Lincoln hairstylists seeing tariff impacts but refuse to raise prices just yet
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – From hair extensions to accessories, China is one of the main suppliers of hair products to the U.S.
So will the 145% tariffs on goods imported from China have a trickle-down effect in Lincoln?
For hairstylists like Hawa Mohamed and LaRaysha Brown, every snip, style and strand is part of a business built with care.
Mohamed estimated that she spends $1,500 on products.
“The money adds up,” she said. “My main products for the hair side of the business: shampoo and conditioning, a lot of color, and I also provide extensions.”
And most of her products are made overseas.
That means what happens at the negotiating table could affect how much it costs you to sit in your stylist’s chair.
And for stylists who cater to texturized hair or multicultural clients in Lincoln, the concerns are even deeper.
“It’s challenging honestly especially being here in Lincoln, Nebraska,” Brown said. “There’s like minimal options as far as hair stores to get the products or tools that I need. Ninety percent of the time I’m just referring to online, like Amazon, or just somewhere that I can get the best bang for my buck.”
Mohamed and Brown have already felt the impact of tariffs at beauty supply stores.
For now, they are watching and waiting to see their full effect. They said they’ll have to make hard decisions about how to pay for higher costs.
One Lincoln barbershop said it hasn’t felt the tug of tariffs.
But the owner of Corn Coast Cuts, Hakim Muhammad, said even if they impact his business, he will continue to thrive.
“Just like anything, we are going to roll with the punches and figure out how to stay afloat and thrive,” Muhammad said. “We made it through COVID, and we are still here today.”
All three business owners said they do not want to increase prices, and don’t plan on it, because they care most about what their client feels when they leave chair.
But they said prices will sometimes have to reflect the current state of the economy.
