Average Salon Service Prices in the U.S.: How Much Are Clients Paying This Year?

Pricing your services has always been part strategy, part instinct, but lately, it’s gotten a lot tougher.

Between rising product costs, higher rent, shifting client expectations, and more competition than ever, it can be hard to tell if your salon service prices are actually in line with the market, or quietly holding your business back.

Whether you’re a salon owner updating your menu, an independent stylist setting your rates, or a beauty entrepreneur doing market research, there are a few important factors to think through before locking in your pricing.

To make this easier, we’ve put together a guide on average salon service prices across the U.S., using real data from beauty professionals who use our software Goldie to manage their services, bookings, and payments.

Instead of relying on “starting at” prices or self-reported surveys, this guide reflects how professionals are actually pricing and selling services today.

If you’ve been looking for real, transaction-level pricing data from U.S.-based beauty professionals, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What are the typical price ranges for services like bridal makeup, haircuts, beard grooming, and more?
• Why do salon prices vary so much from one place or provider to another?
• How do prices usually differ between major cities, mid-sized metros, and smaller markets?
• How can you use national pricing data to set confident, local prices?

A quick note on the data

All insights in this guide come from aggregated, anonymized pricing data from beauty professionals across the United States who actively use Goldie to manage their services.

In short: this data reflects real pricing behavior, not advertised estimates.

Here’s what’s included:

• Service prices set by professionals
• U.S.-based businesses only
• Data from the last 12 months
• A mix of independent professionals and salon-based businesses

 How pricing metrics are calculated

National averages shown in this guide are transaction-weighted averages, not simple midpoints or estimated industry figures. Prices that appear more frequently in real bookings have a greater influence on the average, ensuring the number reflects what clients are actually paying most often.

Typical U.S. price ranges represent the core cluster of prices where the majority of real bookings occur. Rather than using absolute minimums and maximums, these ranges focus on common pricing behavior across markets. Occasional entry-level or premium-priced services are acknowledged separately and do not define the typical range.

Important: Individual prices will always vary based on experience, service complexity, and local market conditions. Think of this guide as a benchmark, not a rulebook.

Bridal makeup pricing in the U.S.

Bridal makeup is one of the highest-value services in the beauty industry, and for good reason. It requires advanced skill, more time, and comes with a high level of emotional importance for clients.

 What the data shows

Based on aggregated U.S. pricing data from professionals using Goldie:

• Most common price points: $100, $150, $200, and $250
• Strong frequency appears between $100–$250
• Higher-end pricing at $300 is less common but consistently present

 Using transaction-weighted pricing:

• Typical U.S. price range: $80–$300
• National average: ~$165–$170

 Pricing differences often reflect whether trials are included, on-location requirements, long-wear or airbrush products, travel fees, and peak wedding-season demand.

What this means for professionals

The data shows a clear “core range” for bridal makeup, with room for premium pricing. Professionals charging above $250 are usually packaging additional value, such as trials, extended touch-up time, or destination services, rather than offering a single standalone appointment.

Haircut pricing in the U.S.

Haircuts are the most frequently booked salon service nationwide, but pricing still varies widely depending on positioning and experience.

What the data shows

From aggregated U.S. pricing data:

• The strongest pricing cluster appears between $20–$35
• Lower price points ($15–$20) remain common in high-volume or express models
• Higher prices ($40–$50) show up consistently for advanced stylists or premium salons

Using transaction-weighted pricing:

• Typical U.S. price range: $15–$50
• National average: ~$29–$30

 Consultation time, including styling, and stylist level strongly influence where prices land.

What this means for professionals

Haircut pricing reflects both skill progression and business model. Many professionals successfully scale pricing by offering tiered stylist levels or separating cutting from styling and finishing services.

Balayage pricing in the U.S.

Balayage shows some of the widest pricing variation of any salon service. Hair length, technique, experience level, and local market all matter here.

What our data shows

Across U.S.-based professionals, balayage prices most commonly fall between:

• $100–$200, with strong clustering around $150, $200, and $100
• A noticeable number of professionals price balayage at $250–$350+, typically for premium color services, corrective work, or long appointments
• Lower price points (under $75) appear far less often and usually reflect partial services or entry-level offerings

• Typical U.S. balayage price range: $100–$300+
• Most common pricing cluster: $150–$200

What this means for professionals

Balayage isn’t a one-size-fits-all service, and national pricing reflects that. A core pricing range with a clear premium tier suggests that time-based or complexity-based pricing is already how most professionals approach it.

Beard trim & beard styling pricing in the U.S.

Beard services are quick, high-frequency appointments, which lead to tighter pricing patterns.

