Updated October 15, 2026. Data: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, patent application records, filings 2012–2025. Applications usually become public about 18 months after filing, so 2024 and especially 2025 counts are still filling in. Next update: spring 2027.
Small inventors and small companies filed 62% of U.S. patent applications for hair dryers, stylers, curlers and hair accessories in 2019–2023, about twice the 30% share for all patents. The single biggest filer is Dyson.
About 287 to 335 hair tool applications are filed each year. Many come from stylists and individual inventors with one idea, like a new clip, comb or braiding tool.
Applications filed each year
Every year
Click a column to sort.
| Year filed | Applications | From small inventors and small companies | Small share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 207 | 160 | 77% |
| 2013 | 273 | 176 | 64% |
| 2014 | 307 | 180 | 59% |
| 2015 | 287 | 168 | 59% |
| 2016 | 323 | 190 | 59% |
| 2017 | 321 | 182 | 57% |
| 2018 | 261 | 156 | 60% |
| 2019 | 264 | 185 | 70% |
| 2020 | 280 | 172 | 61% |
| 2021 | 255 | 176 | 69% |
| 2022 | 231 | 136 | 59% |
| 2023 | 335 | 174 | 52% |
| 2024 (still filling in) | 303 | 155 | 51% |
| 2025 (still filling in) | 220 | 129 | 59% |
Who files the most
Top filers, 2021–2025, counting each application once under the first company or person named:
- Dyson Technology Limited: 161
- L'OREAL: 60
- SharkNinja Operating LLC: 43
- KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.: 38
- LG ELECTRONICS INC.: 36
- May Patents Ltd.: 23
- Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.: 22
- Spur Concepts Inc: 15
Small inventors and small companies filed 62% of these applications from 2019 to 2023, compared with 30% of all U.S. patent applications.
What it means for salons and stylists
- Stylists invent. A tool that solves a problem behind the chair can become a product. Forming a company first keeps it separate from your personal finances. See how to set up an LLC.
- Big brands compete. Dyson, L’Oréal, SharkNinja and Philips file the most. See how to open a hair salon.
- New tools, same risks. If you use new heat tools on clients, review insurance for salons and stylists.
Opening a salon or selling a product?
Form your LLC with ZenBusiness.
We may earn a commission if you use this link. It doesn’t change what you pay, and it doesn’t affect the data on this page.
How we counted
- Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, application records for patent applications filed since 2012, searched 2026-10-15.
- What’s counted: applications listed under hair curling, waving, straightening, drying, combs, hair clips and similar hair tools (codes A45D 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 20, 24 and 26). Makeup and cosmetic packaging are left out. Each application is counted once, in the year it was filed, even if it is listed in several categories.
- Applications, not granted patents. Many applications are later rejected or dropped.
- Recent years are incomplete. Most applications stay private for about 18 months, and some are never published unless granted. Counts for 2024 and 2025 will grow.
- Small inventors are applicants that paid reduced “small entity” or “micro entity” fees: individuals, companies with fewer than 500 employees, universities and nonprofits.
- Top filers are matched on the first applicant’s name. We merged obvious spelling variants, but related companies (for example a parent and its U.S. arm) are listed separately.
- We checked the category by hand. In a random sample of 15 applications filed in 2024, 14 were hair or grooming tools (one hinge was for a styling device). The full beauty category (A45D) was about one-third makeup packaging, so we narrowed it to hair tools.
Sources
Cite this data
Reporters and bloggers may use these numbers and charts. Please credit StartBusinessByState and link to this page.
Source: StartBusinessByState, “Small Inventors File Most Hair Tool Patents,” https://startbusinessbystate.com/hair-tool-patents/ (updated October 15, 2026).
FAQ
Who invents hair tools?
Mostly small inventors and small companies: 62% of applications in 2019–2023, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Dyson is the largest single filer.
Where is this data from?
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office publishes records for every published patent application, including the categories examiners assign and whether the applicant paid small-business fees.
Last updated October 15, 2026 by StartBusinessByState.