Beauty Store Owner Worried About Trump's China Tariff

An Independent beauty supply store owner in the Atlanta metro area is growing increasingly concerned about rising operating costs, following the steep 145% tariff on Chinese imports imposed by President Donald Trump.

“If these tariffs are being implemented, it’s going to affect supply chains negatively, and it’s going to affect how our customers buy,”  Maureen Yancey, owner of MY Beauty Unlimited in Tucker, Georgia, told WSB-TV in an interview published April 11. 

According to Vogue, over 25,000 products sold in the U.S. beauty market are primarily imported from China, meaning new tariffs could trigger significant price increases, forcing business owners to pay more for essential inventory like wigs and haircare products. Major Chinese cities such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing are key export hubs for these goods, as noted by Examine China. In fact, China led global exports of fake hair in 2023, generating $2.25 billion, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).

Yancy is worried that the high cost of inventory could force her to raise prices.

Yancey has long been the go-to beauty supply store in her community, offering everything from hair extensions and wigs to beauty accessories. However, with new tariffs in place, she worries rising prices may drive customers away. Yancey is especially concerned for those who depend on her services, like individuals undergoing chemotherapy or experiencing hair loss, who rely on her store not just for products, but for a sense of normalcy and confidence.

“You can change your look every day, every week, and I do have a lot of customers who do that,” she said.

Yancey’s wigs currently range from $20 to $400, depending on the type and quality. While she can’t say for certain, she anticipates the import tariffs could drive up the cost of lower-priced synthetic wigs by 25% to 30%, translating to an increase of around $10 to $20. Wigs made from human hair, she adds, could see even steeper price hikes.

“Maybe $100 more. It’s going to affect the industry pretty heavily,” Yancey said. She’s now looking to countries like Vietnam and Cambodia to purchase inventory due to their lower tariffs.

“It’s going to be tough. I’m going to have to see what the effect is and then explore my options for sourcing these wigs,” she added during her WSB-TV interview. 

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Local Beauty Supply Owner Concerned Trump’s Tariffs Will Cause Spike In Wig Costs  was originally published on ionehellobeautiful.staging.go.ione.nyc