Let’s talk about the thing nobody in beauty school taught us: how to price your services without flinching, apologizing, or offering discounts before someone even asks.
The Real Problem with Underpricing
Underpricing isn’t humble — it’s self-destructive. When you charge below market rate, you attract clients who will always push back on price, you create a business model that requires volume you can’t sustain, and you train the market that your work is worth less than it is.
Calculate Your Real Cost
Your service price must cover: your product cost, your overhead (chair rent, supplies, insurance), your time at a professional hourly rate, and your continuing education investment. Most stylists set prices without ever running these numbers. Run them.
Research Is Not Copying
Know what comparable stylists with comparable credentials charge in your market. You are not obligated to match them — but you should know the landscape. As a national educator, my pricing reflects credentials and expertise that most stylists don’t have. Yours should reflect yours.
Price Anchoring Works
Offer service tiers. A premium package at the top of your range makes your standard service feel like a value — even though it was already correctly priced. Menu design is psychology.
The Consultation Is Your Pricing Conversation
The client who asks “how much do you charge for extensions?” without a consultation hasn’t agreed to buy — they’re comparison shopping. The consultation is where you show your expertise, build trust, and present pricing in the context of value. Never quote major services over DM without a consultation first.
Raise Your Prices
If you’re fully booked, your prices are too low. Demand exceeding supply is the market telling you to raise rates. You don’t owe anyone a price freeze.
— Janelle Alexis
Tagged with :
