Can hairdressers deduct manicures as business expenses on taxes? Tax advice for salon professionals

As someone who's worked with salon professionals for years, I can help clarify this tax situation. For W-2 commission employees, unfortunately, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated unreimbursed employee business expenses as itemized deductions for tax years 2018-2025. This means even your professional supplies like foils and combs aren't deductible on your personal tax return if you're a W-2 employee. However, there are two potential options: First, talk to your salon owner about an accountable reimbursement plan where they cover some of these costs. Second, consider if you might actually be misclassified - many salon workers should be independent contractors (filing with Schedule C) rather than W-2 employees. If you were an independent contractor, then yes, professional expenses that are "ordinary and necessary" for your business could be deductible. The manicure expense might be partially deductible if you can demonstrate it's specifically for business purposes, but the IRS might view this as a personal grooming expense.

After years of struggling with this exact issue as a hairstylist, I discovered a tool that helped clarify what I could and couldn't deduct! https://taxr.ai saved me so much stress last tax season. You upload your expenses and it analyzes which ones the IRS would likely accept as legitimate deductions based on your specific employment classification. For commission-based stylists, it helped me understand the difference between what's deductible as a W-2 employee versus an independent contractor. It also flagged potential audit triggers (like trying to deduct personal grooming as a business expense, which can be risky). When I was considering leaving my salon to become booth rental, it even showed me a side-by-side comparison of my potential tax situation under both scenarios.

Just wanted to update after trying out taxr.ai - I'm honestly shocked at how helpful it was! I uploaded my expense spreadsheet and some photos of receipts, and within minutes it categorized everything and flagged my manicure expenses as "high risk deduction" with an explanation about the personal vs. business nature of grooming. The best part was the consultation with a tax pro who specializes in salon workers. He explained I could potentially deduct a portion of nail care IF I could document it's specifically for a business purpose beyond normal grooming, but cautioned it would likely trigger additional scrutiny. He suggested keeping a log of client comments about my nails and documenting how they're different from what I'd personally choose. Totally worth checking out if you're in the beauty industry! Saved me from making some potentially expensive mistakes.

Have you tried calling the IRS directly? I had a similar question last year and spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone. Every time I called, it was either "due to high call volume we cannot take your call" or I'd wait for 2 hours and get disconnected. I finally discovered https://claimyr.com and used their IRS callback service (they have a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). I was skeptical but desperate. They somehow got the IRS to call ME back within about an hour. The agent I spoke with explained that personal grooming (including manicures) is generally not deductible even if it benefits your business, BUT there are exceptions if you can prove it's beyond normal personal grooming and specifically required for your business.

So I have to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to the IRS about a notice I received, so I reluctantly tried it. I expected to waste money but within 45 minutes I got a call directly from an IRS agent who answered all my questions about business deductions for personal appearance expenses. She confirmed that while general personal grooming isn't deductible, there are exceptions for performers and certain occupations where a specific appearance element is required beyond normal grooming standards. For a hairdresser specifically, she said manicures would be a tough sell unless you could document they're specifically designed in a way that enhances client services (like specifically shaped nails for certain techniques) rather than just well-maintained nails that anyone in a professional setting might have. Totally worth it just to get a definitive answer from the actual IRS instead of random internet opinions!

Former salon owner here. Here's what I recommended to my stylists: have your salon switch to a booth rental model (independent contractor) OR create an LLC and have the salon contract with your LLC rather than employing you directly. This lets you file Schedule C and deduct legitimate business expenses. The manicure deduction is tricky, but potentially viable if you can document that: 1) They're specifically for business use, 2) They're different from what you'd personally choose, and 3) They directly contribute to your income. Keep a log of client comments about your nails and how they affect your service. Take before/after photos of different nail treatments and note client responses. Document if you see increased tips or bookings with certain nail styles.

Anyone know if those pedicure expenses from nail salons could also be deductible? Clients sometimes comment on my cute toe designs during the summer when I wear sandals lol

As a tax professional who works with many beauty industry clients, I want to emphasize something important that hasn't been fully addressed here: the documentation burden for personal appearance deductions is extremely high, and the IRS scrutinizes these claims heavily. For manicures to be deductible, you'd need to prove they're "ordinary and necessary" for your specific business AND that they exceed what's considered normal personal grooming. This means: 1. Maintaining detailed records of client feedback specifically about your nails 2. Documenting any special techniques or nail features that enhance your service 3. Showing how your nail maintenance differs from standard personal grooming 4. Potentially demonstrating measurable business impact (increased tips, client retention) Even then, the IRS might only allow a partial deduction - the portion that exceeds what you'd spend on "normal" nail care. The $2,340 annual expense would likely face significant scrutiny. My recommendation: Focus first on resolving your employment classification issue. If you're truly operating as an independent contractor but classified as W-2, that's a bigger tax impact than any individual deduction. Consider consulting with a tax professional who specializes in beauty industry workers before making any major decisions. The peace of mind of proper tax compliance is worth more than pushing questionable deductions that could trigger audits.

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a similar situation a few years ago, and I wanted to share what worked for me. I was a W-2 commission stylist trying to deduct everything under the sun, including my nail expenses, until I had a wake-up call during a tax preparation appointment. The key insight that changed everything was understanding that the employment classification issue isn't just about taxes - it affects your entire business relationship with the salon. When I switched to booth rental, not only could I deduct legitimate business expenses (including a portion of appearance-related costs that directly impacted my service), but I also gained control over my pricing, scheduling, and client relationships. For your specific manicure question - I do deduct about 60% of my nail expenses now as an independent contractor, but only because I can document that I get specific nail art that matches seasonal themes for my salon suite, and I track client comments and rebooking rates. The other 40% I consider personal grooming that I'd do anyway. The documentation piece that @d0c7f860b662 mentioned is crucial. I keep a simple spreadsheet with dates, services, costs, and any client feedback. Takes maybe 5 minutes after each appointment, but it's saved me during tax season when my accountant reviews everything. Bottom line: talk to a tax professional first, then approach your salon owner. The conversation might be easier than you think - many salon owners are dealing with rising labor costs and would welcome a booth rental arrangement that gives them predictable income without payroll headaches.