19 Hair Extension Statistics That Will Amaze You (2024)


Hair Extension Statistics

Hair extensions are one of the most popular accessories for anyone looking to transform their look or update their appearance. For many people, their hair is an essential part of their overall style, and identity. The right hairstyle can create confidence and enhance self-esteem.

Over the years, the tools available for offering incredible hair extensions have evolved drastically. Today’s hair extensions are more attractive and well-made than ever. In many cases, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between someone with extensions, and someone with naturally long hair. This is particularly true when experts apply extensions with precisions.

Hair Extension Statistics

As per estimates, the global market for hair extensions is set to reach a value of $3.43 billion by 2028. The following statistics offer an insight into the market as it stands today.

1. The global hair extension market has declined due to the pandemic

(Fortune Business Insights)

According to the latest report from Fortune Business Insights, the global hair extension market is experiencing an unprecedented decline in growth. Though valued at around $2.35 billion in 2020, the global market is expected to encounter a decline of around 38.43%, driven by changes in the availability of salon appointments during the pandemic, and limited access to materials.

Though the market is expected to start growing again, from approximately $2.38 billion in 2021 to $3.43 billion by 2028, the overall growth is much lower than experts previously predicted.

Fortune Business Insights believe the decline in the extension market is not an insight into lacking interest in hair extensions, but an overall reflection on the availability to access hair and personal care appointments during the pandemic.

 

2. Hair treatment loss is a primary reason for buying hair extensions

(Arizton Advisory and Intelligence)

During extensive market research into the hair extensions and wig market by Arizton Advisory and Intelligence, the company found some interesting facts about the reasons for purchasing hair extensions. More than 2 million patients sought trteatment for hair loss in 2019, demonstrating a 14% increase from 2016.

According to Arizton, this indicates one of the major reasons behind the increase in customers purchasing hair extensions today is the rise of hair loss.

Arizton also found the global extensions market and end use was dominated by lengthening and volumizing products in 2020.

 

3. 34% of women say hair extensions are part of their beauty regime

(Final Step Marketing)

In a survey conducted by Final Step Marketing, the company discovered many women consider hair extensions to be a significant and regular part of their beauty routine. Around 34% of women said they used hair extensions in their beauty regime.

Interestingly, 76% of women said they wear hair extensions because it adds value to their overall appearance. However, 87% of the women who said they wore hair extensions refused to tell other people they were using hair extensions.

 

4. 93% of women surveyed said they would consider wearing hair extensions in the future

(Stylist)

Women can’t get enough of hair extensions!

Did you know that 93% of women have considered wearing hair extensions in the future?

Great Lengths surveyed people to find out more about the hair extension market and their findings were pretty interesting. The survey revealed that 13% of women wear hair extensions now, while a whopping 93% have considered extensions in the future.

This shows that there is a great opportunity for salons and stylists to increase their hair extension business due to the great demand for them.

As a salon owner or stylist, you can use this information to your advantage by promoting hair extensions to your clients and showing them how it can benefit them.

Women consider hair extensions an investment in themselves and know they offer several benefits:

  • Increase self-confidence – Women who suffer from thin or patchy hair feel more confident when wearing extensions.
  • Time saving – Hair extensions allow for a low maintenance hairstyle because they do not require constant styling and care like natural hair does.
  • Versatility – Extensions allow for a variety of hairstyles that would not be possible with natural hair due to length and density limitations.

The top reasons for not wearing hair extensions include:

  • Cost  – Many women do not know that there are affordable options available, such as clip-in hair extensions.
  • Time – Women believe that applying and removing hair extensions is too time-consuming. However, with products like tape-in and clip-in hair extensions, the application takes only a few minutes and can be easily done at home.
  • Damage – Women who have tried one type of extension worry they will damage their natural hair because they were not properly educated on how to use them. This can be avoided by ensuring all products are high quality and that you are using a professional stylist to apply your hair extensions.
  • Unsatisfied with previous results – It is important to try different types of hair extensions until you find what works best for you as there are many different types of application methods on the market.

 

5. When it comes to the hair extension market, women aged 35 to 44 years are its core consumers

The most recent market data shows that women in the age group of 35 to 44 years account for the largest market share, making them the ideal target market for hair extensions.

These women are in their working age and they want to look good. They want to be attractive, but due to biological changes, the hair becomes dry and rough and the color fades away. So, the only option for them is to go for hair extensions.

Apart from this, another important factor that makes hair extensions a popular product among women is fashion. When you watch your favorite movie star walking on the red carpet with long, straight, and shiny hair, you also want to have that kind of hair. This gives a boost to the demand for hair extensions.

 

6. On average, hair extensions cost between $200 and $600

(Fash)

Hair extensions are a great way to transform your look without having to wait for your hair to grow, but how much do they cost?

