You’ve probably noticed it before: the women’s razor costs $12 while the identical men’s razor costs $8. The pink shampoo is $9 while the blue version is $6. Women’s dry cleaning costs more. Haircuts cost more. Even kids’ toys cost more when they’re pink.

This is the pink tax—the upcharge women pay for products and services that are functionally identical to men’s versions but marketed to women. And in 2026, it’s costing women thousands of dollars annually for the crime of existing while female.

Let’s break down exactly how much extra women are paying and what you can actually do about it.

The categories where the pink tax hits hardest

Personal care and hygiene products are the most obvious offenders. A 2015 study found that women’s products cost 7% more on average than similar products for men, but some categories are way worse.

Razors and shaving products show markups of 11-13%. Women’s razors often cost $2-4 more for the exact same blade technology, just in a pink handle. Shaving cream marketed to women costs about $1-2 more per can than men’s, despite being the same formula.

Shampoo and conditioner marketed to women typically cost 20-30% more than men’s versions. A bottle of ‘for women’ shampoo runs $8-12 while the men’s version of the same brand costs $5-8. The ingredients? Often nearly identical.

Deodorant shows similar patterns. Women’s deodorant averages $6-8 while men’s costs $4-6 for the same size and similar formulas.

Services cost more too

Beyond products, women pay more for basic services. Haircuts are the most egregious example—women pay $45-80 for a basic cut while men pay $20-35, even when both are getting the same length trimmed. The excuse is always ‘styling,’ but when you’re getting a simple trim with no styling, you’re still charged the women’s rate.

Dry cleaning charges women more for button-down shirts that are functionally identical to men’s dress shirts. Women’s shirts cost $6-10 to dry clean while men’s identical shirts cost $3-5. The only difference? The buttons are on the opposite side.

Alterations also skew expensive for women’s clothing. Taking in a women’s blazer costs $25-40 while men’s blazer alterations run $15-25 for similar work.

The annual cost adds up

When you calculate the pink tax across all categories, estimates suggest women pay $1,400-2,000 more annually than men for similar products and services. That’s not counting the additional costs of things like makeup, skincare, and menstrual products (which men don’t buy at all, not just cheaper versions of).

Over a lifetime, the pink tax costs women somewhere between $60,000-$100,000. That’s a down payment on a house. That’s retirement savings. That’s college tuition for a kid. And women are paying it just for gender-coded packaging and marketing.

How to avoid the pink tax

Buy men’s products when they’re identical. Men’s razors work exactly the same on women’s legs. Men’s shampoo cleans hair just fine. Men’s deodorant prevents odor equally well. The gendered marketing is arbitrary—ignore it and save money.

Compare unit prices, not just package prices. Sometimes the ‘for women’ version is smaller, making the markup even worse than it appears. Always check price per ounce.

Buy unisex or gender-neutral brands. Many newer brands specifically avoid gendered marketing and pricing. They’re often cheaper and better quality than the pink-taxed alternatives.

For services like haircuts, call ahead and ask about pricing. Some salons charge by service complexity, not gender. Find those places and support them.

Challenge gendered pricing when you see it. Ask dry cleaners why women’s shirts cost more. Question salons on their pricing structure. Awareness and pushback can create change.

Some places are fighting back. California, New York, and several other states have banned gender-based pricing discrimination. But enforcement is inconsistent, and most places still have no legal protection against the pink tax.

The bottom line

The pink tax is real, it’s expensive, and it’s mostly arbitrary. Women are paying thousands extra annually for pink packaging and gendered marketing that provides zero additional value.

You can’t eliminate all pink tax costs, but you can significantly reduce them by buying men’s versions of identical products, avoiding obviously gendered pricing, and supporting companies that don’t engage in gender-based price discrimination.

Your money is worth the same as everyone else’s. Stop paying extra for the privilege of being marketed to as a woman. Buy the blue razor, get the men’s haircut price, and put that $1,500 annual savings toward something that actually matters.