
ASCP, ISPA and PBA Receive 2026 Power of Associations Award for Esthetics Licensure Compact
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
That rate of growth is twice the growth of the salon industry’s overall growth during 2018.

Manufacturer sales for the professional salon industry’s appliances category grew 3.0% in 2018, according to the new 2018 ProfessionalSalon & Pro Beauty Industry—Appliances & Shears Study from Professional Consultants & Resources, the U.S. salon and professional beauty industry’s leading strategic consulting, market intelligence and data research company. That rate of growth is twice the growth of the salon industry’s overall growth during 2018. Sales to the mega salon-store and salon-store market segments posted a growth rate of 12.5%. This comprehensive, 100-page study reports on sales of professional hair dryers, curling/flat/styling irons, trimmers, clippers and shavers to professional salons and stylists, Sally Beauty and gray-market outlets. It also includes a complete section on shears, covering major trends and market influences, categories and segments. A 5-year historical review and 5-year growth projections are included, along with market needs of both stylists and consumers. The study audits leading salon industry beauty store stocking by brand and by manufacturer, while tapping the expert resources of veteran executives in the professional salon appliances marketplace.
Plus, new brands such as Dyson Pro are tracked.
“Salon appliances continued their hot streak as a leading growth category in the professional beauty industry for the tenth consecutive year,” says Cyrus Bulsara, president of Professional Consultants & Resources. “As a result, major professional softgoods salon companies have entered hardgoods, now identified as a high-margin, high-profit category. A major struggle for industry domination and leadership at the top continued during 2018, with Conair leading pro market sales by dollar volume for the fifth straight year. Significant erosion occurred with some major brands, as new entries increased their market shares, and captive store brands diminished in share.”
The Top 10 professional salon appliance companies by dollar volume are:
Conair (BaByliss, Aquage, Italia Brava, BeLissPro, Jilbere, Rusk, One N’ Only/Argan, Mira Curl, Volare, Forfex)
Helen of Troy (Hot Tools, Belson, NextGen, Gold N’ Hot, Revlon, Sassoon, Brazilian Heat, Laila Ali, TIGI)
Andis
Farouk Systems (CHI, BioSilk, Esquire, Dura)
Wahl (Sterling)
John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS Pro Tools, Neuro, Express Tools)
Oster (a division of Newell-Rubbermaid/Jarden)
Sally Beauty Brands (ION, Power IQ, GVP, Tool Science)
GHD (Coty Professional)
Remington (Spectrum Brands)
Note: Above based on styling appliances, plus clippers/trimmers/shavers. Styling Top 10 include Turbo Power PIBBS, T3 Micro, In Styler.
Some key findings and growth drivers influencing appliance sales during 2018:
Professional channel curling and flat iron sales grew at 3.9%; blow dryers grew 2.5% and clippers/trimmers at 3.3%. Style trends continued to drive appliance demand for curling and specialty irons. The sustained strength of flat iron sales was aided by innovations, which include digital heat control technologies and 24K gold iron surfaces. Growth of chair and suite rental salons contributed to the importance of full-service distributor stores, such as SalonCentric, CosmoProf/Armstrong McCall, etc. Suites are the fastest-growing segment utilizing upscale hardgoods. Continuing gray market diversion accounted for nearly 26.0% of all appliance sales, with “exclusive” salon lines now available at QVC, HSN, Sephora, Target, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and other mass and department store retailers. Helen of Troy reported decreases in its overall personal care business, but strength in its pro branded appliances. New premium and deluxe product features resulted in higher prices and offset sales of lower-priced store brands. Farouk (CHI/BioSilk brand) ranked fourth in overall pro distribution and third in styling appliances, maintained share. The study reviews major clipper/trimmer market leaders: Andis, Wahl, Oster and Conair (BaByliss/ConAir/Forfex). The 2018 study features an in-depth category report on the entire professional shears market.
Trade advertising data for appliances and shears are reported in depth, along with an analysis of promotions. A special section reveals market shares and significant changes at top companies and lists more than 130 North American brands.

This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.

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