911: A New Law Could Prevent Chair-Sharing? Here’s What to Know
Why Restricting Chair Sharing in Salons is Bad for Business & Hairdressers
1. Increased Financial Strain on Hairdressers
Here are the cons of banning chair-sharing:
- Higher Costs: If stylists are forced to rent their own chair full-time, it could make salon spaces unaffordable for those with smaller client lists.
- Limited Flexibility: Many stylists work part-time or have fluctuating schedules, making it impractical to pay for a chair they don’t use every day.
- Risk of Closing Businesses: In small towns, where a limited number of hairdressers share a single salon space, these regulations could force them to close entirely. If these regulations are enacted, many stylists may struggle to afford salon suite rentals, forcing them to leave the profession or move their businesses into their homes, reducing their professionalism and visibility.
2. Loss of Opportunities for New Stylists
For young hairdressers just starting their careers, chair-sharing is a crucial stepping stone. It allows them to…
- Build Their Client Base Gradually: Many new stylists start with a small number of clients and need time to establish themselves without the burden of high fixed costs.
- Supplement Their Income: New stylists often work part-time while growing their business and chair-sharing gives them the flexibility to do so.
- Work in a Professional Setting: In rural areas, where salon spaces are limited, chair-sharing allows new stylists to work in an established salon rather than setting up an expensive and isolated home-based operation. With these new regulations, aspiring stylists may find it nearly impossible to enter the industry due to the high costs of full-time chair rentals.
3. Reduced Salon Flexibility and Efficiency
Chair-sharing allows salons to maximize their space and profitability. Many salon suite businesses offer flexible rental agreements, enabling multiple stylists to work in the same chair on different days—creating an efficient and profitable model. In smaller South Dakota communities, this flexibility is especially critical.
If chair-sharing is prohibited, here’s how salon flexibility and efficiency will be altered:
- Salons Could Lose Revenue: Empty chairs mean lost income for salon owners who depend on steady rental revenue.
- Clients May Have Fewer Options: With fewer stylists available in shared spaces, clients might face longer wait times or higher service costs.
- Fewer Beauty Services in Rural Areas: With limited salon space, fewer stylists could afford to operate, leading to reduced access to beauty services in small communities. Rigid regulations would ultimately force salons to downsize or close entirely, further limiting access to professional beauty services in rural areas.

4. Unnecessary Financial Pressure on the Industry
The salon industry is still recovering from recent economic downturns and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing restrictive regulations that prevent chair-sharing could place additional financial burdens on an industry that relies on affordability and flexibility leading to…
- Higher Service Costs for Clients: Stylists facing higher chair rental costs may need to increase their prices, driving clients away.
- More Salons Closing: Salon owners who depend on rental income from multiple stylists could struggle to stay afloat.
- Limited Professional Spaces in Rural Towns: In small towns where beauty businesses are already scarce, these regulations could force hairdressers to operate from their homes, reducing their credibility and accessibility. The independent salon model has become increasingly popular, and these new rules threaten to dismantle it entirely.
5. The Impact on Independent Stylists
Restricting chair-sharing will:
- Forces stylists into rigid, costly setups that may not align with their business goals.
- Limits their ability to scale their business gradually.
- Discourages entrepreneurship in the industry, making it harder for stylists to take control of their careers.
- Particularly hurts rural stylists who depend on flexible arrangements to stay in business and serve their communities. By implementing these regulations, policymakers risk stifling the creativity and independence that make the beauty industry unique.
6. Here’s How to Make Your Voice Heard:
- Tyler Evins, Program Director South Dakota Cosmetology Commission
- Email: cosmetology@state.sd.us
- Phone: 605-773-6193