Hair extensions can range in cost from $200 to $600. On the low end, you can expect to pay around $100, while on the high end, they can go up to $1,000+.

Hair extensions costs will vary based on:

  • Method of application. Sew-in weaves can be done by a professional or at home, making them slightly more affordable than other methods that require professional application only.
  • Hair type. Synthetic hair costs less than human hair; high-quality human hair costs more than a lower-quality human hair.
  • The stylist’s level of experience
  • The length and volume of hair extensions purchased or rented
  • The type of hair extension
  • Additional services — such as cutting, styling, and coloring — will increase the total cost of your appointment.
  • Where you live. Where you live will affect how much your stylist charges for her time, so if you’re in a major city like New York or San Francisco, expect to pay more compared with someone who lives in a smaller city or town.

Professional installation is always recommended when it comes to hair extensions. Hair that is not properly installed or removed can cause damage to your natural hair and even result in hair loss.

 

7. Rising numbers of beauty salons is helping boost the hair extension market

(Global Newswire)

A recent Global Newswire report exploring the changes in the hair extension market between the years of 2021 and 2028 (predicted) notes a rising number of beauty salons in Canada and the US may contribute to growth, particularly in North America.

Geographically, North America accounted for around $0.83 billion in 2020 hair extension revenue, even in spite of the pandemic. The North American market continued to grow as the number of beauty salons in America and Canada continued to evolve.

According to the Small Business Development Center Organization, in 2020, there were around 77,000 beauty shops and 4,500 barbershops contributing to hair extension growth.

 

8. Increasing prevalence of hair diseases has led to rising demand for hair extensions

(Fortune Business Insights)

People access hair extensions for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons for purchasing hair extensions is to hide hair damage issues or help to preserve the look of a hair style following hair loss, alopecia, and casts.

Rising prevalence of hair-related diseases could help to re-accelerate the demand for hair extensions in the post-pandemic environment, according to Fortune Business Insights. The analysts’ recent insight into the hair extension market indicates around 6.8 million people in the US are currently suffering from alopecia areata.

The same research also indicates a surging aging population may assist with market growth too. Elderly people can also use hair extensions to address hair loss issues. In 2019, people over the age of 65 accounted for around 9% of the total population.

 

9. Synthetic hair extensions account for 43.92% of the market

(Global Newswire)

The 2021-2028 Global Newswire overview of the hair extensions market found the synthetic hair extensions segment held almost half of the market share in 2020. Taking information from the Fortune Business Insights report for 2020, Global Newswire revealed the hair extension market is often split into three segments: human, animal, and synthetic hair.

The synthetic hair segment generated around 43.92% of the sales in the hair extension market in 2020. According to Global Newswire, the reason for the growth in this particular segment could be the unique benefits synthetic hair has to offer, including resistance to humid and rainy weather.

 

10. North America is the largest market for hair extensions

(Arizton Advisory and Intelligence)

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence information for 2019 and 2020 indicates North America is currently the largest market for wigs and extensions. The North American landscape accounted for around 41% of the market share.

North America was the largest contributor to the global market owing to increasing consumer expenditure on personal appearance and the growing trend of using natural products among women. In addition, the adoption of the latest technologies in the U.S., such as weft extensions, cold fusion extensions, hot fusion extensions further boosts this regional market growth.

According to the study, the APAC region follows quickly behind North America, with around a 32% share of the market. In the APAC region, the hair extensions market is more popular than the wigs market. Hair extensions accounted for a 58% share, over wigs at 54%.

When it comes to pinpointing where companies access the materials they need for wigs and hair extensions, China exports around 70% of the global supply as of 2020. This supply was impacted severely during the pandemic which may indicate some of the issues with the hair extension market’s growth in the last couple of years.

 

11. The global wig, hair extension, and hairpiece market will reach $13.28 billion in value by 2026

(Statista)

Though the hair extension, hair piece, and wig market have all encountered some issues during the last couple of years as a result of the pandemic, the overall growth of the wider industry appears positive. According to worldwide statistics collected by Statista in 2020, the marketplace is set to reach a value of around $13.28 billion.

According to the Statista Research department, the industry for wigs, hair extensions, and hair pieces will continue to experience steady growth in 2022 and beyond. However, it’s uncertain at this time which aspect of the hair augmentation landscape will achieve the greatest growth.

 

12. The leading 10 manufacturers of extensions and wigs accounted for around 27% of market value in 2020.

(Arizton Advisory and Intelligence)

An in-depth analysis of the wig and hair extension market conducted by Arizton Advisory and Intelligence in 2020 revealed some interesting insights. The report found the hair extensions market could achieve a growth of up to 13% by 2026.

