Understanding the Hairdressing & Cosmetology Category (ID: 7240)
The Hairdressing & Cosmetology category, identified by the Google product category ID 7240, is a specialized segment within the Business & Industrial branch of the Google product taxonomy. This classification is specifically designed for professional-grade equipment and supplies utilized in salon, spa, and beauty environments. Proper assignment of this category helps Google understand the intended commercial context of your inventory, moving it beyond general retail classifications and ensuring it is indexed correctly for business-to-business or professional buyers.
What Belongs in this Category
This category is reserved for durable goods and professional implements that are essential for the operation of a cosmetology business. Examples of products found in the US market that fit this category include various models of professional barber chairs, high-end spa pedicure chairs, and salon-grade styling capes. These products are characterized by their industrial or commercial build quality, designed for heavy daily use by licensed professionals rather than general household use.
When assessing whether your product belongs here, consider if the item is primarily used by a service provider in a clinical or salon setting. For example, high-quality salon styling chairs, including retro-style barber chairs and modern hydraulic salon seating, are primary examples of items meant for this category. Similarly, pedicure equipment such as specialized spa chairs with integrated plumbing or footrests for professional use falls squarely within these parameters. You should also include protective wear such as professional-grade hair cutting or coloring capes that are designed for salon environments.
What Does Not Belong Here
It is important to distinguish this category from neighbouring categories provided by the Google taxonomy to ensure your feed remains accurate. For instance, if you are selling medical-grade equipment such as dental chairs or diagnostic tools, these belong under the Medical or Dentistry categories instead of 7240. Items that are used for large-scale retail display, such as shelving units for clothing or generic storage bins, should be directed to Retail or Industrial Storage categories.
If your inventory includes items for the beauty industry that are considered consumer-facing personal care, such as personal hair straighteners, consumer-grade shampoo, or makeup for individual resale, these should not be placed in the 7240 category. Instead, these are generally found under the broader 'Apparel & Accessories' or 'Health & Beauty' branches of the taxonomy. Products associated with Piercing & Tattooing should also be excluded from Hairdressing & Cosmetology, as they have their own distinct category.
When to Choose a Subcategory
The Google product taxonomy provides specific subcategories to improve search granularity for merchants. You should always aim for the most specific category available. If your product is a Salon Chair, a Pedicure Chair, or a Hairdressing Cape & Neck Cover, you should select the corresponding subcategory rather than the general 7240 root. By choosing the most granular level, you assist Google’s algorithms in surfacing your products to the most relevant commercial search queries. For example, a customer searching specifically for 'salon chairs' is more likely to find your product if it is mapped to the subcategory rather than the parent category.
Implementing this in Your Feed
To implement this in your Merchant Center feed, you must use the google_product_category attribute. You have two options for the value: either the numeric ID (7240) or the full path (Business & Industrial > Hairdressing & Cosmetology). Using the ID is often preferred by automation tools because it is language-independent and avoids issues with character encoding or formatting discrepancies. While this attribute is optional and Google may attempt to auto-categorize your items, manual mapping is highly recommended to avoid incorrect classification which can reduce the effectiveness of your ad campaigns. Note that this attribute does not replace the product_type attribute, which remains a free-form field for your internal organization. Ensure that you do not mix up this category with apparel-specific requirements, such as size or gender, unless the item specifically requires them under other taxonomies.