Updating pricing in your salon suite? Read this first.

Let’s talk about something that makes a lot of hairstylists squirm: raising prices.

It’s one of the fastest ways to increase your income in your salon suite without working longer hours. But it's also the thing so many of us overthink—and honestly, sometimes get wrong. We often hear "charge what you're worth" - but what does that mean? How do we value our "worth"?

Notice how they've highlighted the value over the fee increase.

Last week I shared on Instagram that one of my favorite credit cards recently increased their annual fee by over $100. But instead of focusing on the new cost, they focused on the value they will continue to provide along with some other new positive changes they've made to our annual membership.

As I’ve been diving deep into 2 books: The Psychology of Price and Worth Every Penny recently (highly recommend), I was aware of the credit card company's marketing tactic here and so their email has been the perfect reminder that pricing isn’t just about numbers or inflation.

It’s about perception.

When you raise prices, yes—cost of goods and inflation are valid reasons. This is something we can't ignore. But that’s only one piece. Your pricing should also reflect:

✅ The transformation you create.

✅ The experience you deliver.

✅ The value only you can provide.

However, here’s the biggest trap I see stylists fall into when they raise prices:

Over-explaining.

You feel guilty for charging more. So you list every reason under the sun why they're raising prices: rent went up, color costs increased, inflation, etc. and proceed to plug it into a pretty post on Instagram (inadvertently putting the responsibility on your clients- assuming everyone who needs to will see it. also a no-no but that's a conversation for another day.)

But when you over explain, you’re asking your client to evaluate the price instead of the value.

It becomes a transaction instead of an experience and brings the cost front and center.

 If the credit card company had focused solely on their fee increase in the email they sent out, they likely would have lost more renewals. But with all of the added value and reminding us why we have this particular card in the first place...well, it served as incentive to stay and pay the increased fee instead.

Clients don’t mind paying more when they feel the value.

Your job isn’t to justify every penny. It’s to show them that working with you isn’t just a cost - it’s an investment in themselves. Yes, while you may lose some of your clients because every price isn't for everybody, you'll have an opportunity to maintain revenue while working less, or increase revenue and focus on attracting some new clientele.

Talk soon,

PS: If you’re stuck in the “should I or shouldn’t I?” cycle about pricing, this is your sign to finally get clear. Let’s make it easier & ethical together.

Book a Suite Ritual Call with me, and let’s design your pricing (and the client experience behind it) so it feels as good as it looks.