More importantly, according to this report, the 10 biggest manufacturers of extensions and wigs accounted for around 27% of the global wigs and hair extensions market. Eight of the top ten manufacturers were also found to have a share of less than 3% each, which indicates a highly fragmented market.

Arizton also found the global extensions market and end use was dominated by lengthening and volumizing products in 2020.

 

13. Interest in ethical hair extensions is growing exponentially

(Google Trends)

Interest in hair extensions is growing, as evidenced by the fact that Google searches for “ethical hair extensions” are on the rise, reaching a breakout level.

Customers in almost every market are becoming increasingly concerned about the ethics of where their products come from. This applies to hair extensions and other hair-related products.

According to Google Trends, the number of people searching for “ethical hair” and related products on the web has increased significantly in the last year. Additionally, the trend information indicates the number of people searching for ethically sourced hair is at its highest point in five years.

 

14. The average wage for someone working with hair extensions as of 2020 is $27,630 per year

(BLS.GOV)

Professionals working with hair extensions typically fall into the category of “barbers, hair stylists and cosmetologists”. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals working in this environment generally earn an average of around $27,630 per year from their career.

Aside from an average income of around $13,28, individuals with the skills to apply and maintain hair extensions can usually benefit from a significant number of job opportunities. The BLS found that no extensive education is required to move into this field, and the job outlook is growing faster than normal.

Between the years of 2020 to 2030, the number of jobs available for people with hair extension skills will grow at a rate of 19%.

 

15. Hair can pass through 100 pairs of hands before reaching its final destination

(The Hustle)

In an exploration of the hair extension market and supply chain, “The Hustle”, an online publication, spoke to a number of people in the trade. The company revealed, in recent years, celebrities using hair extensions have led to an increase in the number of people demanding similar hairstyles.

More interestingly, the Hustle also found some hair can sometimes pass through around 100 pairs of hands before reaching its final destination.

This is because the process of harvesting or collecting hair requires an extensive selection of steps, which involves the cleaning, and management of hair.

 

16. Hong Kong and India are the biggest exporters of human hair

(Statista)

While China is one of the biggest exporters of synthetic hair for extensions and wigs, the biggest global exporters of human hair as of 2019 were Hong Kong and India. According to researchers from Statista, Hong Kong exported $30.2 million in human hair in 2019.

In the same year, India was responsible for around $19 million in human hair for extensions and wigs. The third largest country for human hair exportation, the United Kingdom, fell far behind at a rate of only $2.4 million in human hair.

According to one report, a hill town of Tirumala is home to Venkatesware temple, which employs around 1,320 barbers who shave an average of 40 heads per day for the human hair trade.

 

17. America is the largest importer of human hair

(US Trade Numbers)

The latest numbers from the US Trade Numbers website reveal the United States is one of the largest importers of human hair for extensions and wigs in the world. Compared to 2021, the amount of human hair exported into the US has increased by 66.21% in 2022.

The total US imports of hair extensions and other products made from human hair totaled an average of $199.51 million in December 2021, which was a massive increase from December the year before.

 

18. The number of people looking for hair extensions online has decreased

(Google Trends)

Worldwide, Google Trends reports show the number of people searching for “hair extensions” has been dropping for the last five years. Though the number of searches saw a brief spike in 2020, concerns about lack of access to hair salons may have caused a significant dip in 2021 and 2022.

Fortunately, the number of people searching for hair extensions in the United States has remained more or less consistent for the last five years. This indicates a continued range of opportunities for people selling and trading in hair extensions in the US.

 

19. The global hair care market will reach $112.97 billion in 2028

(Fortune Business Insights)

Though the pandemic has been problematic for all aspects of the hair industry, the overall market continues to grow. Fortune Business Insights found the market is still set to reach a massive $112.97 billion by 2028, indicating a CAGR of around 5.6% between 2021 and 2028.

While these numbers offer an insight into where the hair care market stands today, Fortune Business Insights notes there may be additional growth ahead. There’s a good chance people may increase their purchase of hair and beauty products when the impact of the pandemic subsides.

 

Conclusion

Hair extensions are a fast-growing industry, and it’s easy to see why. As we’ve seen in our hair extension statistics, there isn’t one type of person who struggles with their hair. Whether you’re looking for more volume, length, color, or just the ability to change your look on a whim, hair extensions can be a great solution.

Keep in mind that while they can be an excellent addition to your life, they’re not always going to fit in with your needs or lifestyle. We hope that these hair extension statistics have helped you better understand how they work and how they’re created!

Well, that’s all for today folks! Thanks for reading up on hair extensions with us. We can’t wait to see you next time.

As always, if you have any questions about the stats or trends we’ve covered today, feel free to reach out!

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Sources

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