When it comes to beauty routines, one question divides Americans: How often do you get your hair cut? The data reveal that public sentiment leans strongly toward the occasional or ‘rare’ haircut with 52% of respondents waiting at least 13 weeks between getting back in the salon chair. Meanwhile, one quarter of respondents go frequently (every 7-12 weeks) and 23% go every 6 weeks or less.
The cadence of a haircut reveals patterns and behaviors that extend far beyond the salon.
Gendered expectations: While men are nine percentage points more likely to get a haircut ‘very’ frequently, women are 15 percentage points more likely to get a haircut ‘occasionally’ or ‘rarely.’ It’s also worth noting that more than half of women (59%) are going to the salon only on occasion–potentially due to choosing styles that can grow out for a longer period of time.
Generational divide: Gen Z leads the way with the occasional haircut, as 65% take at least 13 weeks between visits to the salon. On the other end of the spectrum, just 42% of Baby Boomers say the same. Given that lower-income adults are also opting for longer stretches between trims, it seems that saving money could be just one element of spacing out a haircut.
Cost conscious: Those who get their hair cut ‘very’ frequently are nearly twice as likely as those who opt for the occasional cut to use coupons ‘every chance’ (28% vs 15%). So while they may be spending on more frequent cuts, this demographic is clearly looking to save in other ways.
Decisions, decisions: While some of the hesitation to get a haircut may be around the cost, another element might be around decision-making. The data show that 64% of those who get the occasional haircut say they do not make decisions quickly and confidently. That’s three times the percentage of ‘very’ frequent salon visitors who say the same.
How often you get a haircut isn’t just a superficial decision–it sheds light on deeper beliefs and priorities. And given the strong pull towards waiting longer between each visit to the salon, maybe the real story is that, in these times, less is more.
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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.