💋 The Truth Behind Rising Beauty Costs: What Tariffs Are, Why They Matter, and How They’re Impacting Your Favorite Beauty Services

Hey beauty lovers,

Let’s have a real talk about something happening behind the scenes in the beauty world—something that’s affecting not just your makeup bag, but your salon visits, hair appointments, and product shelves too: tariffs.

It’s not a sexy topic, I know. But if you’ve noticed that your go-to hair extensions are a little pricier, or that your favorite lash serum costs more than it did a year ago, this is the “why.” So let’s break it all down in plain English, without the fluff.

💾 What Exactly Are Tariffs?

Tariffs are taxes placed on goods that come into a country from somewhere else. Think of it like a toll booth at the border: when a product crosses into the U.S., the government adds a fee before that product ever hits the shelves.

These tariffs are usually aimed at encouraging domestic production and protecting American-made goods—but when it comes to the beauty industry, most of what we rely on is made overseas, especially in countries like China, South Korea, and Vietnam.

That means beauty businesses like mine get hit with higher prices on:

• Hair extensions (human and synthetic)

• Lash trays, adhesives, tools

• Cosmetic ingredients like pigments, emollients, and skincare actives

• Makeup brushes, sponges, and applicators

• Salon tools like dryers, flat irons, curlers, LED therapy units

• Packaging materials (glass bottles, pumps, plastic compacts, foils, etc.)

In some cases, tariffs have gone up 15% to 25%, and for many of us, that’s on top of inflation and global shipping costs that have already skyrocketed since 2020.

👩‍🏫 How This Affects Salons, Stylists & Small Beauty Businesses

Salons don’t have mega warehouse contracts or billion-dollar stockpiles. We order as needed, in small batches, and often pay upfront to keep our shelves stocked and our kits ready for you.

So when prices go up due to tariffs, we feel it immediately and have to make a choice:

1. Raise prices slightly to stay sustainable, or

2. Absorb the loss and hope we can make up for it elsewhere

Let’s be honest—absorbing that loss month after month means we're paying to do your hair or brows. And for most solo stylists and small shops? That’s not viable.

That’s why you may see:

• A few dollars added to certain services

• Small price increases on retail items

• Occasional switches in product brands based on sourcing or availability

Every increase is thoughtfully considered and meant to keep service quality high and the business healthy.

📆 Delays, Disruptions & Product Drama

Tariffs don’t just make things more expensive—they affect how long it takes for supplies to arrive. Some companies are rerouting manufacturing, changing packaging suppliers, or pulling entire product lines off the market because they can't compete.

Even big brands are facing:

• Backorders

• Shipping delays

• Reformulations or discontinued products

Example: Your favorite hair serum might be bottled in China, with a dropper cap from Italy and ingredients from South Korea. If any of those parts are delayed or tariffed, that serum:

• Doesn’t arrive

• Arrives super late

• Doubles in cost

• Or disappears entirely

And then I’m left scrambling to find you something comparable that won’t break the bank—or your hair.

🖌️ Deep Dive: Makeup Brushes & Hair Extensions

Makeup Brushes China dominates the global makeup brush manufacturing industry, producing over 76% of the world’s brushes. The major hubs:

• Qingxian County, Hebei

• Luyi & Dancheng, Henan

Any tariff on brushes from China directly impacts the cost and availability of professional kits worldwide.

Hair Extensions India supplies around 85% of the world’s raw human hair, largely from temple donations. But the hair is shipped to China, where it’s processed, sorted, and turned into the tape-ins, bundles, and wefts you see in salons.

So while the raw material is Indian, the labor and manufacturing (and most tariffs) hit in China—adding up to higher costs before that hair even touches your head. And in turn, ALL of my hair extension suppliers have announced a 10% minimum increase on packs of hair.

🏢 Why Shopping Small & Local Actually Helps

Here’s the good news: local beauty businesses (like mine) often stocked up before the latest tariffs hit and carry product that isn’t subject to new pricing structures.

When you shop or book local, you:

• Avoid inflated shipping and import fees

• Get your products faster

• Support a real human who’s navigating this chaos for you

Plus, I can walk you through every item on my shelf and every tool in my kit. No algorithms. No guesswork.

🛠️ Behind the Scenes: What I’m Doing to Keep Things Fabulous

• Buying in bulk to lock in better rates

• Sourcing from vendors outside high-tariff zones

• Testing new products for quality & performance

• Offering loyalty perks and pre-booking discounts

• Being honest and transparent with you about every change

Yes, some prices have gone up. But always mindfully—and only when necessary.

💬 Final Thoughts (and a Big Thank You)

The beauty industry isn’t just glam—it’s deeply tied to manufacturing, global trade, and logistics. Right now, those systems are getting squeezed. But my commitment to you isn’t going anywhere.

When you shop or book with me, you’re investing in someone who knows your hair, your brow shape, and your favorite lipstick—not just your order number.

Thanks for sticking with me through the changes. If you ever have questions or want more info, I’m always just a message away.

Stay gorgeous,

Genn Shaughnessy
The Backstage Stylist
backstage.glossgenius.com

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