Two years after the pandemic, consumers are back in hair salons, but their hair care bills have increased by 15%. If men now pay up to $40 for a haircut, women can pay up to $400 for a complete makeover.
“Our suppliers have increased their prices by 19% over the last 18 months. It’s crazy!” explains Jenny Giroux, owner of Tendance Urbaine in Blainville, at Newspaper.
“We could not increase our prices to our customers to the same level. We went with logic. On the other hand, we are making less profits than before.”
For Jessica Henri, owner of the L’Émèchée salon, the financial damage caused by the pandemic pushed back her mother’s retirement by a few years.
“Previously, when we displayed our prices, taxes were included,” she explains. There, we add taxes to our prices.”
“Now I have detailed invoices with the products used and the hairdresser’s time to explain prices to clients.”
Different customers
In addition to experiencing increases on several levels, the hairdressing industry has also been faced with changing habits among its customers.
“People are paying more attention to their wallets,” explains Mathieu Courtemanche, owner of five Les Barbares salons.
“They will buy their products in a pharmacy rather than getting them in our salons. And the frequency of their cuts has increased.”
“They will come every five weeks instead of three or four. At the end of the year, it’s certain that you’re going to have a shortfall.”
Jenny Giroux observed the same thing.
“After her haircut, a woman will now prefer to do her hair at home,” she emphasizes. It’s between $15 and $20 if they have it done at the salon. We feel that people are cutting back on their spending. COVID has been a challenge, but with the trough that is predicted, it looks set to be worse.”
The owner of Tendance Urbaine, Jenny Giroux, is overwhelmed by the rising costs of hairdressing products.
PHOTO Jenny Giroux
A strong trend
Salon owners have also had to deal with labor issues since the end of the pandemic.
“That’s what hurt us the most,” says Mathieu Courtemanche. During the pandemic, employees started making cuts at home during the period when we were not open at maximum capacity. There are others who have rented studios with a low rent.
“They said to themselves, ‘Why would I give half my pay to a salon?’”
Jessica Henri, owner of the L’Émèchée salon, changed her model to counter the labor shortage.
PHOTO Mathieu Boulay
Due to this strong trend, several chairs remained empty in the living rooms.
“I decided to rent chairs. They all want different schedules, specifies Jessica Henri. They want to do what they need to do, but no more.”
“Despite everything, it’s a business model that works well. I had no choice but to let go of the situation.”
Increases since the pandemic
Before the pandemic
- Men’s cut: $32
- Cut + beard: $43
- Women’s cut: $35
- Coloring: $47
- Coloring, cutting, styling + highlights: $275
After the pandemic
- Men’s cut: $37
- Cut + beard: $49
- Women’s cut: $42
- Coloring: $55
- Coloring, cutting, styling + highlights: $350 to $400 (depending on length, thickness of hair, number of papers used for highlights)