Kaitlyn Gomez
According to data from open sources, in December 2025, there were more than 180,000 hair salons in the United States, employing approximately 1.3 million specialists, including support staff. The largest number of studios offering hair care services are located in Florida and California, with approximately 14,500 and 13,500 establishments, respectively.
These statistics clearly show the scale and demand for the hair care industry, as well as the number of specialists working in this field.
Of course, every hair stylist has their own professional focus and unique experience. As part of our report, we turned to the experience of Olena Osypenko, a renowned expert, member of the Eurasian Beauty Guild honorary association, member of the Ukrainian Union of Beauty Industry Professionals, and guest member of the jury for the Glonary Awards, an international strategic recognition award held at the end of 2025.
As a certified specialist and graduate of the Kiev University of Culture with a degree in Hair Design, Olena is convinced that a professional foundation and understanding of the form and structure of hair can only be gained through a fundamental education. However, a diploma is only a starting point: innovative techniques and approaches appear regularly, and without continuous training, one can become obsolete.
Olena calls herself an “eternal student” of the industry. She has completed more than a dozen courses to improve her skills in hair care, women’s haircuts, coloring, hot hair styling, and many other important areas. In addition, she is a strong mentor and author of her own training courses.
“I never set out to create original courses. They come about during the work process, sometimes from a problem, sometimes from a creative impulse. For example, when a client’s expectations and the capabilities of the product don’t match, I try to find a solution that later becomes the very course that clients and students come for,” she explains.
Osypenko is actively involved in the professional community—in 2020, she was awarded the Cosmopolitan Awards in the “Fashion Expert of the Year” category for her outstanding achievements. In 2021, she was named the winner of the international Fashion & Beauty Awards in the category “Outstanding Expert in Coloristics and Modern Hairdressing Techniques.” And in 2025, Olena was selected for the Glonary Awards from a highly competitive international pool of candidates. She was invited to be a member of the jury thanks to her unique professional talent and many years of experience.
“For me, all of this is an important part of my professional development. Membership in associations allows me to constantly communicate with the professional community, gives me the opportunity to exchange experience and knowledge, and participate in professional events. International competitions develop potential, reveal global trends, and inspire us to reach new heights,“ Olena shares. ”And the judging experience I gained at the Glonary Awards has broadened my horizons and given me a deeper understanding of the approaches, ideas, and solutions that are shaping the development of the hair industry today.”
Today, according to Olena, fashion trends continue to follow the theme of quiet luxury, where hair health and individuality play a leading role. And 2026 pays special attention to hair texture: light curls, healthy shine, and visual “vitality.” Natural shades, soft transitions, and multi-level toning will be the main trends in styling.
“The main thing is that haircuts and coloring should not require daily effort. The haircut should be versatile, easy to style, and emphasize the natural lines of the face, and the coloring should match the lifestyle and skin tone,” she emphasizes.
Minimalism in details is back in fashion, as well as attention to the quality of materials and care, which makes the procedures as safe and gentle on the hair as possible.