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Round 1 Topic: Chemical Hair Products

Rapid Surveys from the National Center for Health Statistics collect timely, relevant data on topics of public health importance. Surveys are conducted several times a year using probability-based commercial online panels. Each survey includes a unique set of questions about different public health topics. Data collection for Round 1 occurred during August 2023.

This page includes estimates in table format only. Estimates include the percentage of adults ages 18 and older who have used chemical straighteners, relaxers, or pressing products and who changed their used of these products in the past 12 months.

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Table 1. Percentage of adults who have had chemical straighteners, relaxers, or pressing products used on their hair, by frequency of use and select demographics: United States, August 2023
Used in the past 12 months Used at least every 3–4 months in the past 12 months
Percent (95% confidence interval)
Total 7.6 (6.8–8.4) 4.1 (3.5–4.7)
Age group
18–44 8.9 (7.6–10.3) 4.7 (3.8–5.9)
45–64 8.2 (7.0–9.6) 4.5 (3.5–5.6)
65 years and older 4.0 (2.9–5.2) 2.2 (1.4–3.3)
Gender
Male 3.6 (2.8–4.6) 2.1 (1.4–2.9)
Female 11.3 (10.0–12.7) 6.0 (5.0–7.1)
Race and Hispanic origin
Hispanic 10.6 (8.3–13.2) 6.8 (4.9–9.2)
Black or African American only, non–Hispanic 20.3 (16.9–24.1) 12.4 (9.7–15.5)
White only, non–Hispanic 4.4 (3.6–5.2) 1.8 (1.3–2.3)
Other single or multiple races, non–Hispanic 6.1 (3.8–9.2) 3.2 (1.5–6.0)
Education
High school degree or GED or less 10.2 (8.6–12.0) 5.9 (4.7–7.4)
Some college 8.1 (6.7–9.6) 4.1 (3.1–5.2)
Bachelor degree or higher 4.3 (3.4–5.3) 2.1 (1.6–2.8)
Household income as a percentage of the federal poverty level
Less than 100% FPL 14.3 (11.3–17.7) 7.8 (5.6–10.5)
100% to less than 200% FPL 8.8 (6.8–11.1) 4.8 (3.3–6.7)
200% and greater FPL 6.0 (5.2–6.8) 3.2 (2.6–3.9)
Region
Northeast 6.0 (4.4–8.0) 2.9 (1.8–4.3)
Midwest 6.5 (5.1–8.2) 3.8 (2.6–5.3)
South 9.8 (8.5–11.3) 5.6 (4.5–6.7)
West 6.0 (4.5–7.9) 2.9 (1.8–4.4)
Urbanicity
Large central metro 8.7 (7.2–10.4) 5.1 (3.9–6.6)
Large fringe metro 7.3 (5.7–9.1) 3.6 (2.5–5.1)
Medium and small metro 6.6 (5.4–7.9) 3.4 (2.6–4.4)
Nonmetropolitan 7.6 (5.7–9.9) 4.1 (2.8–5.8)

NOTES: GED = general educational development certificate. FPL = federal poverty level. All estimates shown meet the NCHS standards of reliability. See technical notes for more details.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, Rapid Surveys System, Round 1, August, 2023.

