Some hair salons will need to introduce a PPE charge or price increases due to "significant" extra costs when they reopen.
The Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation says a number of salons will have to charge more in order to remain viable.
It could include a €10 charge in order to cover the costs of personal protective equipment such as masks or visors.
Margaret O’Rourke Doherty, CEO of the Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation, told Newstalk Breakfast that some salons simply cannot absorb the extra costs.
She explained: "What we're seeing is significant costs for many salons in terms of modification of salons, the additional cost of sanitisation, the additional time period that's between and after clients... also the additional costs of masks.
"The massive inflation that's happened with PPE has really risen the cost far beyond what is the norm."
She said a survey she carried out before the COVID-19 crisis showed that over half of salons were already only 'breaking even or worse' due to the likes of VAT rate increases.
She noted: "The price increases you're seeing... they're required. This isn't about price inflation - it's about viability."
Extra charges
Meanwhile, salon chain Peter Mark has confirmed it will charge some customers once-off extra fees when they return to salons.
It includes a potential extra €60 for a "colour detox" to "eliminate patchy uneven results" if customers dyed their hair at home over the last few months.
The chain says the services will only apply if "hair needs additional colour product & technical services to return your hair to your usual salon colour result".
Commenting on the industry more generally, Ms O’Rourke Doherty said an additional amount of work will be needed when some customers return.
She said: "You're not talking about normal regrowth... [it's] three to four times what it would normally be. That's an additional cost. You've an additional colour cost, you've an additional time cost.
"In terms of colour correction and things like that... there's a significant amount of time that goes into those services.
"What you've really seen over the last few months is a real appreciation for our industry and skill sets... it's not as simple as it looks."
Hairdressers and barbers will be allowed reopen on Monday, as part of the significant easing of COVID-19 restrictions announced last week.
