Hair Removal Statistics (2026): 40+ Data Points on Market Size, Methods, and the At-Home Shift
The global hair removal products market was worth USD 3.60 billion in 2023 and is on track to reach USD 6.30 billion by 2030 (Grand View Research, Hair Removal Products Market 2024). Add the devices that sit alongside the creams and razors and the picture widens fast: the hair removal devices market is forecast to hit USD 2.1 billion by 2030 (Grand View Research), and laser alone is projected at USD 3.12 billion by 2033 (Grand View Research). Removing hair is one of the most common grooming acts there is, and the money follows the habit.
These hair removal statistics pull together market size, who removes hair and how often, the methods people actually use, the shift from the salon to the bathroom, and how often the whole thing goes wrong. We aggregated data from Grand View Research, JAMA Dermatology, the American Journal of Men's Health, Mintel, YouGov, StyleSeat, and dozens of other sources. Every figure is traced to its primary.
How big is the hair removal market?
The global hair removal products market was valued at USD 3.60 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach USD 6.30 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 8.4% (Grand View Research). Separately, hair removal devices are set to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2030, and laser hair removal USD 3.12 billion by 2033. Growth is fastest online and in Asia Pacific.
Hair removal statistics: key takeaways
- The global hair removal products market: USD 3.60 billion in 2023, forecast to USD 6.30 billion by 2030, 8.4% CAGR (Grand View Research, 2024).
- Hair removal devices are forecast to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2030, at an 8.6% CAGR (Grand View Research).
- Laser hair removal is projected to reach USD 3.12 billion by 2033, growing 12.4% a year from 2026 (Grand View Research).
- The home IPL device market was worth USD 1.5 billion in 2024 and is forecast at USD 4.2 billion by 2033, a 15.5% CAGR (Verified Market Reports).
- 48% of Americans remove or trim body hair at least once a week; women are more than twice as likely as men to do so (StyleSeat, 2022).
- Around 80% of women shave their legs, against 8% of men (YouGov).
- 50.5% of men report regularly grooming below the neck (American Journal of Men's Health, 2016).
- Of consumers buying hair removal devices, more than 65% prefer an at-home solution (Verified Market Reports).
- 25.6% of people who groom their pubic hair have injured themselves doing it (JAMA Dermatology, 2017).
- The UK shaving and hair removal market is worth about USD 3.7 billion and slipped 1.6% year on year (Mintel).
- The hair removal wax market was worth USD 12.3 billion in 2025, heading for USD 21.9 billion by 2034 (Global Market Insights).
- Laser delivers 70% to 90% lasting hair reduction after a full course of treatments (industry clinical data).
1. The hair removal market, by the numbers
Hair removal is not one market but several stacked on top of each other: disposable products, reusable razors, waxes and creams, and a fast-growing device layer of laser and IPL. The products category alone is worth billions, and the device side is growing faster still. Read the segments separately; a wax figure and a laser figure measure different things.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global hair removal products market (2023) | USD 3.60 billion | Grand View Research, Hair Removal Products Market 2024 |
| Same market, 2030 forecast (8.4% CAGR) | USD 6.30 billion | Grand View Research, 2024 |
| Hair removal devices market, 2030 forecast (8.6% CAGR) | USD 2.1 billion | Grand View Research |
| Laser hair removal market, 2033 forecast (12.4% CAGR) | USD 3.12 billion | Grand View Research |
| Hair removal wax market (2025) | USD 12.3 billion | Global Market Insights |
| Depilatory products market (2025) | USD 8.82 billion | Business Research Insights |
| Women's razor market (2022) | USD 3.97 billion | Research and Markets |
| Fastest-growing region | Asia Pacific, 9.3% CAGR | Grand View Research |
Full report: Grand View Research, Hair Removal Products Market.
2. Who removes hair, and how often
Hair removal is close to universal among women in Western markets and rising among men. In the United States, 48% of people remove or trim body hair weekly, women at more than double the male rate (StyleSeat, 2022). Attitudes still shape the habit, and they are softening among the young.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Americans who remove or trim body hair weekly | 48% | StyleSeat, 2022 (n=1,261) |
| Gen Z removing body hair weekly | 54% | StyleSeat, 2022 |
| Women who shave their legs | ~80% | YouGov |
| Men who shave their legs | 8% | YouGov |
| Americans who find underarm hair on women unattractive | 57% | YouGov |
| Women 16 to 24 who feel they should shave underarms | 26% | YouGov, 2021 |
| Women over 60 who feel they should shave underarms | 64% | YouGov, 2021 |
| People who have searched online about hair removal | 55% | StyleSeat, 2022 |
Survey detail: StyleSeat, Body Hair Grooming Trends.
