Coronavirus: after toilet paper spree, Americans are now panic buying ‘hair colour’ and grooming supplies

Americans’ buying habits have shifted throughout the weeks spent in isolation from an initial rush on basic supplies to staples of normal life like grooming accessories.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said Friday on NBC’s Today show that sales data showed “that as people have stayed home, their focus shifted”.

“People are starting to need a haircut so you start to see more beard trimmers and hair colour and things like that,” he said. “It’s interesting to watch the dynamic play out.”

The rise of hair dye and trimmers sales comes after cities and states ordered non-essential businesses to close in late March, leaving Americans without salons and barbers for the foreseeable future.

In addition to supplies focused on keeping up appearances, Americans have also been shopping for sources of entertainment like games and puzzles to pass the time in isolation, McMillon said.

Reports have closely monitored consumer behaviour since the outbreak began to pick up speed across the US in early March when panicked shoppers emptied shelves of basic goods like toilet paper and hand sanitiser.