One of the biggest financial advantages of being self-employed is that you can deduct legitimate business expenses from your taxable income — which directly reduces what you owe in taxes. The less taxable income you have, the lower your tax bill.
But many beauty professionals either don't know what's deductible or don't keep records well enough to claim it. Here's a comprehensive list of deductions available to hair stylists, braiders, nail techs, estheticians, lash artists, barbers, MUAs, and massage therapists.
Your Biggest Deduction: Booth Rent or Suite Rent
If you rent a booth or suite to run your business, that rent is 100% deductible as a business expense. This is typically the largest single deduction for beauty professionals. Make sure you have receipts or bank records for every payment.
Supplies and Products
Any products or supplies you purchase for use on clients — not for personal use — are deductible:
- Hair color, developer, bleach, toners
- Shampoo, conditioner, and styling products used on clients
- Nail polish, gel, acrylics, dip powder, nail art supplies
- Waxing supplies, lash extensions, brow products
- Massage oils and lotions
- Skincare products used in treatments
- Gloves, capes, foils, and other consumables
Tools and Equipment
Professional tools used in your work are deductible. For items over $2,500, you may need to depreciate them over several years rather than deduct the full cost in one year — check with your accountant.
- Hair dryers, flat irons, curling wands, clippers
- Nail drills, UV/LED lamps, nail tables
- Esthetician equipment: steamers, extraction tools, microdermabrasion devices
- Massage tables and equipment
- Shears, razors, and barber tools
- Ring lights and photography equipment for portfolio photos
- iPads or tablets used for client booking
Continuing Education and Licensing
Anything that maintains or improves your professional skills is deductible:
- Classes, workshops, and masterclasses (hair color, braiding techniques, lash certification, etc.)
- State cosmetology or esthetics license renewal fees
- Professional association membership dues
- Industry books, courses, and subscriptions
- Beauty trade shows and conferences (tickets, not travel — see mileage below)
Marketing and Promotion
- Instagram or Facebook ads for your business
- Your website domain and hosting
- Business cards, flyers, and printed materials
- Photo shoots for your portfolio
- Scheduling app subscriptions (Vagaro, GlossGenius, Square Appointments)
Phone and Internet
If you use your phone for business (booking clients, posting to Instagram, running your business), you can deduct the business-use percentage of your phone bill. If you use your phone 70% for business, you can deduct 70% of your monthly bill. Internet costs follow the same rule.
Uniform and Protective Clothing
Clothing worn exclusively for work — and that isn't suitable for everyday wear — is deductible. This includes:
- Salon aprons and smocks
- Non-slip shoes required for your workspace
- Disposable gloves and masks bought in bulk
Mileage
Driving for business — to the salon, supply stores, client locations, or trade shows — is deductible at the IRS standard mileage rate. For 2026, that rate is $0.70 per mile. See our full guide on the mileage deduction for beauty professionals.
Bank Fees and Processing Fees
Any fees you pay to process client payments are deductible. This includes Square, Stripe, or PayPal processing fees, as well as monthly fees for a business bank account.
How to Document Your Deductions
The IRS can deny a deduction if you don't have documentation. For every expense:
- Keep the receipt (a photo on your phone is fine — SuitesBooks lets you attach receipt photos to each expense)
- Record the date, amount, and business purpose
- For mixed-use items (like your phone), document the percentage used for business
SuitesBooks auto-categorizes your expenses into IRS-recognized categories and flags which ones are deductible — so come tax time, your deduction list is already built.