What the data shows

Across U.S. professionals:

• Most beard trims fall between $10–$20, with $10 and $15 appearing most often
• A secondary cluster appears around $25–$30
• Premium pricing at $35–$50+ shows up less frequently, but consistently
• Typical U.S. beard trim price range: $10–$30
• Premium grooming services: $35–$50+

What this means for professionals

Many professionals underprice beard services when they’re bundled. Separating beard styling, hot towel treatments, or razor detailing can increase average ticket value, without adding more time to the appointment.

Lash extension pricing in the U.S.

Lash extensions continue to be one of the strongest recurring-revenue services in the beauty industry, driven by refill schedules and long-term client relationships.

What the data shows

Based on aggregated U.S. pricing data from professionals using Goldie:

• Most common price points cluster between $50–$75
• Entry-level pricing appears around $35–$50
• Higher pricing at $80–$90 shows up consistently, often tied to fuller sets or premium techniques

 Using transaction-weighted pricing:

• Typical U.S. price range: $35–$90
• National average: ~$64

Pricing differences often reflect the type of set (classic vs. volume), appointment length, lash density, and whether fills are priced separately.

What this means for professionals

The data shows a strong middle-market for lash extensions, with clear opportunities to increase lifetime value through structured fill pricing. Professionals pricing above the core range typically differentiate through technique specialization, retention programs, or luxury positioning.

Gel manicure pricing in the U.S.

Gel manicures remain one of the most consistently booked nail services, offering predictable demand and high repeat frequency.

What the data shows

Across U.S.-based professionals:

• The most common price points are $25, $30, and $35
• A strong mid-range appears between $30–$40
• Premium pricing at $45–$50 is common, not exceptional

 Using transaction-weighted pricing:

• Typical U.S. price range: $20–$50
• National average: ~$35

 Higher prices usually reflect builder gel, structured manicures, nail art, or extended appointment times.

What this means for professionals

Gel manicure pricing shows less volatility than many other services, suggesting clients are comfortable with incremental upgrades. Add-ons, rather than base price increases, are a key driver of higher ticket values in this category.

Blowdry / blowout pricing in the U.S.

Blowdries are often seen as “quick services,” but national data shows they’re a reliable revenue driver.

What the data shows

Pricing most commonly clusters between:

• $15–$40, with strong frequency at $15, $25, $30, and $35 
• Higher prices ($45–$60+) tend to reflect long hair, event styling, or premium salon environments.

• Typical U.S. blowdry price range: $15–$40
• Event or long-hair blowdries: $45–$60+

What this means for professionals

Tiered pricing based on hair length or styling complexity closely matches how professionals already price blowdries, and helps increase revenue without increasing appointment volume.

Why salon prices vary so much

Big price differences usually come down to business realities, not inconsistency.

1. Cost of living & overhead: rent, wages, and operating costs vary dramatically across the country.

2. Demand & booking pressure: professionals booked weeks out often raise prices to manage demand.

3. Experience & specialization: advanced training, certifications, and niche expertise support higher rates.

4. Business model: independent professionals, commission salons, luxury studios, and express salons all price differently.

How prices differ by city type

Rather than listing potentially misleading city-by-city averages, pricing makes more sense when viewed by market type.

Major metro & high-cost cities

• Prices are often 20–50% above national averages
• Strong demand for premium services
• Higher pricing for balayage, bridal makeup, and lashes

Mid-sized cities & growing metros

• Prices tend to sit near national averages
• Competitive markets reward clear value positioning
• Tiered pricing performs well

 Smaller cities & lower cost-of-living areas

• Prices are often 10–30% below national averages
• Strong repeat-client relationships
• Lower overhead helps maintain profitability

Using national pricing data in your own business

National benchmarks work best as reference points, not strict rules.

When reviewing your pricing:

• Compare your rates to national ranges
• Factor in demand, costs, and booking patterns
• Review pricing at least once a year
• Clearly communicate value if you price above average

Note: Knowing the average prices for other businesses is a mandatory step when setting your own service prices, but you shouldn’t limit to that. It’s essential to calculate the right service prices for your salon.

Final thoughts: Pricing with confidence in 2026

As you can see, salon pricing isn’t about copying competitors. It’s about understanding your market, your costs, and the value you bring to the table, and making sure you stay true to it. After all, pricing is the story you may never get to share with your customers: the one that tells your expertise, the quality of the services you offer, the time and effort you put into them, and how valuable you find your own work.

By looking at the real pricing behavior this guide offers, you can get a clearer picture of how services are actually priced today, so that you can make confident, informed decisions as your business starts growing.