ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Tariffs introduced during the Trump administration are causing a sharp increase in prices for hair products commonly used in the Black hair care industry, and stylists across metro Atlanta are feeling the strain.
Dajiah Blackshear, a longtime natural hairstylist and owner of Hairfreak Beauty Studio, specializes in treating hair loss, extensions, sew-ins, and quick weaves. She said she had been watching the issue of tariffs but only recently began seeing its effects in her day-to-day business.
“I’ve been hearing that tariff buzzword for a minute and have been kind of waiting to see how it would impact me personally,” Blackshear said.
Now, she’s seeing a clear difference in product pricing. In a recent case, she was shocked to learn that a type of hair she typically bought for $120 had jumped to more than $250.
“That’s a humongous difference for this kind of hair,” she said.
Curtis Morgan, a stylist known professionally as Mr. Makeuover, has had similar experiences. He makes wigs and relies heavily on hair imported from countries like China and Brazil.
“Because I’m a wig maker and I do extensions, a lot of my extensions are from overseas,” Morgan said.
He added that shipping and distribution costs have also climbed. “It used to be starting at like $15 or $20. Then it went to $50, now it’s at like $70,” he said. “So we have to buy in bulk if we’re getting a large amount.”
These cost increases affect not only stylists but also their clients. Blackshear said she may no longer be able to include hair in her service prices.
“Whereas I used to have services where I include hair, I’m now going to have to have them go get their own hair,” she said.Stylists across Atlanta say unless prices come down, they may have to continue shifting the burden to customers, changing how they do business altogether.
