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Round 1: 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.
| 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.
| 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.
Explore Rapid Surveys System estimates by health topic.
See the technical notes [PDF – 68 KB] for more information on these measures.
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.
Access the Round 1 Survey questionnaire [PDF – 37 KB].
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.
NCHS Rapid Surveys Systems. Chemical Hair Products. National Center for Health Statistics. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/rss/round1/chemical-hair.html.