According to a new 2010 professional salon hair color study, hair color product sales grew 3.2 percent postrecession (sales from manufacturers to distributors and chain salons in stores such as Ulta, Regis, J.C. Penney and Fantastic Sams), while service dollars grew 3.3 percent. Hair color, according to the study by Dallas-based Professional Consultants & Resources, was the fastest growing major product category in an economy emerging from recession. In comparison, overall salon hair care sales (which includes sales of backbar and salon retail items) grew 4 percent. Growth here is attributed to increased salon visits and minor price increases in demi/semi permanents and permanents.
Related Articles
The study also showed that hair color services grew by 3.3 percent, as consumers’ frequency of salon visits and demands for hair color services started to rebound.
Some of the major findings detailed in the 2010 Professional Salon Haircolor Study include: hair color is projected to grow to midsingle digits by 2015; permanent color is expected to grow at a slower rate, slower than the category rate, indicating a new trend, and sales of cream and gel color now surpass liquid hair color sales in the U.S.
The study’s findings also confirmed that L’Oréal is the hair color category leader with color lines from Matrix, Redken, L’Oréal Technique and Professionnel; followed by Procter & Gamble’s salon color lines under the Clairol, Wella and Sebastian brands. Goldwell/KPSS ranked third, followed by Schwarzkopf, both with flat to minor gains, according to the study.
Newer category entrants, such as Sally’s ION, Paul Mitchell, Joico and Tigi, continue to steal market share.
According to the study, aggressive new hair color companies, like IT&LY, Alfaparf, Pravana, Aloxxi, will grow the category.
To gather data for the study, Professional Consultants & Resources said it used several methods, including personal interviews with salon industry management, marketing, research and sales staffs at leading major, midsized and smaller manufacturers; data from Sally Beauty/BSG, BAI, beauty stores, major full-service distributors and salons, and desk research. Sales of diverted hair care products and sales at consumer mass retail outlets were not included in the report.
Founded by former salon executive Cyrus Bulsara, Dallas-based Professional Consultants & Resources publishes salon centric reports three times a year.