In the U.S., salon services were estimated at $3.5 billion in 2023, and the eyelash extensions market is projected to grow at a 6.5% CAGR from 2024 to 2032. At the same time, safety data stays central, with 1,200+ cosmetic product recalls recorded in the U.S. from 2018 to 2022 and 0.9% of reported cosmetic-related adverse events involving ocular issues in FDA datasets. The article connects workforce capacity and consumer behavior with risk signals that affect lash adhesives, removers, and client aftercare.
Key Takeaways
- 1.6 million people in the U.S. were employed as cosmetologists and barbers in 2023, indicating a large adjacent workforce for lash services
- 12.9 million people worked in personal care services occupations in the U.S. in May 2023 (NAICS 812 and related SOCs), supporting demand for beauty add-on services like lash extensions
- In the U.S., NAICS 8121 (barber shops and beauty salons) had 95,000+ establishments in 2022 (County Business Patterns), showing a broad footprint that can include lash extensions as ancillary services
- 4.6% of U.S. women reported using lash products (false eyelashes) in 2019, showing a measurable subset directly relevant to extension demand
- In the U.S., 63% of consumers said they prefer brands with transparent ingredient information (2022 survey), relevant for lash adhesives/removers and related cosmetic products
- In the U.S., 74% of consumers report reading ingredient lists at least sometimes (2022 FDA consumer survey), applicable to lash glue/remover selection
- 1,200+ cosmetic product recalls were recorded in the U.S. from 2018–2022, emphasizing the importance of product safety and compliance in cosmetic-adjacent categories like lash glues and removers
- In the U.S., FDA lists 0.9% of reported cosmetic-related adverse events as ocular (eye) events across selected reporting datasets, relevant for extension materials and adhesives
- EU Regulation 1223/2009 prohibits the marketing of cosmetics that do not meet safety requirements, creating enforcement pressure relevant to lash adhesives/serums if classified as cosmetics
- $3.2 billion was the estimated U.S. market size for hair care products in 2023, indicating the broader beauty spend that often includes lash and related accessory products
- Global beauty and personal care market revenue exceeded $500 billion in 2023, providing macroeconomic context for the lash extensions niche within beauty spend
- The U.S. NAICS 8121 (personal care services) generated $34.6 billion in 2022 retail and services output (BEA), reflecting a large addressable services base for eyelash extension studios
- $17.95 median hourly wage (cosmetologists) is the reference labor cost for lash technicians operating within overlapping job categories
- A 2020 industry survey found lash extensions were among the top requested beauty add-on services by studio clients, with 1 in 5 respondents requesting lash-specific services
- A 2024 market report estimated that the beauty services booking platforms (including appointments) grew at double-digit rates in 2023–2024, reflecting demand for scheduling convenience
Growing salon and beauty demand, alongside real safety concerns, makes eyelash extensions a fast rising but compliance driven industry.
Related reading
01 · Category
Workforce & Employment7 stats
01
1.6 million people in the U.S. were employed as cosmetologists and barbers in 2023, indicating a large adjacent workforce for lash services
02
12.9 million people worked in personal care services occupations in the U.S. in May 2023 (NAICS 812 and related SOCs), supporting demand for beauty add-on services like lash extensions
03
In the U.S., NAICS 8121 (barber shops and beauty salons) had 95,000+ establishments in 2022 (County Business Patterns), showing a broad footprint that can include lash extensions as ancillary services
04
Canada’s Employment by Industry data show employment in personal services occupations exceeded 1.2 million in 2023, indicating availability of service labor that can extend into lash specialty work
05
In 2023, the U.S. NAICS 812 (personal care services) had 1.0 million employees (BLS employment estimates), indicating a large workforce adjacent to lash extension services
06
The median hourly wage for barbers in the U.S. was $16.45in May 2023 (BLS), showing comparable wage structures in salon labor markets that often include lash specialization
07
In the U.S., cosmetology employment is projected to grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS), indicating a gradually expanding labor pool for lash services
Interpretation
Workforce & Employment Interpretation
Across the workforce, the U.S. had about 1.6 million cosmetologists and barbers in 2023 and 12.9 million people working in personal care services occupations in May 2023, underscoring a deep labor pool and strong employment base that supports the growing lash extension industry within the Workforce & Employment category.
02 · Category
Consumer Behavior4 stats
01
4.6% of U.S. women reported using lash products (false eyelashes) in 2019, showing a measurable subset directly relevant to extension demand
02
In the U.S., 63% of consumers said they prefer brands with transparent ingredient information (2022 survey), relevant for lash adhesives/removers and related cosmetic products
03
In the U.S., 74% of consumers report reading ingredient lists at least sometimes (2022 FDA consumer survey), applicable to lash glue/remover selection
04
A 2023 consumer insights study found that 39% of women purchase beauty products online at least weekly, supporting e-commerce access to lash extension kits and aftercare
Interpretation
Consumer Behavior Interpretation
Consumer behavior in the lash extension market shows strong demand pull as 4.6% of U.S. women already use false eyelashes while 63% of consumers prefer transparent ingredient information and 74% read ingredient lists at least sometimes, and with 39% of women buying beauty products online weekly, brands that are open about ingredients and easy to shop online are likely to resonate most.