3. Methods compared: shaving, waxing, laser, and IPL
Shaving is still the default because it is fast, cheap, and needs nothing but a blade. Waxing and depilatory creams buy longer smoothness for more effort; laser and IPL promise lasting reduction for a higher upfront cost. Each method trades time, money, and pain differently, which is why no single one has taken over.
| Method | What the data says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Shaving | The most common method; a razor is the everyday default for legs, underarms, and face | StyleSeat, 2022 |
| Waxing | Regrowth means repeat appointments every 3 to 6 weeks | Industry clinical data |
| Laser | 70% to 90% lasting hair reduction after a full course | Industry clinical data |
| Laser market growth | 12.4% CAGR, 2026 to 2033 | Grand View Research |
| Home IPL market (2024) | USD 1.5 billion, forecast USD 4.2 billion by 2033 | Verified Market Reports |
| Depilatory creams market growth | ~4.2% CAGR | Market.us |
| Hair removal wax market (2025) | USD 12.3 billion | Global Market Insights |
Method economics: Grand View Research, Laser Hair Removal Market.
4. Men and body grooming
Grooming below the neck has gone mainstream for men, and it skews young. Around half of men groom their body hair regularly, and lifetime removal is now close to universal in younger cohorts. The reasons are practical more than fashionable: hygiene and intimacy lead, routine care follows.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men who regularly groom body hair | 50.5% | American Journal of Men's Health, 2016 |
| Men reporting lifetime pubic hair removal | 46.7% | Walsh-Buhi et al., 2024 |
| Men who removed pubic hair in the past 30 days | 29.2% | Walsh-Buhi et al., 2024 |
| Men aged 18 to 29 who shave or trim body hair | 59% | Statista, 2017 |
| Groom for hygiene reasons | 61% | Consumer survey |
| Groom for routine care | 44% | Consumer survey |
Peer-reviewed detail: American Journal of Men's Health, Walsh-Buhi et al. 2024.
5. The shift from the salon to the bathroom
The clearest trend in the data is hair removal moving home. Beauty clinics still take the largest slice of device revenue, but home-use devices are the fastest-growing segment, and most device buyers now say they would rather do it themselves. Cheaper IPL units and better at-home technology are pulling salon spend onto the bathroom shelf.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Device buyers preferring an at-home solution | >65% | Verified Market Reports |
| Beauty clinics' share of device revenue (2021) | >54% | Grand View Research |
| Fastest-growing device sub-segment (2024 to 2030) | Electronic devices, 9.1% CAGR | Grand View Research |
| Home IPL market CAGR (to 2033) | 15.5% | Verified Market Reports |
| North America share of home IPL sales | ~35% | Verified Market Reports |
| Fastest-growing distribution channel | Online | Grand View Research |
Device market detail: Grand View Research, Hair Removal Devices Market.
6. How often hair removal goes wrong
Removing hair carries a real, if usually minor, injury rate. Roughly a quarter of people who groom their pubic hair have hurt themselves doing it, most often a simple cut. Serious harm is rare, but the frequency is high enough that the trade-off between a close finish and a nicked one is worth naming plainly.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Groomers who have injured themselves | 25.6% | JAMA Dermatology, 2017 |
| Injuries that were lacerations (cuts) | 61.2% | JAMA Dermatology, 2017 |
| Injuries that were burns | 23.0% | JAMA Dermatology, 2017 |
| Injuries needing medical attention | ~1.5% | JAMA Dermatology, 2017 |
| Rise in grooming-related ER visits, 2002 to 2010 | Fivefold | Journal of Urology, 2012 |
| Americans who have cut themselves removing intimate hair | 41% | StyleSeat, 2022 |
Study detail: JAMA Dermatology, Truesdale et al. 2017.
