How to Price My Lash Services

Time for the money honey!
But what should my prices be? These may be thoughts you are having as a new lash artist, or as an older lash artist looking to re evaluate your prices.

It is extremely exciting to have your first paying clients and being the boss of your own business. Although it can be daunting with knowing everything you need to get started to be successful!

In the next 5 blogs, I will be covering key things a new lash artist needs to figure out in order to hit the ground running for their lash business.

Todays topic: Pricing
​
How do you figure out your pricing as a new lash artist?

In the lash industry, there are several different ways to price your services. First we need to know our numbers to make sure you can/will make a profit at the end of the day. Then you can choose options for how to price and lingo/ lash terms for your services.

Let’s get started!
My favorite pricing information that’s easy to understand is made from my talented lash artist friend, Mack from @MackLashMob on Instagram.

Hopefully Mackenzie’s break down and information will help you understand your numbers for the business. Now, let’s dive into the different pricing options. I will go over the pros and cons of each. This will give you ideas to consider when starting your lash business.

Lash pricing options:​

• Price by week.
• Price by service.
• Price by time.

Price by week

Pricing example:
Classic
One week fill $35
Two week fill $55
Three week fill $75
Full set $85​

​Volume
One week fill $55
Two week fill $75
Three week fill is a new full set $100

​Pro:
I’m not entirely sure of a pro for this method. If you are priced this way and love it, please share in the comments. I’d love to hear other opinions and ideas I’ve never thought of before.

Con:
​Weekly pricing is personally my least favorite and here’s why; As a lash artist looking at pricing like this… it tells me that you haven’t figured out great retention for the majority of your clients and that your full sets aren’t actually 100% full. Or if you are getting them 100% full then the retention is not lasting as long as 3 weeks. Clients can and should be able to go 3+ weeks. Note: Not all clients can go 3 weeks (because of amount of lashes and growth cycles) but the majority should be able to. I have a few that go 5 weeks because their growth cycle is so slow. I have 2 that come every 2 weeks ready for a fill because their growth cycle is fast and naturally they don’t have as many lashes. The clients with fast growth cycles are the ones who take all their vitamins and a Collagen drink daily too, which makes retention difficult. (If you are looking for more information about Retention, download my free ebook. Click here).

If you choose to price this way then you need to also be aware of your time. For example if you are booking 1 hour fills for each service (one week fill and 3 week fill are both 1 hr) then you are making more money for a 3 week fill then a one week fill and the client is getting less lashes at 3 weeks then if they come every week.

Priced by service

Recently I listened to a few blogs saying that “charging your worth” isn’t actually your worth and putting a dollar value on that probably isn’t the best way to figure out your pricing. But this can be a topic for another blog.
The other methods use lash terms like classic fill, volume fill, full set, etc. This can be confusing to clients. So if you want to make it simpler on the client, then this is the method for you. Offer a Lash set and lash fill. The style and design is up to the client and the artist, this is where communication and expectations are important to discuss. The pricing is a flat rate.

Pros:

• It’s simpler for clients to understand what they are getting.
• Allows you to be the artist. You get to create a full set that looks great for the client using whichever technique and product to achieve the same look as a volume full set. Or let’s say that client thinks she wants a “volume styled set” but because your pricing option just says full set, you have the freedom to create a volume looking full set but with YY lashes. You have the freedom.
• ​There is no time restriction

Con:

• ​If it takes you more time to do different techniques, you may be making money on one client more than a profit from another.
• ​There is no time restriction
  

Price by time

When you price by time it is extremely important for you, the artist, to understand how fast you work during a certain duration per service. For example. I know it takes me longer to do a volume fill than a classic fill.

​ Pricing example:
​Classic full set $120 2-2.5hrs
Classic fill $55 1hr
Volume full set $150 3hrs
Volume fill $75 1.5hrs

​A client comes for a full set, you get every single lash. Then they come for a classic fill at 2 weeks. The one hour fill you have allotted allows you to get every single of the natural lashes taken care of and you finish early. I would then tell this client, “your lashes are being well taken care of by you and I am able to reach every lash during the service and finish early, so next time let’s book you out at 2.5 weeks between fills.” Generally extending 0.5 weeks makes your client excited they their lashes are lasting so well. They also feel their lash artist is truly amazing because the retention is lasting longer. Both the artist and the client have an understanding of how the lashes are doig for the client.

Now if you had a client come at 3 weeks because they were simply lazy about pre booking or wanting to push out their appointment as far as possible because of their financial situation…. During the appointment you do your best to get 100% of their natural lashes with extensions but you are not able to get all of them, then that client is not the best for 3 week fills. When this happens I calmly inform my client saying “okay you came into this appointment with hardly any extensions left. I did my best to get you a 100% full but was unable to because you came in with less than half the previous extensions still on. So inorder to get you back to 100% full let’s schedule your next appointment in a few days or next week so I can get you back to 100% . Otherwise you can continue to come at 3 weeks but at every 3 week appointment for you and your growth cycle, then I won’t be able to get you full. Over time you will only have 50%.
Clients will understand this conversation if you have done paperwork with the client and talked about lash education and expectations, at their first appointment with you.

Pro:

• ​you know what you are making per hour
  
• your client knows what to expect for their time
  
• you can schedule appointments and breaks easier​

Con:

• ​if you don’t go over paperwork/medical forms/expectations and lash education, then it’s harder for the client to understand that, they need to come back for a fill at a time that works best for their lashes lashes.

Whichever pricing method you decide, you need to create a policy for your pricing and have boundaries that you are firm on. If you are confused or unsure of your pricing, then your clients definitely will be unsure and will questions when it comes for payment. Being unsure can lead the client to thinking you are not professional or the expert in your craft. I want you to show up as your best self, as an expert in the lash industry. When you are considering the pricing options choose one and lay it out on paper of what the numbers and policy would look like for your clients. Ask yourself what if-questions about your policy … like if this were to happen for my client, what would the policy be, etc.

I hope this information helps set your business up for success! You got this! 

have questions, please ask. sennd me an email at info@idajane.co