Hair Types & Their Impact on Salon Pricing
In the world of hairdressing and styling, it's crucial to have a deep understanding of various hair types and how they influence pricing. This post will explore the intricate relationship between hair types and pricing. Let’s discuss the factors that can lead to different charges for clients.
Hair types are diverse. Hair is anything but uniform, and salon professionals are well aware of this fact. To comprehend how hair types affect pricing, let's begin by acknowledging the immense diversity of human hair.
6 main categories of hair types
Straight Hair
Straight hair lacks any natural curl or wave pattern. It features a smooth, shiny, and sleek texture, often requiring less effort to manage. Straight hair can seem flat or lacking volume which is often addressed using volumising products and styling techniques. With this type, the scalp’s natural oils can travel down the hair shaft faster which makes it get greasy quicker than other types.
Wavy Hair
Wavy hair refers to hair that has a natural pattern of gentle waves or very loose curls. It combines the characteristics of both straight and curly and offers a unique texture and appearance. Wavy hair is generally voluminous looking and has a natural beach vibe. The level of the wave varies from subtle to pronounced waves, it is prone to frizz and may require more products to define and maintain the waves.
Curly Hair
Curly hair refers to hair that has a natural curl pattern. This ranges from loose waves to tight spiral curls, depending on the person’s genetics. These curl patterns often vary throughout the same head of hair. Styling curly hair generally involves special techniques and products, such as curl enhancers and gels. Curly hair is prone to frizz and may require anti-frizz products, especially in humid settings.
Coily Hair
Coily hair displays tightly wound coils or curls. It is often known as kinky or afro-textured hair. Coily hair generally has dense volume naturally and the coils create a textured and fluffy appearance. This hair type is prone to dryness, requiring more moisture to maintain and manage it. Styling coily hair includes techniques such as twisting and braiding to define curly for styling. Coily hair, like curly hair, is known for its shrinkage; the hair may seem much shorter than actually is in its straight form which is a challenge when cutting this type especially.
Fine Hair
Fine hair has a smaller individual strand diameter; it can appear wispy and delicate. This hair type has a tendency to become greasy quicker than thick hair. This is because natural oils can easily travel down the hair shaft. Fine hair is more susceptible to damage, often requiring specific care with products and heat application.
Thick Hair
Thick hair has a larger individual strand diameter and that often makes it denser and more substantial. It can appear voluminous, lush and full even before adding in styling products. Styling thick hair generally demands more time and product but it tends to hold styles well. Thick hair can be challenging to manage as it is highly prone to frizz.
Pricing Considerations
Now that we've outlined the diverse nature of hair types, let's delve into the factors that influence pricing:
Time and effort
Various techniques and longer time may be needed for curly or other types of hair. Styling straight hair is simpler and takes up less time as opposed to curly, coily, and thick hair which entails more precision.
Products used
Styling is an important factor that comes with the use of hair products. Thick or curly clients use more hair products like shampoos, conditioners, and styling products among others. The nature of such products is that they normally add value to the natural properties of hair leading to proper management over an extended duration hence increasing the worth of the service.
Specialized techniques
Stylists who specialize in cutting and styling methods for coily or curly hair are often preferred because some of the hair types can be difficult for lesser experienced stylists to handle. Such stylists often charge more because they need more skill in handling this type of hair.
However, there are other areas that need consideration. What material is going to be used depends on the hair’s thickness, length, and volume. For instance, if one wants to use many foils in hair that is thick or long during coloration and/or touch-up process.
In our industry, understanding the connection between hair types and pricing is essential for both clients and stylists. When we acknowledge the diversity of hair types and the challenges associated with them, we can set fair prices that accurately reflect the effort, time, and products required for each service.