Professional salon haircolor product sales (at manufacturers’ shipment dollars) grew by 3.8% in 2014 to $831 million.

Haircolor services are the prime driver of the entire salon industry, according to the New 2014 Professional Salon Haircolor Study from Professional Consultants & Resources, (ProConsultants.us), the leading strategic consulting company and data supplier to the professional beauty salon industry. This study is the only in-depth report published annually on the robust growth of haircolor in the U.S. salon market.

The in-depth research, data, analysis and recommendations are must-haves for all salon haircolor manufacturers, marketers, distributors, salon chains and others entering this market. The study contains major sections on men’s haircolor services and products, haircolor advertising by advertiser and dollar shipment market shares for all leading haircolor corporations and by division.

“Salons across the United States report haircolor services are growing and essential to the survival and growth of their businesses and the salon industry. Independent artistic salons, chains and chair/suite rentals are all heavily reliant on haircolor services,” says Cyrus Bulsara, president of Professional Consultants & Resources. “Salon haircolor services bring in clients for retouches, fashion-color, blonding, vibrants/vivids, cuts, styling, blowouts, keratin treatments, etc. and to purchase color care products.”

The 2014 Professional Salon Haircolor Study finds that haircolor is the largest, most rapidly growing major salon product category, and is projected to continue strong growth over the next 5 years. The growth will come from increased salon visits by older clients seeking gray coverage and young adults, millennials and teens and tweens seeking fashion color. Innovative new haircolor brands combined with new color techniques drive growth for permanents, demis/semi, vibrants/vivids, pastels, lighteners and color refreshers. Salon haircolor service dollars grew by 3.9% to $16.72 billion, as salon visits continue to increase. New and old color service techniques like balayage, ombré/sombre, bronde, highlights, babylights, tonal/lowlights, pastels, vivids and vibrants create a fresh new demand.

Other major study findings include:

• Permanents, demis, lighteners and temporaries all grew more than in 2013, as U.S. disposable incomes improved.

• Major distribution realignments now allow top salon haircolor brands to focus on salon education, shows and growth.

• Chair/Suite rentals continue to gain haircolor market share from mid-tier salon chains, as clients follow their favorite stylists.

• Manufacturers’ sales of permanent hair color grew 3.2%, due to increased use in gray blending and fashion color.

• Demis and Semi Permanents grew at a slightly lower rate of 3.4%, once more used for gray blending and safe fashion color.

• Men’s haircolor services again robustly increased, due to gray coverage/blending at upscale men’s barbershops and salons.

• Crèmes/gels continue to outsell liquid haircolor, as usage continues to shift. All major liquids now have crème or gel lines.

• L'Oréal is the overall leader in haircolor sales with its Matrix, Redken, L'Oréal Technique and L’Oréal Professionnel brands.

• P&G follows closely with its rapidly growing exclusive brands like Koleston, Illumina, Color Perfect, Magma and Innosense.

• KAO’s Goldwell, Sally Beauty brands and Schwarzkopf follow, again with strong growth in Sally’s own-label brands.

• Other top market leaders are John Paul Mitchell Systems, Farouk Systems, Aveda, Framesi, TIGI and Joico.

• European Union (EU) haircolor companies like Keune, Davines, Framesi, AlfaParf, and U.S. companies Pravana and Aloxxi, all show continued growth, as some salons/rentals prefer to go with a smaller, attentive manufacturer not prone to diversion. 

The Salon Haircolor Study for 2014 also has in-depth reviews and:

• Analyzes each color segment: permanents (liquid/crèmes), demi/semi permanents, bleaches, toners and refreshers in great detail. It covers major new brands like Wella’s Illumina, Beth Minardi Signature Color, Goldwell’s Elumen, Joico Lumishine, and restaged classics like Schwarzkopf’s Igora and L’Oréal’s INOA2 in detail. Wonder product Olaplex is also reviewed in detail.

• Identifies new product uses for creating translucent color, vivids, vibrants, pastels, luminous color and intricate demi/semi-permanent effects and describes the evolution of balayage, ombré/sombre, highlights, babylights and ecaille.

• Details formulation and toxicity issues surrounding MEA (monoethanolamine), PPD (paraphenylenediamine) and many other chemicals deemed unsafe per EU regulations. Manufacturers can anticipate chemical formula changes ahead of bans.

• Shares the newest color and style trends, as well as future hair color product needs, as requested by top U.S. master colorists.

• Provides readers with invaluable new R&D product concepts for the future product pipelines to grow the category.

• Reviews and analyzes haircolor advertising by all manufacturers and number of pages in trade magazines.

Electronic copies are available for immediate transmission and hardcopies by overnight delivery. For purchasing information, pricing or questions, contact Bulsara at 

cyrus.bulsara@proconsultants.us or visit www.proconsultants.com