Salon ends gents' and ladies' prices

Wednesday 23 March 2022

A local hair salon has introduced a 'gender neutral' pricing structure.

Clients of Tribe are charged for the length of time of their appointment. This has replaced the traditional pricing structure of separate 'gents' and 'ladies' charges.

Salon Director Lyndsey Mahy said the business was opened “to make hair salons less intimidating” for clients.

“We opened Tribe to embrace differences and encourage uniqueness," said Ms Mahy.

"We constantly strive to make our clients feel confident."

Pictured: Clients at Tribe hair salon can book 'express' or 'extended' appointments. 

“As fashion changes, so does hairdressing. Not all men want a quick cut and not all ladies want to spend hours in the salon.

"All haircuts are now embraced among all genders, so how could we continue to charge by gender?

“We also want our transgender and non-binary or gender non-conforming clients to feel valued and seen.

"This doesn't mean everyone pays the same. It simply means that everyone pays for the services they receive.”

Whereas the salon used to charge fixed and separate prices for 'gents' and 'ladies' haircuts, it now offers either an 'express 30-minute cut and style' or an 'extended 60-minute' appointment.

Pictured: The new pricing structure at Tribe hair salon is based on the length of an appointment. 

“You wouldn’t go for a massage and expect to pay based on your gender. You would pay based on the time the therapist takes on your treatment,” said Ms Mahy.

“My mum has a very short haircut that takes me no longer than half an hour to do. Previously, I could book her a ladies’ cut and spend a further half an hour chatting or I could book her for a gents' cut at 30 minutes.

“However, my mum isn’t a gent. She is simply a lady that has short hair.

"Now she is a lady that simply books an express cut.”

Pictured: Tribe Salon Director Lyndsey Mahy. 

Ms Mahy said that child clients have always been charged based on the time their appointment takes rather than within the categories of 'gents' or 'ladies' and that gender-neutral pricing for adults was “well overdue”.

“Clients will now pay for the services they receive and not by their gender. We see people for who they are as an individual. Why not embrace these changes as positive?

“I would encourage other salons to do whatever fits best for them, but of course I believe that stylists should charge clients for the services they provide. That does not just include time but also the experience and education a stylist has grown during their career."

Ms Mahy hopes the introduction of the new pricing system will help reflect and further develop the ethos of the business.

“We would like to continue to create a tribe of people who support and build each other up.

"Our clients have always been awesome and we continue to learn and grow from them."

Pictured: Tribe hair salon.