Hair by Jess Muraro

Sensitive subject matter for some. ❌

Today, I was listening to a group of women complain about how much it costs to get their hair done.

I have been in this industry for 22 years, and I have heard it nonstop. It is incredibly heartbreaking when I hear people talk like that.

Let’s talk about it.

Back in the day, women were not allowed to work outside the home in many households. I know because my great-aunt and grandmother were those women. And as someone in my mid-40s, that really wasn’t that long ago in my book.

For some women, doing hair was a way to make money on the side because their husbands may not have allowed them to work. It was a way to earn some money of their own when their opportunities were limited.

THAT! THAT is where it all started.

We have since evolved. ✅

The hair industry is what we call nowadays a CAREER. For some of us, that means working full-time. This is also considered self-employment unless you are working under a salon owner as an employee.

And let’s talk about that for a minute. What does a hairstylist working for someone else actually make per hour in Alabama? Can someone chime in on that? Is it $7 bucks an hour?

WHO’S LIVING OFF OF THAT AS AN ADULT?!

And people wonder why so many stylists go out on their own. When you work for yourself, you have the opportunity to set prices that account for your experience, expenses, and the income you need to live. But you are also responsible for every single cost of running that business.

Now, let’s talk about that $300 you just paid your stylist that you think is a rip-off.

That $300 did not just go into your stylist’s pocket.

It went toward weekly booth rent, which includes the cost of the commercial space where they work.

It went toward the professional color and products they used on your head. The cost of those products has become so exorbitant that it has put many stylists out of business post-COVID.

So exorbitant that a local beauty supply store has a lock on its door and requires stylists to be BUZZED IN because product THEFT BECAME A PROBLEM. The color and products inside that store are what stylists need to do YOUR hair. 🤮

That $300 also helps pay for self-employment taxes, federal and state taxes, liability insurance, and health insurance.

Speaking of health insurance, I almost dropped mine this year because even for me, it has become too expensive.

These are real business expenses. They don’t disappear because a client doesn’t want to pay more.

And let’s talk about cash.

You have a stylist who only accepts cash? There is nothing wrong with accepting cash, but if someone is working under the table and not paying their fair share of taxes, that’s a different story.

You can’t do much in today’s world without credit, right?!

So how are they affording rent, buying a home, financing a car, or building credit if they aren’t reporting their income and documenting what they earn?

These are things self-employed people have to consider. Running a business means more than collecting money from clients.

Now, let’s talk about inflation.

Is there some invisible cost barrier that allows everyone else to experience inflation but somehow exempts our industry?

Because we are NOT exempt.

So what about the stylist who is still charging what they charged years ago? How are they accommodating the difference in costs?

Maybe they have a spouse paying their car payment, rent, mortgage, vacations, health insurance, or even the salon expenses.

There is nothing wrong with a couple shared expenses, that financial arrangement can make it possible for someone to charge less than a person who has to cover every single expense independently which by the way the business should be self sustaining. You should be able to cover all of those expenses by yourself and what you are brining in. If you can’t -you’re not charging enough.
And then it circles back to you don’t have a self-sustaining business, which gives the illusion to the general public that hair prices can somehow never go up!

Maybe they are using cheaper products.

Maybe they are working from home and have lower overhead.

Maybe they are working under the table.

Maybe they aren’t paying the expenses required to operate a legitimate business.

Or maybe they are working crazy hours to make up the difference.

And let’s talk about those 6 AM to 9 PM stylists.
IT IS NOT A FLEX TO WORK YOURSELF INTO THE GROUND bc you refuse to go up on your prices. This is an illusion because they charge less and need to work more to accommodate today’s inflation. There I said it.

They are sacrificing their personal time because the income they earn during normal business hours may not be enough to cover their expenses.

When you are self-employed, you have to account for slow weeks, cancellations, time off, taxes, insurance, supplies, and the fact that when you cannot work, you may not get paid.

You are responsible for keeping that business alive.

If all of this sounds unreasonable, then it is a conversation that needed to happen.

WE ARE NOT UNTOUCHED BY INFLATION.

