# Lash Deposits: How Much to Take, When It's Refundable and How to Say It

Source: https://us.iw.pe/guides/lash-deposit-policy · By the WIPE team (https://us.iw.pe/about) · Updated 2026-10-21

**The short answer:** most lash artists take a flat deposit of about $25 to $50, or 25 to 50 percent of the service, at the moment of booking, and apply it to the total. Make it non-refundable but transferable: it moves to the new date if the client reschedules with enough notice (usually 24 or 48 hours), and it's kept for late cancellations and no-shows. If you cancel, refund it in full. Show the whole policy before she pays, ask her to agree to it, and repeat it in the confirmation. That's the policy; the rest of this guide covers the amounts, the edge cases and the exact words.

## Why take a deposit for lash appointments at all?

A lash appointment is long. When a two-hour full set doesn't show, you lose the two hours and the client you turned away to hold them. A deposit does two jobs: it makes people take the booking seriously, and it pays for at least part of the time when they don't.

It also filters. Someone who won't put down $30 to hold two hours of your day was less likely to show up anyway. If you want to see what missed appointments cost you over a year, try the [no-show cost calculator](https://us.iw.pe/tools/no-show-calculator).

## How much should a lash deposit be?

There are three common ways to set it. Pick one and use it for everyone.

1. **A flat amount.** SuiteCal's guide for lash techs calls a $50 deposit "the sweet spot for most lash techs" and says "a flat $25 deposit works well for fills and shorter services" ([SuiteCal](https://suitecal.com/blog/take-deposits-lash-appointments)). Flat amounts are easy to explain and easy to remember.
2. **A percentage.** DFW Lash University recommends requiring 25 to 50 percent of the service price upfront ([DFW Lash University](https://dfwlashuniversity.com/how-lash-artists-can-create-strong-booking-policies/)). A percentage scales with your menu, so a mega volume set holds more than a lash lift.
3. **Full prepayment, for some clients.** Many artists move a client to full prepayment after a no-show or a second late cancellation. DFW Lash University suggests requiring full prepayment for future bookings after one no-show.

A useful check: the deposit should cover something real if the slot stays empty. If your full set is $160 and your supplies and rent per appointment are around $35, a $25 deposit doesn't cover the cost of the empty chair. Watch fills, too. SuiteCal points out that on a fill priced around $65 to $85, a $50 deposit is already 60 to 75 percent of the price, which can feel steep for a regular.

Many artists use one amount for full sets and a smaller one for fills, and some waive deposits for long-standing regulars. If you waive it for anyone, write down who and why, so it's a rule and not a favor.

## When should a lash deposit be refundable?

This is where most arguments happen, so decide it in advance. Here is how most lash policies handle each case:

- **She reschedules with enough notice:** the deposit moves to the new date. Many artists allow this once, then ask for a new deposit.
- **She cancels with enough notice and doesn't rebook:** either refund it or hold it as a credit for a set period. Say which. SuiteCal's sample wording offers "a full refund or credit" for changes made at least 24 hours ahead.
- **She cancels inside the notice window:** the deposit is kept.
- **She doesn't show:** the deposit is kept, and future bookings may need full prepayment.
- **She's late past your grace period:** the service may be shortened or treated as a late cancellation; the policy should say which.
- **You cancel or reschedule:** refund in full, or move it if she prefers. Always.
- **You can't do the service for a safety reason**, such as a reaction to the patch test or an eye condition she told you about at the appointment: refund or move it. Charging someone for a service you decided not to do for her safety isn't a good look, and she did nothing wrong.
- **A real emergency:** say in the policy that you handle these case by case. It costs you little and makes the rest of the policy easier to accept.

## Refundable, non-refundable or transferable: what's the difference?

These words do a lot of work, so use them precisely:

- **Refundable** means she can get the money back under the conditions you set.
- **Non-refundable** means she can't get the money back. On its own, it sounds harsh and can make people hesitate to book.
- **Transferable** means it moves to another appointment. "Non-refundable but transferable with 48 hours' notice" is the phrase most lash artists land on, because it's firm about no-shows and fair to people who plan ahead.

And always add: **"applied to your service total."** Many clients read "deposit" as an extra fee. Saying where the money goes removes most of the pushback before it starts.

## How do you collect a lash deposit?

Collect it at the moment of booking. SuiteCal puts it simply: the appointment "is not confirmed until the deposit is processed" ([SuiteCal](https://suitecal.com/blog/take-deposits-lash-appointments)). A deposit promised for later is a deposit you'll chase.

Your options, roughly from most to least automatic:

1. **A booking tool that takes deposits.** Check which plan includes it. Square Appointments, for example, lists appointment deposits and cancellation and no-show fees on its Plus plan and above, not on its free Square One plan (checked October 2026, [Square Appointments pricing](https://squareup.com/us/en/appointments/pricing)).
2. **A payment link** from your card processor, sent right after she picks a time.
3. **A peer-to-peer payment app.** Common and quick, but it puts more manual work on you, and you'll need to keep your own record of the policy she agreed to.

