The Wall Street Journal says 138 New York City businesses have received the violations this year. Most of them are salons and barbershops.
The city's Department of Consumer Affairs began stepping up enforcement last year.
Managers complain that it takes extra time to clean and groom men's nails, and to wax their backs.
They say it can take much longer to cut a woman's hair.
Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz says there are legitimate reasons to charge different prices for different services. But businesses must be specific about those charges.
Mintz says "chromosomes" cannot be a reason.
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