Hair Care Services NAICS 812111, 812112

Jun 22, 2026 - Regis Highlights Hair Care Traffic Challenges

• Regis's Q3 2026 results suggest the US hair care industry remains stable but is relying more on pricing increases and operational improvements than strong customer traffic growth. The company reported 2.6% same-store sales growth, including 5% growth at Supercuts, driven largely by pricing actions rather than increased visits. At the same time, Regis continued to close underperforming salons, though closure rates have slowed significantly compared with prior years, indicating improving stability across the salon sector. Management remains focused on driving traffic through brand investments, loyalty programs, digital tools, AI-enabled operations, and enhanced stylist training, reflecting broader industry efforts to attract customers in a competitive environment. The results also highlight ongoing consolidation, as weaker locations exit the market while operators invest in technology, customer retention, and operational efficiency to improve profitability. Overall, demand for hair care services remains resilient, but sustained growth will likely depend on increasing salon visits rather than further price increases.
• The cost of haircuts increased 3.6% in May 2026 compared to a year ago and rose 0.5% compared to the previous month, according to the Consumer Price Index from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Hair care services employment fell in April 2026 compared to a year ago while labor costs rose, per the BLS. Employment at barber shops and beauty salons fell 1.4% in April 2026 compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, average wages for nonsupervisory employees in the hair, nail, and skin care services industry grew 5.1% in April 2026 year over year, reaching $26.85 per hour.

• Proposed Department of Education regulations could put up to 92% of US cosmetology programs at risk of closure, creating a major workforce threat for the US hair care services industry, according to a recent American Salon report. Industry groups warn the new earnings-based accountability rule could eliminate federal financial aid access for roughly 1,400 cosmetology programs, disrupting the pipeline of licensed stylists and salon professionals. Because 70% to 90% of cosmetology students rely on federal aid, widespread school closures could intensify existing labor shortages, raise hiring costs for salons, and reduce industry growth potential. Advocates also argue the rule fails to accurately reflect beauty industry career paths, where professionals often take years to build clientele and income. For hair care businesses, the proposal could limit access to new talent while increasing operational and staffing pressures across salons, spas, and independent beauty service providers.
• According to the Professional Beauty Association’s May 2026 Pro Beauty Pulse, the professional hair care industry continued to post modest revenue gains in April, but underlying trends suggest growth remains uneven. Average salon revenue increased 2.0% from a year earlier, marking the third consecutive month of year-over-year growth above 2% and the strongest April performance in at least two years. However, revenue gains were largely driven by higher average ticket prices, as service volume remained flat and retail product sales continued to struggle. These results indicate that consumers are still willing to spend on core salon services but are limiting discretionary purchases and not increasing visit frequency. For salon operators, the data points to a need to focus on client retention, service upgrades, and operational efficiency to sustain growth. Additionally, declining confidence among beauty school leaders raises concerns about future talent availability in an industry already challenged by stylist recruitment and retention.