Whatever you use, keep a record: the date she booked, the policy she saw and the fact that she agreed.

## How do you protect a deposit from a chargeback?

If a client disputes the charge with her bank, your evidence is what you showed her before she paid. Stripe's guidance on preventing disputes is direct about this: "If you have a checkbox your customer must accept that only contains a link, the issuer might reject it as unsatisfactory evidence that your customer was aware of your policies" ([Stripe Docs](https://docs.stripe.com/disputes/prevention/best-practices)). It recommends showing the full policy on the checkout page, or in a pop-up she has to agree to, and including your refund and cancellation policy in your terms.

In practice:

1. Put the short version of your deposit policy right above the payment button, not behind a link.
2. Add a checkbox: "I've read and agree to the booking policy."
3. Repeat it in the confirmation message.
4. Use a business name on card statements that she'll recognize.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules on deposits and consumer contracts vary by state, so check with your state board or a local professional if you're unsure.

## How do you explain your deposit to clients?

Tone matters as much as the rule. Short, calm and in the first person works best for a solo artist. Here are lines you can copy.

**On your booking page:**

> A $50 deposit holds your appointment and comes off your total. If you need to change your time, let me know at least 48 hours ahead and your deposit moves to your new date. Late changes and missed appointments keep the deposit.

**When someone asks in a DM why you take one:**

> Great question! Lash appointments are long, so when one is missed I lose that time and the client I could have booked. The deposit holds your spot and goes toward your service, so it's not an extra charge.

**When someone cancels late:**

> So sorry to hear that! As per the booking policy, your deposit covers the reserved time. I'd love to get you back in; here's my next availability.

**When someone cancels with notice:**

> No problem at all, thanks for letting me know early! Your deposit moves to your new appointment. Which of these times works?

## A deposit policy you can copy

Edit everything in [brackets]. If you want the full booking policy, with late arrivals, fills and fixes too, the [lash policy generator](https://us.iw.pe/tools/lash-policy-generator) writes it from your answers, and our guide to [lash cancellation policies](https://us.iw.pe/guides/lash-cancellation-policy) explains each part.

> **Deposit policy, [Business name]**
>
> A deposit of [$50 for full sets / $25 for fills] is required to book and is applied to your service total. Your appointment is confirmed once the deposit is paid.
>
> If you reschedule at least [48] hours before your appointment, your deposit moves to your new date [once]. Cancellations with at least [48] hours' notice receive [a full refund / a credit valid for 60 days].
>
> Cancellations with less than [48] hours' notice, and missed appointments, forfeit the deposit. After a missed appointment, future bookings require [full prepayment].
>
> If I need to cancel or reschedule, or if I can't safely do your service, your deposit is refunded in full or moved, your choice. For true emergencies, message me and I'll do my best.

## Where WIPE fits

WIPE turns your Instagram into a website with your services, prices, photos and a Book button. It doesn't collect deposits in the US yet, so keep taking them through your payment app, and put your deposit terms on your site where clients see them before they book. Building and previewing your site is free; publishing is $39 a month. You can [see what yours would look like](https://us.iw.pe/start). If you need deposits taken at booking today, the booking apps on our [comparison page](https://us.iw.pe/alternatives) do that, with their fees listed.

## Frequently asked questions

**How much should a lash deposit be?**
Common choices are a flat $25 to $50, or 25 to 50 percent of the service. Many artists use a larger amount for full sets and a smaller one for fills. Pick an amount that covers something real if the slot stays empty, apply it to the total, and use the same rule for everyone.

**Should a lash deposit be refundable?**
Most lash artists make it non-refundable but transferable: it moves to a new date if the client reschedules with enough notice, and it's kept for late cancellations and no-shows. If you cancel, or can't do the service for a safety reason, refund it in full.

**Can I keep a deposit if a client cancels the day before?**
If your written policy says changes need more notice than that, and the client saw and agreed to it before paying, keeping the deposit is what the policy is for. Show the full wording before payment, keep a record of her agreement, and repeat the rule in your confirmation message. State rules vary, so check yours.

**Do I need a deposit for fills?**
Many artists take a smaller deposit for fills, or none for regulars with a good record. Fills are shorter, so a full-set deposit can be a large share of the price. If fills are where your no-shows happen, a modest flat deposit is reasonable.

**What if a client disputes the deposit with her bank?**
Your evidence is what she saw before paying. Payment processors advise showing the full policy at checkout, not only a link, and having the client actively agree to it. Respond with the policy text, her agreement and your messages. Keep records for every booking.

## Sources

- SuiteCal, [How to take deposits for lash appointments](https://suitecal.com/blog/take-deposits-lash-appointments)
- DFW Lash University, [How lash artists can create strong booking policies](https://dfwlashuniversity.com/how-lash-artists-can-create-strong-booking-policies/)
- Stripe Docs, [Best practices for preventing fraud](https://docs.stripe.com/disputes/prevention/best-practices)
- Square, [Square Appointments pricing](https://squareup.com/us/en/appointments/pricing) (checked October 2026)