Should men and women spend the same on a haircut? Some experts think so.

Question: How much do you spend on your hair appointment? Chances are, it'll be at the very least around the $100 mark for a chop. If you get colouring, hair treatments or added styling on top, you're probably looking at forking out a good bit more.

In fact, when we recently asked the Mamamia team how much their last hair appointment was — the responses ranged between $135 to $960. Which is, well... a lot.

The fact is, hair can be expensive — and more often than not, women usually pay more than men. Which begs the question, is gender-based pricing a thing? Are women unfairly coughing up more for their hair appointments?

According to a group of Belgian hairdressers, in 2024, pricing should be based on time — not gender.

Watch: Hairdresser talk, translated. Post continues below.

As per The Project, Charles-Antoine Huybrechts, a spokesperson for the Belgian hairdressing federation Febelhair, told Belgian radio that members were being advised to charge €1.30 per minute "to ensure profitability," adding "a distinction between prices for men and women should no longer persist in 2024."

In fact, it's a practice that's already been adopted by many hairdressers in Belgium, with salons charging individuals the same amount for the same service regardless of their gender. While the hairdressing federation cannot enforce gender-neutral pricing as a rule, they have encouraged their members to take a similar approach.

However, most hair experts argue that pricing depends on the individual — with female customers more likely to request a variation of services outside of standard male customer requests. Put short, the time and effort to cut women's hair usually differs from the time and effort it takes to cut men's hair.

So, is it fair? Should men and women spend the same on a haircut?

Below, we look at both sides of the argument.

Should men and women spend the same on a haircut?

Mamamia spoke to co-owners Ali Holmes and Piet Pantano of Wildlife Sogo in Surry Hills, Sydney — a hair salon that sees a good split of female versus male customers — approximately 60 per cent to 40 per cent.

When asked about Belgium's approach to gender-neutral pricing, Holmes said isn't actually that different to what we already do in Australia.

"At a salon, we know how much we need to make per hour to allow our business to survive and price accordingly. Men’s cuts are quicker hence cheaper," she said. 

"There’s a bit more that goes into a woman’s cut with softening of edges, blow dries followed by hot tools. If a woman’s cut is short and faster then we would give a discount."

When it comes to the practice of charging per minute, Holmes said it's inevitably tough — as each stylist will take different times for different services, and cutting hair isn't exactly a one-size-fits-all kind of deal.

"For example, shall we penalise a client for choosing a slow hairdresser? Is that a hairdresser slow or do they have more attention to detail? How you run your business and charge should be left up to the owners."

"We are all small businesses struggling to make it let alone be fair to our clients — a small business owner with morals will do this, anyway. How can any federation or council put a figure to what you need to make per hour with individual business overheads being so different?"

Co-founder Pantano added that seeing as each salon business is unique and catering to diverse individual needs, it's standard to have variations in service offerings. This often ranges from salons employing high-end products to those adopting more economical entry points. 

"Standardising pricing across all businesses appears inequitable to me," he said. 

"Pricing ranges among salons are often justified by the additional value incorporated into their services. While some salons prioritise efficiency with minimal service, others provide a more comprehensive experience. Neither approach is inherently right or wrong; however, it underscores the existence of distinct price points for different service models."

As he goes on to explain, the pricing structure for haircuts is determined by the length of the service. 

"The rationale behind the higher cost for women’s haircuts is due to the additional service — the blow dry — which extends the overall service duration."

"Men’s haircuts are allocated less time, as no blow dry is required. If a male opts for a blow dry, they would be charged accordingly. Notably, women with short hair, despite the absence of a blow dry, require meticulous detailing, occupying the entire appointment time, thereby justifying an equivalent charge."

Importantly, Pantano added, "Our pricing model is inclusive, accommodating various genders, and for non-binary individuals, charges are based on the appointment duration."

When Mamamia asked the You Beauty Facebook group for their opinion on whether men and women should spend the same amount on haircuts, the responses were mixed — with some questioning pricing structure, while others backed the idea of paying an hourly rate.

One commenter said, "I will NEVER understand how the length of female's hair determines the price. I would think the hairdresser has less to do the longer it is, as it usually requires less shaping."

Another person wrote, "I think it’s crazy that my son’s haircut, which is a proper men’s haircut and takes 20 minutes, costs $20. For me to get two centimetres cut off the ends of my short, fine hair, with no wash or blow wave, it takes 10 minutes and costs $50. The math ain’t mathing."

Other You Beauty members said it's often difficult to compare the correct approach, as there are so many different factors at play — particularly given the fact that pricing at salons differ so widely.

"I think a basic trim for a woman — like just cutting on the damaged or dead ends — no layers etc. should be pretty cheap," said another member. "But I don't really get comparing it to a men's haircut. Unless you have the same amount of hair and are getting the same cut in which case, yes? It's different if you have long hair."

Someone else wrote, "I got a big chop a few months ago (like from almost bum length to shoulder length) and it took quite some time. My partner heads to the barber and gets it taken back a notch. The time it takes to do his is much faster than the time it takes to do mine and I imagine it's also not quite as complicated so I expect the cost to be different."

Another You Beauty commenter told us that in their opinion, haircuts should be based on time taken alone — because a good quality cut by an experienced person shouldn’t necessarily be cheaper. 

"For example, as a designer, I don’t want to be 'punished' for being able to do a good job quickly — it’s taken years of training and experience to be able to achieve that. But I do like it when hair salons have a 'trim' price when that is all one is wanting. It seems less involved/complicated than a 'style cut'."

One commenter wrote, "Should just be based on a hourly rate plus cost of any products used."

According to Pantano, salons should have the right to set their service prices at their own discretion — and ultimately, consumers have the choice to opt for these services. 

"It seems unjust to pass judgment on any business’s pricing structure. It is crucial to recognise that hair itself is not inherently gendered; rather, the associated cost is based upon personal styling preferences and the level of investment one is willing to make in their chosen aesthetic."

What do you think? Should men and women spend the same on a haircut? Share your thoughts with us below.

Feature image: Canva.