Hairdressers: Gender-neutral pricing is mandatory

Do women still pay more than men at your hair salon? Beware: The General Equal Treatment Act also has implications for pricing in the skilled trades.

For many decades, most hair salons had Gender-specific price lists. Even today, it's often the case that a haircut for men is cheaper than for women for the same service, simply because of the gender difference. One factor to consider here is... General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). Because it has an impact on a non-discriminatory and transparent pricing. 

And not only that. AGG prohibits such price differences are fundamental. Also the European Court decided in 2025 that unequal treatment without objective justification, it is neither tenable under data protection law nor under discrimination law (Case No. C-394 / 23).

As a consequence, every business should have one gender-neutral price list create, which are based on objective criteria This is based on the principle that businesses avoid discrimination in this way and face no legal consequences. We explain here what companies should pay attention to. 

What does the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) say?

The  AGG According to § 1, the goal is "Disadvantages to prevent or prevent discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity remove". § 2 AGG describes the areas in which the law applies.

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Updos are a core aspect of the hairdressing profession.

For the Hairdressing Two points are particularly important:

• the protection of employees from discrimination and 
• Protection against discrimination in civil law business transactions. 

Discrimination in business transactions

Especially important for Hairdressing businesses is the protection against discrimination in civil law Business transactions. To Section 19 Paragraph 1 No. 1 AGG No one may be disadvantaged in the establishment, performance or termination of contracts if the reason is one of the characteristics mentioned in § 1.

This applies particularly to so-called mass transactions – that is, transactions that are frequently concluded under the same conditions, without the individual customer playing a role. Hairdressing services These are generally among the mass-market transactions of daily life. Therefore be valid the specifications of AGG Normally here too.

Exception for objective reasons

Section 20 Paragraph 1 AGG allowed but different Treatments, if a factual reason exists. Or it is a "positive measure" according to § 5 AGG This is the case, for example, when the hairdresser offers special appointments to customers with serious illnesses.

This means that if there is a justifiable objective reason, a distinction may be made – for example, if he lens is necessary or useful. This is the case, for example, at a hair salon. time or the Material consumption.

Consequences of unequal treatment

However, is there no such justification lies in a unjustified discrimination before. Then the person concerned went to § 21 AGG  Right to removal, injunction, Compensation and, if applicable, monetary compensation. These claims must be made within two months – according to the latest plans of the Federal Government Claims must be asserted within four months. Additional claims may also arise from other laws.

Neutral pricing in the hairdressing industry

The right pricing strategy should be determined after the actual effort It should be calculated. Differences can be made primarily according to... Hair length, technical Execution – for example, cutting with scissors or machine – and the respective Time- and workload, especially when it comes to styling.

Unisex pricing as a management tool

A gender-neutral price list is important not only because of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). It's also important for... External representation It is of great importance to the business and the entire industry. Unisex prices lend the hairdressing salon a modern and contemporary imageAdditionally, unequal treatment can occur, especially in times of... social media quickly create a negative image.

Source: friseurhandwerk.de

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