Ever wondered how salons fund their sustainability efforts without raising service prices? Enter the green fee—a small, transparent charge that helps cover eco-friendly initiatives like recycling, energy-saving equipment, and sustainable salon products. While some hesitate to charge extra, worrying about how client's will react to a separate charge on their receipt, many clients actually support the idea. Even those that are looking for a deal on their service reported being willing to pay up to 20% more than the average salon charge.
What Salons Are Charging
The national average green fee is $2.98, with some salons charging up to $10. Most of these funds go toward recycling services (78%), while others invest in carbon offsets, sustainable towels, and energy-efficient upgrades.
Client Sentiment: A Pleasant Surprise
Despite fears that clients would resist the fee, research shows otherwise. Salon guests reported a willingness to pay more than what salons currently charge—$3.58 on average, with some services (like skincare) seeing even higher support.
Why It Works
- Transparency – Clients appreciate knowing exactly where their money goes.
- Eco-Conscious Spending – Consumers actively support businesses that align with their values.
- Offset Rising Costs – A small fee helps fund sustainability efforts without absorbing the costs into services.
One thing is for sure, though, the idea of a green fee is still new to the industry with only 22.7% of those salons and stylists surveyed reporting that they charge one. This finding it consistent with what editors at Beauty Launchpad found in their own recent poll where 27% of their readership stated they charged one.
Stylists still feel a bit cringe when adding any sort of charge to help them deliver their service, whether it's a price increase or a small surcharge. Many stylists opted for an optional charge that added it to the ticket and allowed customers to opt out.
Those that have already rolled out the additional fee confirms the support from clients, stating it funds sustainability, builds customer loyalty, and positions their salon as a forward-thinking leader in the industry. What do you think?
