underrepresented clients prefer salons with staff who share their cultural background

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54% of survey respondents agree that inclusive beauty standards should be more prominent

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55% of clients of diverse backgrounds say they feel more comfortable in salons that celebrate their culture

Statistic 13

58% of salon professionals believe that better representation in media impacts client perceptions

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65% of clients support beauty products that are inclusive of all skin tones

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47% of beauty consumers want to see more representation of different cultures in advertising

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70% of students in cosmetology programs are women, but only 10% are men

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60% of salon owners agree that incorporating cultural diversity into services attracts a broader clientele

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48% of underrepresented groups report bias when booking appointments

Statistic 19

59% of salon professionals support increased advocacy for diversity policies

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46% of respondents think that more diverse hiring practices could benefit the industry

Statistic 21

41% of minority salon owners report difficulty accessing capital for business expansion

Statistic 22

49% of surveyed clients say they are more loyal to salons that embrace diversity

Statistic 23

46% of clients have experienced cultural insensitivity during their salon visits

Statistic 24

60% of industry leaders see diversity as key to innovation

Statistic 25

44% of minorities report feeling stereotyped in salon treatments

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44% of salon owners believe that diversity training should be mandatory

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68% of beauty school students want more education on cultural competence

Statistic 28

63% of beauty educators believe that diversity education should be part of the curriculum

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55% of salon professionals feel unprepared to serve diverse populations

Statistic 30

47% of salon education programs now include modules on cultural competency

Statistic 31

33% of salon staff have received training specifically on serving clients of different races

Statistic 32

72% of respondents say that cultural competence enhances client loyalty

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Only 22% of salon marketing materials feature diverse imagery

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42% of beauty brands have started marketing campaigns targeting diverse audiences

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27% of salon websites feature diversity statements

Statistic 36

49% of consumers feel that diversity-driven branding increases trust in the brand

Statistic 37

65% of salon professionals believe that diversity and inclusion are important to business success

Statistic 38

Only 30% of salon owners report having formal diversity policies

Statistic 39

25% of salon employees identify as part of an underrepresented minority group

Statistic 40

45% of salon professionals believe that increasing diversity improves creativity and innovation

Statistic 41

38% of salon staff have experienced bias or discrimination within their workplace

Statistic 42

33% of salon professionals have at least one team member from a different cultural background

Statistic 43

30% of salon owners have implemented diversity initiatives in the past year

Statistic 44

50% of salon employees feel their workplace is not inclusive

Statistic 45

78% of beauty industry executives say diversity is a priority for their company

Statistic 46

39% of salon trainees report feeling uncomfortable discussing race or culture with clients

Statistic 47

60% of salons have at least one service dedicated to cultural hair styles

Statistic 48

70% of beauty companies have diversity and inclusion goals, but only 25% measure progress effectively

Statistic 49

29% of salon employees report experiencing microaggressions based on race or ethnicity

Statistic 50

65% of salon owners believe that diversifying staff improves reputation

Statistic 51

61% of salon staff believe that diversity training increases team cohesion

Statistic 52

31% of salon owners have faced legal issues related to discrimination

Statistic 53

62% of salon owners are actively hiring from diverse backgrounds

Statistic 54

53% of salon owners across demographics prioritize diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices

Statistic 55

79% of inner-city salons report actively recruiting diverse talent

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Key Highlights

65% of salon professionals believe that diversity and inclusion are important to business success
40% of clients prefer to visit salons with diverse staff
Only 30% of salon owners report having formal diversity policies
70% of students in cosmetology programs are women, but only 10% are men
58% of minority clients feel less comfortable in predominantly white-owned salons
25% of salon employees identify as part of an underrepresented minority group
45% of salon professionals believe that increasing diversity improves creativity and innovation
55% of clients express a desire for more inclusive beauty products
60% of salon owners agree that incorporating cultural diversity into services attracts a broader clientele
38% of salon staff have experienced bias or discrimination within their workplace
52% of salon clients of color have switched salons due to lack of inclusivity
44% of salon owners believe that diversity training should be mandatory
68% of beauty school students want more education on cultural competence

In a rapidly evolving beauty industry, where 65% of salon professionals recognize that diversity and inclusion are vital to success, yet only 30% have formal policies in place, the stakes—and opportunities—have never been higher for creating truly inclusive spaces that reflect our diverse clientele.

