Longueuil salon ruling sparks renewed debate on gender‑based pricing

The Human Rights Tribunal has ordered a Longueuil hair salon to pay $500 in damages to a non-binary client who said they were forced to choose between a “men’s” or “women’s” haircut when booking an appointment. Even though the salon updated its website after the complaint was filed in 2023, the client pursued the case — and won, reigniting the debate over gender-based pricing.

“This is a societal issue, and things are evolving. But right now, a small business is being targeted over a problem that affects everyone, and they’re the ones taking the hit. In my view, that is not the right approach,” said the president of the Association Coiffure Québec, Stéphane Roy.

He agrees that change is needed, but argues it should not be rushed, as doing so could create financial strain for salons.

“I understand the discomfort and it’s just sad that still in 2026, it’s still happening,” said MJ Déziel, founder and creative director of APART studio, located on Montreal’s Plateau.

In 2021, the queer hairdresser launched UNGENDERED, a campaign that encourages hair salons to offer gender-neutral pricing.

What a haircut is really worth

Roy argues that pricing should reflect the overall perceived value of the work — shaped by factors like training, which tends to be longer for women’s cuts, and the complexity involved — rather than a simple formula.

“Giving value to a hairdresser’s work based solely on time doesn’t make sense to me, because some stylists are faster and more skilled than others,” said Roy.

But not everyone in the industry sees value the same way.

“I perceive my work very valuable on any gender really,” said Déziel. “I’m not going to base my work on your perceived value. You perceive value in my work or you don’t. So you’re welcome in my studio or you’re not.”

Industry calls for clear guidelines

Members of the Association Coiffure Québec say they’re looking for clearer guidelines on what’s allowed, so salons don’t face similar penalties.

“We want elected officials and ministers to quickly lay out a clear path forward. Leaders should explain what happened, put a temporary moratorium in place to take a proper look at the situation, and come back with a plan — something we believe would have been far more constructive,” said Roy.

“As a whole, it’s going to improve in salons. It’s going to be the kick in the butt to actually embrace that change. It’s sad, but also it’s like, you took the hit for a better future for the whole industry,” added Déziel.