FOR A GOOD CAUSE:

There’s no escaping death and taxes. But if customers of Hair Studio 409 in Newport Beach feel like pulling their hair out around April 15, at least they can afford to have it cut and colored first.

In an effort to help locals weather a tough economic climate, salon owner Robert Curtis has been sponsoring a program since January in which clients can name their own prices.

That may not seem like a sound business decision to some, but there’s a method to his madness.

“You may not be bringing in as much money, but you’re getting more people coming in,” said Curtis, who allows customers to pay whatever they can afford.

Most customers don’t know the deal they are getting until they get to the register, he said. Most of his regular customers are deducting about 20% from the total service, Curtis said.

Shannon Buckner heard about the program from a friend who had just been in, so she called and got her hair colored and cut last week.

Buckner said she can’t afford to pay more than $50 for a haircut, and she paid considerably less than that for both a haircut and color treatment.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to pamper myself in a way I wouldn’t do normally,” Buckner said.

“Customers aren’t used to anyone bending over backward to help them out,” said stylist Andrew Figgins.

When the program started in January, right after the holidays, one of stylist Cat Payne’s clients had just gotten laid off from her job. She came in to get a color and cut at a price she could afford before heading out to look for another job.

“It completely changed her attitude, and the way she felt about herself,” Payne said, “and at the end of the day, it makes me feel better knowing [my clients] are going to be able to get back on their feet.”

With about another month left to go, Curtis hopes people will continue to come in and take advantage of the reduced prices.

When they first hear about the offer, many people ask, “What’s the catch?,” Curtis said, and his answer is always the same.

“The catch is there is no catch,” he tells them, adding that he’d like to challenge other businesses in the area to give their own customers a break.

“When you’re doing things like this, you can feel the pulse of what’s going on in the community,” Curtis said.

HAIR STUDIO 409

WHERE: 409 30th St., Newport Beach.

WHAT: “Name Your Own Price” hair services

CONTACT: (949) 673-4247

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.