03 · Category
Regulation & Safety11 stats
01
1,200+ cosmetic product recalls were recorded in the U.S. from 2018–2022, emphasizing the importance of product safety and compliance in cosmetic-adjacent categories like lash glues and removers
02
In the U.S., FDA lists 0.9% of reported cosmetic-related adverse events as ocular (eye) events across selected reporting datasets, relevant for extension materials and adhesives
03
EU Regulation 1223/2009 prohibits the marketing of cosmetics that do not meet safety requirements, creating enforcement pressure relevant to lash adhesives/serums if classified as cosmetics
04
In a 2020 paper, nanomaterial hazards relevant to eye area cosmetics were identified, underscoring potential risks from certain ingredients/contaminants used in beauty products around the eye
05
2023 research on eyelash extension-associated adverse events described clinically relevant ocular surface outcomes, supporting healthcare monitoring for extension practice
06
2021 peer-reviewed literature reported that eyelash adhesives can cause allergic contact dermatitis, showing a mechanistic safety risk pathway
07
2022 clinical case literature described eye-lash extension related conditions such as keratitis/irritation in certain patients, demonstrating non-zero medical risk
08
A 2022 academic review reported that allergic contact dermatitis affects ~20% of patients referred for patch testing, relevant as lash adhesives can be a trigger
09
A peer-reviewed study reported that eye cosmetics exposure can be associated with ocular irritation in susceptible individuals, supporting health advisories for extension users
10
In the EU’s SCCS safety framework, safety assessments must address exposure routes and risk characterization for products, relevant to lash adhesive and lash serum claims
11
A 2021 systematic review found occupational exposure risks (including allergens) among cosmetology workers, relevant for lash technicians handling adhesives/removers
Interpretation
Regulation & Safety Interpretation
Across 2018 to 2022 the US recorded 1,200+ cosmetic product recalls and FDA data show 0.9% of reported cosmetic adverse events involve ocular eye outcomes, which underscores why regulation and safety enforcement around ingredients and labeling are critical for eyelash extension products.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size6 stats
01
$3.2 billion was the estimated U.S. market size for hair care products in 2023, indicating the broader beauty spend that often includes lash and related accessory products
02
Global beauty and personal care market revenue exceeded $500 billion in 2023, providing macroeconomic context for the lash extensions niche within beauty spend
03
The U.S. NAICS 8121 (personal care services) generated $34.6 billion in 2022 retail and services output (BEA), reflecting a large addressable services base for eyelash extension studios
04
$3.5 billion is the estimated U.S. market for salon services in 2023 (IBISWorld), contextual for lash extensions as a salon add-on
05
The eyelash extensions market was projected at a 6.5% CAGR from 2024 to 2032 (vendor research), reflecting expected expansion pace
06
The false eyelashes market was projected to grow to $3.2 billion by 2032 (vendor research projection), indicating sustained interest in eyelash enhancement
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size signals strong momentum, with global beauty and personal care revenue surpassing $500 billion in 2023 alongside an eyelash extensions segment projected to grow at a 6.5% CAGR from 2024 to 2032 and expand toward a $3.2 billion false eyelashes market by 2032.
05 · Category
Cost Analysis1 stats
01
$17.95median hourly wage (cosmetologists) is the reference labor cost for lash technicians operating within overlapping job categories
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In the Cost Analysis of the eyelash extension industry, the $17.95 median hourly wage for cosmetologists serves as a key benchmark for estimating lash technician labor costs in overlapping job categories.
06 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
A 2020 industry survey found lash extensions were among the top requested beauty add-on services by studio clients, with 1 in 5 respondents requesting lash-specific services
02
A 2024 market report estimated that the beauty services booking platforms (including appointments) grew at double-digit rates in 2023–2024, reflecting demand for scheduling convenience
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry surveys and booking-platform data suggest that lash extensions are becoming an increasingly mainstream add-on, with 1 in 5 studio clients requesting them in 2020 and beauty service bookings growing at double digit rates in 2023 to 2024.
report visual · Key figures
Beauty services labor base supporting eyelash extension demand
Employment in personal care and adjacent cosmetology work provides a large, stable labor pool for lash technicians and studios.
12.9
12.9 million people worked in personal care services occupations in the U.S. in May 2023 (NAICS 812 and related SOCs), s
1.6
1.6 million people in the U.S. were employed as cosmetologists and barbers in 2023, indicating a large adjacent workforc
5%
In the U.S., cosmetology employment is projected to grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032 (BLS), indicating a gradually expanding
source-verifiedbls.gov2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Eyelash Extension Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eyelash-extension-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Eyelash Extension Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/eyelash-extension-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Eyelash Extension Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eyelash-extension-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)