As styles have evolved to embrace the curly look, the demand for curl care products has been on the rise in salons. In fact, according to Kline PRO, curl care was the only segment in the United States to experience double-digit growth during the Q1–Q3 2022 reporting period.
Historically, styling products have been the focus. However, as consumers transition to more natural, curly styles, their attention has shifted toward the products that provide care for their coiled tresses. As a result, the 19% jump in salon retail revenue comes from the care categories, namely shampoos and treatments.
Growth in the segment is largely attributed to recent product launches that span from long-established brands to new entries, which are captured through Kline PRO’s extensive point-of-sale tracking.
Growing Brands
Matrix A Curl Can Dream was introduced midway through 2021, and sales have continued to grow. The line consists of a shampoo, a co-wash, a gel, and three treatments and is formulated to preserve curl patterns in curl types 3 and 4. The best-selling item is the shampoo followed by A Curl Can Dream Rich Shampoo.
A Curl Can Dream Rich Shampoo by Matrix
Another key player introduced in 2021 with increased sales in 2022 is Curl Manifesto from Kérastase for all curly and coily hair types. It too offers a shampoo and a conditioner, along with three treatment and two styling options. Its conditioner, Fondant Hydratation Essentielle, is the top performer. 
Fondant Hydratation Essentielle by Kérastase
While not new, Wella’s Eimi Nutricurls line of products picked up steam in the Q1–Q3 2022 period, doubling in sales over the same period YAG. It also offers a full array of products across categories, with Curlixer Balm leading its care items.
Curlixer Balm by Wella
New in 2022
One of the bigger launches in the segment during 2022 was observed in Q3 from L’Oréal Professionnel. The Curl Expression range consists of 10 items with the goal to “supercharge curls and coils with professional hydration.” Within the care categories, early sales results show Curls Reviver, a leave-in treatment spray, as the leader.
Curls Reviver by L’Oréal Professionnel
Aluram, a brand with the tagline “Clean Beauty, Clear Conscience,” debuted the curl line consisting of four products enriched with prickly pear extract: a shampoo, a conditioner, a cream, and a foam. All four items are selling at an even pace indicating that consumers are using the products as a system.
Curl Line by Aluram
On the Horizon
The New Products Tracker of our Professional Hair Care Intelligence Center picked up a considerable number of new curl care items that are hitting the market. Launches during Q4 2022 and into January of 2023 include Curl Wow from Federici Brands, the makers of Color Wow. It features a “Naked Technology” with a proprietary Profaxil-18 Complex to optimize moisture and minimize breakage. Leaf + Flower, a brand that claims to be a CBD-charged innovative hair care brand, introduced the Instant Curl Line consisting of a shampoo, conditioner, and a curl-defining cream. Additionally, line extensions are in place from Rene Furterer (Sublime Curl Defining Nutri Cream), and Keratin Complex added KCTEXTURE, a leave-in conditioner to its Curl Enhancing Keratin System.
These new launches lean more toward the care and treatment of curls, which may further impact the influence that the hair styling category has on the curl care segment.
Kline PRO: Salon Retail Products and Database helps you keep up with the latest dynamics in the professional hair care industry. Based on actual salon transactions from a panel of thousands of salons, it yields category-, brand-, and product-level sales and service data on a quarterly basis.
To track the latest news, product launches, and key trends, please refer to our always-on platform Professional Hair Care Intelligence Center. Powered by digital technology, it combines our unrivaled industry expertise in the professional hair care sector with highly curated, externally sourced content to provide you with essential knowledge in one place. To see it in action, please request a free trial today.