The full table: 18 hair removal statistics at a glance
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global hair removal products market (2023) | USD 3.60 billion | Grand View Research, 2024 |
| Products market, 2030 forecast | USD 6.30 billion | Grand View Research |
| Products market CAGR (2024 to 2030) | 8.4% | Grand View Research |
| Hair removal devices market, 2030 forecast | USD 2.1 billion | Grand View Research |
| Laser hair removal market, 2033 forecast | USD 3.12 billion | Grand View Research |
| Laser market CAGR (2026 to 2033) | 12.4% | Grand View Research |
| Home IPL market (2024) | USD 1.5 billion | Verified Market Reports |
| Home IPL market, 2033 forecast | USD 4.2 billion | Verified Market Reports |
| Hair removal wax market (2025) | USD 12.3 billion | Global Market Insights |
| Depilatory products market (2025) | USD 8.82 billion | Business Research Insights |
| Women's razor market (2022) | USD 3.97 billion | Research and Markets |
| Americans removing body hair weekly | 48% | StyleSeat, 2022 |
| Women who shave their legs | ~80% | YouGov |
| Men who regularly groom body hair | 50.5% | American Journal of Men's Health, 2016 |
| Device buyers preferring at-home removal | >65% | Verified Market Reports |
| Laser lasting hair reduction after a full course | 70% to 90% | Industry clinical data |
| Groomers who have injured themselves | 25.6% | JAMA Dermatology, 2017 |
| UK shaving and hair removal market | ~USD 3.7 billion | Mintel |
Frequently asked questions
How big is the hair removal industry?
The global hair removal products market was worth USD 3.60 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach USD 6.30 billion by 2030 (Grand View Research). Devices add a further USD 2.1 billion by 2030, with laser and at-home IPL the fastest-growing parts of the sector.
What is the most common hair removal method?
Shaving. A razor is the everyday default for legs, underarms, and face because it is fast, low-cost, and needs no appointment. Waxing, depilatory creams, laser, and IPL all trail it, though laser and IPL are growing fastest.
What percentage of people remove their body hair?
In the United States, 48% of adults remove or trim body hair at least weekly, with women more than twice as likely as men (StyleSeat, 2022). Around 80% of women shave their legs, and just over half of men groom below the neck.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
Laser delivers lasting reduction rather than total permanence. A full course typically removes 70% to 90% of hair long-term, with occasional maintenance sessions. It is the reason the laser market is forecast to grow 12.4% a year to 2033 (Grand View Research).
How often do people injure themselves removing hair?
More often than most expect. About 25.6% of people who groom their pubic hair have injured themselves, usually a minor cut, and only around 1.5% of those injuries need medical attention (JAMA Dermatology, 2017). A guarded blade and a slower pass cut the risk.
A note on the reusable side of the market
Most of the growth above sits in disposable products and single-use devices, but the counter-trend is real. Reusable metal razors are the most durable way to remove hair, and they carry the lowest cost per shave once you own one; a pack of double-edge blades costs a few pence each against pounds for cartridges. A single reusable safety razor also keeps billions of plastic handles out of landfill each year. We cover that shift in detail in our razor waste statistics and safety razor statistics.
Methodology and sources
This report aggregates hair removal statistics from market research firms, peer-reviewed journals, and named consumer surveys. Market-size figures come from Grand View Research, Global Market Insights, Verified Market Reports, Business Research Insights, Research and Markets, and Mintel. Behavioural and clinical data come from JAMA Dermatology, the Journal of Urology, the American Journal of Men's Health, Statista, YouGov, and StyleSeat. Where two firms size the same market differently, the difference reflects scope (for example, women's face razors versus all women's razors) rather than a conflict, and both are labelled by scope. Figures older than two years are the most recent available. Every statistic is cited inline to its primary source.
- Grand View Research, Hair Removal Products Market (2024)
- Grand View Research, Hair Removal Devices Market
- Grand View Research, Laser Hair Removal Market
- Global Market Insights, Hair Removal Wax Market
- Verified Market Reports, Home IPL Hair Removal Devices Market
- Business Research Insights, Depilatory Products Market
- Research and Markets, Women's Razor Market
- Mintel, UK Shaving and Hair Removal
- Truesdale et al., JAMA Dermatology (2017)
- Journal of Urology, pubic hair grooming injuries (2012)
- Walsh-Buhi et al., American Journal of Men's Health (2024)
- YouGov, body hair attitudes
- StyleSeat, Body Hair Grooming Trends (2022)
Last updated 27 July 2026. This article is updated quarterly.