Table 2. Percent distribution who have stopped using, used less, not changed, or used more chemical straighteners, relaxers, or pressing products on their hair in the past 12 months, among adults who have used chemical straighteners, relaxers, or pressing products in the past 12 months: United States, August 2023
Adults who stopped or changed frequency of using chemical hair products
Total Stopped using Used less Not changed Used more
Percent (95% confidence interval)
Total 100 22.7 (18.0–28.1) 33.2 (27.8–38.9) 41.7 (36.3–47.4) 2.4 (1.1–4.5)
Age group
18–44 100 21.9 (15.4–29.6) 34.4 (26.3–43.2) 41.3 (32.9–50.0) *
45–64 100 20.8 (14.3–28.5) 31.3 (23.7–39.7) 44.9 (36.8–53.3) *
65 years and older 100 * 32.9 (19.9–48.2) 34.7 (21.4–50.0)
Gender
Male 100 22.2 (12.7–34.6) 35.4 (22.9–49.5) 36.9 (25.2–49.7) *
Female 100 22.9 (17.6–28.9) 32.5 (26.7–38.6) 43.2 (36.9–49.7) 1.4 (0.5–3.2)
Race and Hispanic origin
Hispanic 100 17.7 (10.1–27.8) 42.3 (30.0–55.3) 36.5 (25.2–48.9) *
Black or African American only, non–Hispanic 100 25.1 (16.8–34.9) 36.3 (27.4–45.9) 37.2 (28.3–46.8) 1.5 (0.2–4.9)
White only, non–Hispanic 100 24.5 (16.4–34.1) 23.4 (15.8–32.5) 49.9 (40.1–59.7) 2.2 (0.6–5.5)
Other single or multiple races, non–Hispanic 100 * * * *
Education
High school degree or GED or less 100 25.6 (18.0–34.5) 34.4 (26.0–43.6) 37.8 (29.7–46.4) *
Some college 100 24.5 (17.0–33.5) 32.8 (24.6–42.0) 41.2 (32.2–50.7) 1.4 (0.2–4.6)
Bachelor degree or higher 100 12.7 (6.8–20.9) 30.5 (20.5–42.0) 52.6 (40.2–64.8) *
Household income as a percentage of the federal poverty level
Less than 100% FPL 100 35.5 (23.5–49.1) 24.6 (14.6–37.2) 37.0 (25.8–49.4) *
100% to less than 200% FPL 100 24.3 (13.6–37.8) 35.3 (23.9–48.2) 38.6 (26.5–52.0) *
200% and greater FPL 100 16.2 (11.5–21.9) 36.3 (28.9–44.3) 45.1 (37.8–52.7) 2.4 (0.9–5.0)
Region
Northeast 100 18.6 (8.9–32.3) * * *
Midwest 100 28.4 (16.0–43.9) 24.8 (14.1–38.3) 46.7 (33.6–60.3) 0.0 (0.0–3.8)
South 100 21.9 (15.4–29.4) 34.8 (27.4–42.7) 40.2 (32.9–47.9) *
West 100 22.8 (12.7–35.8) 35.8 (22.1–51.3) 37.1 (23.9–52.0) *
Urbanicity
Large central metro 100 23.3 (15.3–32.9) 28.2 (20.1–37.6) 44.6 (34.9–54.6) *
Large fringe metro 100 17.3 (9.8–27.4) 32.0 (20.9–44.9) 49.4 (36.9–61.9) *
Medium and small metro 100 26.7 (17.0–38.4) 37.8 (27.3–49.4) 34.8 (26.0–44.4) 0.6 (0.0–4.0)
Nonmetropolitan 100 22.0 (11.4–36.3) 37.0 (23.3–52.5) 37.1 (23.5–52.4) *

*Estimate is not shown, as it does not meet NCHS standards of reliability.
–Quantity zero.
NOTES: GED = general educational development certificate. FPL = federal poverty level. Percentages may not add to totals due to rounding. All estimates shown meet the NCHS standards of reliability. See technical notes for more details.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, Rapid Surveys System, Round 1, August 2023.

Survey Topics

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Technical Notes

See the technical notes [PDF – 68 KB] for more information on these measures.

Limitations

Data collected under the Rapid Surveys System are intended to complement and not replace the current household survey systems at NCHS, including the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The Rapid Surveys approach has a greater potential for coverage and nonresponse bias and smaller sample sizes, thus resulting in lower precision (especially for subgroups). The Rapid Surveys System is particularly well suited for time-sensitive data needs, measuring public health attitudes, developmental work to improve concept measurement, and methodological studies.

Survey Questions
Data Source

Rapid Surveys System data are cross-sectional data based on commercial probability-sampled online survey panels that are supplemented, if necessary, with alternative modes to improve representativeness. Data were collected from 7,599 adult participants this cycle using two panels – AmeriSpeak (conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago) and KnowledgePanel (conducted by Ipsos). Estimates shown in this dashboard are based on data collected in Round 1 of Rapid Surveys, occurring during August 2023. All estimates shown meet the NCHS Data Presentation Standards for Proportions.

Suggested Citation

NCHS Rapid Surveys Systems. Chemical Hair Products. National Center for Health Statistics. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/rss/round1/chemical-hair.html.