Consumer Preferences and Representation

40% of clients prefer to visit salons with diverse staff
58% of minority clients feel less comfortable in predominantly white-owned salons
55% of clients express a desire for more inclusive beauty products
52% of salon clients of color have switched salons due to lack of inclusivity
29% of clients feel underrepresented in mainstream beauty advertising
41% of salon clients have concerns about cultural insensitivity
37% of minority clients avoid certain salons due to perceived discrimination
35% of African American clients feel misunderstood by mainstream salons
54% of hairstylists have been asked for culturally specific hair solutions, indicating a growth in demand
54% of underrepresented clients prefer salons with staff who share their cultural background
54% of survey respondents agree that inclusive beauty standards should be more prominent
55% of clients of diverse backgrounds say they feel more comfortable in salons that celebrate their culture
58% of salon professionals believe that better representation in media impacts client perceptions
65% of clients support beauty products that are inclusive of all skin tones
47% of beauty consumers want to see more representation of different cultures in advertising

Consumer Preferences and Representation Interpretation

The statistics reveal that embracing diversity in the salon industry isn't just ethical—it's essential for building trust, expanding clientele, and reflecting the rich tapestry of beauty that consumers increasingly demand and deserve.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Industry

70% of students in cosmetology programs are women, but only 10% are men
60% of salon owners agree that incorporating cultural diversity into services attracts a broader clientele
48% of underrepresented groups report bias when booking appointments
59% of salon professionals support increased advocacy for diversity policies
46% of respondents think that more diverse hiring practices could benefit the industry
41% of minority salon owners report difficulty accessing capital for business expansion
49% of surveyed clients say they are more loyal to salons that embrace diversity
46% of clients have experienced cultural insensitivity during their salon visits
60% of industry leaders see diversity as key to innovation
44% of minorities report feeling stereotyped in salon treatments

Diversity and Inclusion in the Industry Interpretation

While the salon industry is rooted in beauty and self-expression, it still faces a stark reality: despite recognizing diversity as a catalyst for innovation and loyalty, systemic biases and uneven access continue to hinder true inclusivity, revealing that the real beauty lies in equity.

Education and Training on Diversity

44% of salon owners believe that diversity training should be mandatory
68% of beauty school students want more education on cultural competence
63% of beauty educators believe that diversity education should be part of the curriculum
55% of salon professionals feel unprepared to serve diverse populations
47% of salon education programs now include modules on cultural competency
33% of salon staff have received training specifically on serving clients of different races

Education and Training on Diversity Interpretation

Despite growing awareness and demand for cultural competence in the beauty industry, a significant gap remains, with only a third of salon staff trained to serve diverse clients, highlighting the urgent need for mandatory diversity education to turn intent into impactful practice.

Marketing and Brand Representation

72% of respondents say that cultural competence enhances client loyalty
Only 22% of salon marketing materials feature diverse imagery
42% of beauty brands have started marketing campaigns targeting diverse audiences
27% of salon websites feature diversity statements
49% of consumers feel that diversity-driven branding increases trust in the brand

Marketing and Brand Representation Interpretation

Despite over two-thirds recognizing that cultural competence boosts client loyalty and nearly half customer trust, the salon industry still lags in showcasing diversity, with only a quarter featuring it on websites and less than a quarter of marketing materials reflecting the vibrant spectrum of clients they serve.

Workplace Diversity and Employee Experience

65% of salon professionals believe that diversity and inclusion are important to business success
Only 30% of salon owners report having formal diversity policies
25% of salon employees identify as part of an underrepresented minority group
45% of salon professionals believe that increasing diversity improves creativity and innovation
38% of salon staff have experienced bias or discrimination within their workplace
33% of salon professionals have at least one team member from a different cultural background
30% of salon owners have implemented diversity initiatives in the past year
50% of salon employees feel their workplace is not inclusive
78% of beauty industry executives say diversity is a priority for their company
39% of salon trainees report feeling uncomfortable discussing race or culture with clients
60% of salons have at least one service dedicated to cultural hair styles
70% of beauty companies have diversity and inclusion goals, but only 25% measure progress effectively
29% of salon employees report experiencing microaggressions based on race or ethnicity
65% of salon owners believe that diversifying staff improves reputation
61% of salon staff believe that diversity training increases team cohesion
31% of salon owners have faced legal issues related to discrimination
62% of salon owners are actively hiring from diverse backgrounds
53% of salon owners across demographics prioritize diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices
79% of inner-city salons report actively recruiting diverse talent

Workplace Diversity and Employee Experience Interpretation

While 65% of salon professionals recognize diversity as pivotal to success, the stark reality remains that only 30% of salon owners have formal policies—highlighting that in the beauty industry, embracing diversity is often more aspirational than institutional, and unless the chair of policy turns, true inclusivity will continue to be a beauty industry's best hairstyle—only, it’s long overdue.