Those charging 2026 prices are not necessarily overcharging. They may simply be charging what it actually costs to operate a self-sustaining business.

A self-sustaining business pays its expenses, covers the costs associated with doing business, and allows its owner to draw a reasonable paycheck.

News flash: THAT IS HOW A BUSINESS SHOULD WORK. ✅

After 22 years in this industry, I can tell you that being good at hair is only part of the equation. You also have to run a business, manage expenses, and make enough money to support yourself.

You don’t have to book a stylist whose prices don’t fit your budget. Not every stylist will be the right fit for every client.

But there is a difference between deciding a service isn’t within your budget and dismissing someone’s prices as ridiculous without understanding what it costs to do the job.

The next time someone complains about what a hairstylist charges, remember that the price doesn’t go straight into their pocket.

It goes toward the products, the space, the insurance, the taxes, the education, the experience, and the countless other expenses required to keep that business running.💪

Due to the hurricane, we’ll be closed today!
Stay safe 💛

Last minute opening tomorrow 📣

I had a last minute cancellation for tomorrow and would love to fill it!

What’s popular?

✅Brazilian Blowout
✅partial foils, just to brighten up!

To nab a spot, please use the booking site linked below ⬇️

Jessica Muraro JSalon LLC Independent Stylist@Salt Hair Co. | Health & Beauty in Fairhope, AL Jessica Muraro JSalon LLC Independent Stylist@Salt Hair Co. offers initial extension application, extension move up, and extension reapply in Fairhope, AL. Delivering a professional luxury salon experience in the heart of downtown Fairhope AL. Book online or call 2513085910.

Oldie but goodie 💫

I can’t stress enough how much water can affect your hair.

The water down here is horrid 😖

The things I recommend to combat this !
1. Shower head filter- changed out every 3 months
2. Detox shampoo-depending on your hair type, no not every clarifying shampoo is the same.
3. Shampoo and conditioner recommended for your hair type.

What janky water can appear as?
1. Dull hair
2. Brassy or worse, green
3. Dry/stiff
4. Won’t retain color or flip side, won’t take color well
5. Doesn’t “lift clean” when lightening. Either lifts “hard” or takes a really long time to process or worse lifts green.

All products can be purchased via my online shopping store link below⬇️

https://shop.saloninteractive.com/store/JSalonLLC?utm_source=SalonInteractive&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=ShareMyStore

It has been incredibly busy this month due to graduations, Mother’s Day, lots of May birthdays and now Memorial Day weekend fast approaching. 🇺🇸

I have last minute availability this Thursday for hair appointments 🎉

As always to book please use the online booking platform, salontalk.org ✨

The more you know 💪

This photo is of a woman in France who suffered an allergic reaction after coloring her hair. How fun does this look?

How frequent are allergic reactions in the salon ?
Answer : common, very common.

And yes I just had a potential new client requesting to sit in my chair with an allergic response.

How did it go ?
We had a VERY IN DEPTH CONSULTATION ON COLOR ALLERGIC REACTIONS in which I declined to take her on in the end because I felt she did not hear how dangerous allergic reactions are-or simply wanted to ignore.

I have 22 years of experience and continuing education for a multitude of reasons.
Did you know licensed cosmetologists are licensed for two main reasons-and mind blown-it’s not to perform hair services properly 🤯
It’s to:
1. To NOT spread communicable disease diseases and
2. Chemistry, you can absolutely cause serious harm with chemical burns and or destroy someone’s hair and or skin which can wind you up in the hospital or worse permanently disfigured 🚫 

Did you also know many states right now are looking to lift cosmetology licensure altogether?

Think finding a halfway decent licensed  stylist is hard to find now? Many states have have already started to de-regulate our industry by lowering cosmetology school hours and testing, we are seeing a shift of subpar stylists with serious lack of education and honestly fear of how dangerous working with chemicals can be.

➡️ Did you also know that your licensed stylist/lash tech /aesthetician/ tattoo artist/ brow techs such as micro-bladers working legitimately should be carrying liability insurance? 
💯Absolutely-because allergic reactions and chemical burns are super common in this industry. Who are you looking to hold for accountability if you end up like this ? 

The more you know💪