Men in Nevada, Colorado and California appear to be the most concerned about their appearance, according to a new nationwide study that analyzed online behavior, access to cosmetic services and fitness resources across the United States.
The research, conducted by Dr. Cinik Hair Clinic, ranked 48 states using seven indicators tied to male grooming and appearance concerns. Researchers examined Google searches related to hair loss, Reddit discussions, the availability of hair and beard transplant clinics, cosmetic surgeons, dentists and gyms, as well as the percentage of men considered eligible for hair loss treatment.
Nevada claimed the top spot with an overall score of 69.99, largely because of its unmatched concentration of hair restoration providers. The state has 5.7 hair and beard transplant clinics per 100,000 men, the highest rate in the country, along with 6,089 Google searches about hair loss per 100,000 men, the fifth-highest level nationwide.
Colorado ranked second with a score of 68.62 and led three of the study's seven categories. It boasts the highest number of gyms, with 55.6 facilities per 100,000 men, while 37.8% of its male population is considered eligible for hair loss treatment. Colorado also recorded the highest rate of Reddit discussions about hair loss, with 10.1 mentions per 100,000 men.
California finished third, supported by 6,209 Google searches on hair loss per 100,000 men, the fourth-highest figure in the study. The Golden State also ranked second for dentist availability, eighth for cosmetic surgeons and fourth for the share of men eligible for hair loss treatment.
New York placed fourth and led the nation in online search interest, with 6,475 Google searches about hair loss per 100,000 men. It also ranked third for Reddit discussions and ninth for dentist availability.
Washington rounded out the top five, thanks to strong rankings across several categories. The state finished second for cosmetic surgeons, fourth for Reddit discussions, fifth for the percentage of men eligible for hair loss treatment and sixth for dentists.
Florida ranked sixth overall, driven by the country's second-highest level of Google search interest in hair loss at 6,449 searches per 100,000 men. The Sunshine State also placed fifth for both transplant clinic availability and cosmetic surgeons, reflecting a strong market for aesthetic procedures.
Rhode Island came in seventh with one of the nation's highest concentrations of hair and beard transplant clinics and the fifth-highest number of gyms. Utah ranked eighth despite placing only 30th in Google searches. Its position was boosted by ranking second for both Reddit discussions about hair loss and the proportion of men eligible for treatment.
Massachusetts ranked ninth, leading the nation in dentist availability while also placing seventh for transplant clinics and gyms. Texas completed the top 10, recording 6,021 Google hair loss searches per 100,000 men and the sixth-highest share of men eligible for treatment.
The study suggests that online conversations and treatment availability often go hand in hand. States with greater access to cosmetic services also tended to record higher search activity and discussion around hair loss, indicating greater awareness or willingness to seek treatment.
At the opposite end of the rankings, West Virginia was identified as the state where appearance-related concerns among men appear to be least visible. The Mountain State ranked last overall with a score of just 6.69, recording the fewest Google searches and Reddit discussions related to hair loss while also placing near the bottom for transplant clinic availability and treatment eligibility.
Mississippi, Wyoming, South Dakota and Arkansas also landed among the five lowest-ranked states. Researchers found these states generally reported lower levels of online interest in hair loss and fewer specialized treatment providers, although Arkansas stood out by ranking sixth nationwide for cosmetic surgeons despite its overall low placement.
The researchers emphasized that the rankings do not necessarily measure vanity, but rather reflect online interest, access to cosmetic services and the availability of treatment options. States with more clinics, fitness centers and specialists may naturally generate more searches and discussions because residents have greater awareness of available procedures.
To compile the rankings, the study weighted Google searches on hair loss most heavily at 25%, followed by hair and beard transplant clinics at 20%. Men eligible for hair loss treatment and Reddit discussions each accounted for 15%, while cosmetic surgeons contributed 12%, gyms 8% and dentists 5%. All data were normalized per 100,000 men where applicable before the final scores were calculated.
