4 Salon Trends to Watch for in 2014

The most successful beauty industry professionals are those who stay ahead of the latest beauty trends. They understand the importance of continuing their education and know how to take advantage of new opportunities in order to increase their clientele and their income.

If you’re interested in going to cosmetology school or esthetician school, you’ll want to keep close eye on the latest consumer trends that are sweeping salons and spas across the country. These could be great areas to focus on with your future career!

Are there any other beauty trends that you think should be added to this list? Let us know by commenting below!

Blow-Dry Bars – The blow-dry bar trend is so big that national news organizations have been covering the story! The Wall Street Journal wrote: “Blow-dry bars are reminiscent of an old-fashioned beauty parlor, where ladies would go to have their hair washed and set each week. Several chains have popped up in the last year, primarily along the west coast and in the southern half of the country.” Full service salon appointments can be lengthy and expensive. It’s no surprise, then, that working women are choosing these blow-dry bars that are popping up across the country. Women can get the same polished look for a fraction of the time and cost.

Men’s Services – Men’s services and product sales continue to be the fastest growing segment of the beauty industry. Mindbranch predicts that male beauty product sales will reach $28 billion this year! Men aren’t frequenting barbershops as much as they used to. It’s becoming more common for them to visit high-end salons and request high-end services, like gray coverage hair coloring and trendy undercuts. If you don’t know how to cater to male clientele, then you’re seriously missing out! For advice on how to grow your male clientele, read these 4 Tips for Cutting & Coloring Men’s Hair.

Natural Texture – Relaxing and straightening treatments have been around for decades. However, these treatments are expensive and damaging to the hair. The latest beauty trends move away from these damaging hair treatments. A report from Mintel found that relaxer sales had dropped 26% from 2008 to 2011. More and more African American women and curly-haired clients are embracing their natural hair texture. As a stylist, it’s a great idea to learn how to style ethnic hair and a variety of different curl patterns, so you’re never caught off guard.

Natural Beauty Products – Similar to the natural texture trend, organic beauty products are becoming more popular. The natural products market grew more than 9% to $137 billion in 2012, according to a study by New Hope Natural Media. The study credited the increase in sales to a health-conscious lifestyle movement that’s sweeping the country. The state of California continues to be on the cutting edge of natural beauty products. California is the first state in the country to pass legislation that regulates the use of chemicals in beauty products. Under the new Safer Products Consumer Legislation, a committee will publish a list of “chemicals of concern.” Manufacturers will then be required to remove or replace these chemicals, or be forced to halt production.

California is a great place to work in the beauty industry! The state ranks among the top 5 states for employment for most beauty industry careers. You can see all of these career statistics in The State of Beauty Jobs in California Infographic.

Salon Success Academy is a beauty school with five convenient locations throughout the Inland Empire of California. The school offers in-depth, hands-on training in cosmetology and esthetics, as well as extensive preparation for the State Board exam, and financial aid assistance to students who qualify. Fill out the form on this page or call 877-987-4247 to speak with an Admissions Representative today!