In this blog, I’m breaking down how to price hair extensions. Everything from the hair itself, all the way down to the service.
Let’s do this! I’m breaking down how to price hair extensions. Everything from the hair itself, all the way down to the service. This ultimate guide can help bring you some clarity on what you should be charging as a hairstylist working behind the chair.
When it comes to hair extensions, it is super important to charge properly. If not, you can easily lose out on precious time and money. It is important to note that your location and the company you order from can determine the price of hair extensions.
I am in Orange County, California and because we have a higher demographic, products and services tend to be a little higher. You may have to adjust that to your area, or don’t, it’s up to you! Price what you feel comfortable with. I am also using Donna Bella Hair Extensions. The price of the hair may differ based on other companies and also the type of extension you are installing.
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Consultation
Before you even order the hair, it is important to do a through consultation for what the client is looking for. Here at Rebel Femme, we have a free consultation. However, some stylists charge a fee for the consultation which is typically used towards the price of the hair.
During the consultation, you must know these things for the service to happen:
- What kind of hair extensions are they wanting? (Hybrid wefts, Tape-ins, I-Links, etc.) If they do not know, this is a great time for you to assess their hair and see what would be best for them.
- What kind of overall look are they going for? This is also a great way to determine what kind of extension they are wanting. Just volume? Hybrid weft. Just fullness around the face? I-links or Keralinks!
- How long are you looking to get them? Some people want hair touching their booty, while some just want it a couple inches longer.
- What color are you going for? A lot of clients get extensions to fake a lighter look without having to lighten their natural hair. Some clients get it for pops of vivid color, and some get it to match their natural hair.
- What kind of maintenance are they looking for? Many clients are willing to come very 6-8 weeks for move ups while some cannot be bothered. I get it! Educate them on the more low maintenance extensions such as Kera links versus the more high maintenance such as Hybrid Wefts.
- Discuss that budget! No matter what, hair extensions are expensive. However, there are types of extensions that are less expensive. For example, Tape in extensions and Solo Extensions are less expensive than Keralinks or I-Links.
If you feel that your client is a good candidate for hair extensions, proceed with them filling out a hair extensions release form and move on to step number 2!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A HAIR EXTENSION RELEASE FORM FOR $7.99!
Color Matching
Donna Bella has a swatch ring that makes it super easy to color match your clients. It has 54 colors that tell you what kind of extension that color comes in. The samples are made from high-quality Donna Bella hair so you can touch and feel a sample of the hair you’ll be ordering.
You want to make sure that when you color match the hair, always color match the bottom. This ensures that the color will blend in as best as possible when you install it. What is so amazing about Donna Bella Hair is that it is human hair, so if you don’t have a perfect match, you can always throw a glaze on it!
In fact, at my salon, we always include a glaze with all of our extensions to perfectly blend the hair.
Pro-tip, when matching for Keralinks or I-Links, you want to purchase 2 colors. One that matches and one that is slightly darker or lighter depending on the look they are going for. This is to ensure it blends properly and looks more natural. If you want an example CLICK HERE! This is only if they have any sort of dimension in the hair. If they are solid color, no need.
Get that Deposit!
You always need to get a deposit before they walk out the door. If you don’t, you are stuck with expensive hair that you don’t need! You also want to mark up their hair 50%. This is not to be spiteful and get extra money. This extra markup is to purchase hair insurance, credit card fees, as well as beads, brushes, string, your loop tool, clamp, or anything else you may need for the installment.
Ex: Your client’s hair is $500, so you are going to mark it up 50%, which is $250. Total that day, your client is paying $750 for hair and all of the included things above.
Hair insurance is super important to purchase because it can save your booty! Within 30 days of purchasing, if you accidentally color it wrong, or your client somehow messes it up, you can replace it for free!
I also always include a complimentary Donna Bella Boar bristle brush, so I know they are using the proper tools to maintain their hair. Click here to shop Donna Bella Extension Brush!
The 50% markup fee also includes all of the credit card fees as well as shipping and handling. It can add up, and as a stylist, you can’t afford to eat that cost. It is so important to include it so you don’t have to lose out on extra money.
Also, I would recommend, you book out their appointment at least 5 days because it takes around 2-3 business days for the hair to get to your salon. Don’t forget to disclose this deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE!
Service Breakdown
As mentioned, it’s all about demographics! The price of hair extensions will be a little bit more expensive in my area because everything is so dang expensive! My favorite tip to check how much you should be charging is to call the top 5 salons in your area. This will give you a general idea of how much you should charge as well.
Many of the salons in my area do it by the hour. This can be good if you feel comfortable charging that, but at my salon, we decided to do a flat rate instead. This way the client knows exactly what they are paying for and it is not a surprise in the end.
For Weft Extensions we charge $175 a row. So for 2 rows, it starts at $350 and for 3 it’s $525. This price includes a cut and reshape as well as a gloss at the end. Generally, for all other types of extensions, we charge $100 per pack of extensions for the installation. Aka, it’s usually $100 for 20 pieces of hair.
You have to note that additional services such as highlights, lowlights, root smudges, tinsel, etc are all an extra charge. For all hair except for Keralinks, they should last you about 6-12 months depending on how well your client takes care of the hair. It is important to educate your client on the aftercare of the extensions.
Book their next appointment!
Maintenance is the key to healthy hair! It is so important for them to rebook so they can move up their hair. This reduces the risk of breakage and it also helps them look better by trimming up the ends and redoing the gloss. You still can charge the same amount as the initial installation.
This is because you are making sure their hair is in pristine condition when they leave the salon. This also includes a deep condition or a proper scalp massage as well as fixing beads that may have slipped or tightening anything that needs to be tightened.
If you want to see how I did a custom install of hybrid wefts and Kera Links, click here!
We all know I love invisible hybrid hair weft hair extensions. I especially love when they can transform fine, thin hair into long thick tresses. Oh, and we can’t forget about the Kera-link combo! It’s too good to resist.
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