The cost of hair extensions may vary significantly. The price range starts at twenty bucks and may go up to as high as a few thousand dollars. The final cost will largely depend on several factors, such as the type and quality of hair, the amount and length of hair, and the application method of hair extensions.
Another important variable to include in the cost equation is the time required to install hair extensions. Essentially, one can expect to spend a lot more if the application method is time-intensive.
Quick Access
- What factors affect hair extensions cost?
- Hair extensions prices comparison
- How much do hair extensions cost in a salon?
- – Clip-in hair extensions cost
- – Micro ring hair extensions cost
- – Weft hair extensions cost
- – Keratin hair extensions cost
- – Tape-in hair extensions cost
- Hair extensions maintenance cost
- What’s the profit margin of hair extensions?
- How much do hair extensions cost?
The price variance of hair extensions is due to several reasons. Aside from the type of hair, other factors affect the hair extension cost, and the major factors are the following:
The Weight and Length of Hair
The more and longer hair you want to wear, the higher the price you must pay for your extensions. The ideal amount will largely depend on the volume and length of your hair. In other words, if you want to have a long head of hair, you will have to spend more than shorter or medium-length hair extensions.
What’s the Ideal Hair Extensions Length?
A good way to save money when buying hair extensions is to go for shorter lengths. We know that thirty-inch, mermaid-like hair sounds very appealing, but it’s not that necessary. You can get great length with much less.
Fifteen to twenty inches is what you should be aiming for, and it will still extend your natural strands significantly. For xample, AiryHair offers 16-inch, 100-gram Remy extensions (10 pieces) for only $46. That’s very affordable.
How to Save Money Choosing Hair Weight?
You can save a few more bucks and choose extensions that are not insanely thick. We’re sure the density of extensions is in grams, and the weights range from about 40g to 220g or even more. 220 grams is an insane volume, and although it looks cool, it’s not necessary for regular users.
For those who don’t have a lot of money, pick a weight between 40 and 100 grams, which will give you a significant amount of volume and thickness without costing a fortune.
Hair Quality
While still available in other quality grades, the high-end option we call “Remy hair extension.” While such wefts are made of authentic human hair, there’s more to the eye than you can see.
One of the distinctive features of these hair extensions is the intact cuticle layer, which is the outside portion of the hair strand. Because of their superior quality, Remy hair extensions occupy the top end of the price spectrum.
How to Pick Reputable Supplier?
It’s hard to find healthy, high-end hair extensions. Some retailers offer poor-quality Indian or Asian hair extensions at prices that appear to be good bargains.
If you want to get the best value for your money, avoid these hair extensions. Most cheap hair extensions become dry and stringy on the ends.
Ensure that the seller you plan to buy hair from is trusted and transparent about their products. Good reviews will also help. Many products out there have misleading labels and information, and many stores want to sell you low-quality extensions for a very high price, so beware of that.
Geographical Location
Hair extensions are generally more expensive when purchased in larger cities, mainly because the salons have higher operating expenses. This rule applies when comparing the cost of hair extensions in more costly communities to a city’s less expensive or lower-income sections.
While it’s all about Indian and Asian hair these days, there are few alternatives. Other popular locations of human hair include Malaysia, Spain, and Brazil.
Extensions Durability
Certain hair extensions last longer than others; you must know that by now. In most cases, the high-end and more expensive ones are more durable and will normally last for more than 12 months, even with continued use.
How would one know? Your hair extension is nearing the end of its service life when the tip of the hair strands becomes stringy and dry.
Next, let’s break down pricing further by comparing two popular hair types. When thinking about how to save some money on extensions, most people believe that they need to buy synthetic or low-quality extensions.
They are known for their low price and can be bought everywhere, even on eBay and Aliexpress. The problem with that kind of hair is that it often comes from untrusted sources, the labels are usually misleading, the quality of the hair is very bad, and the extensions can’t be worn for more than a month.
Real Hair Extension Prices
The average cost of human hair extensions ranges from $20 to $500, depending on the specific type of hair that you choose. The most expensive hair extensions are created of 100% virgin human hair. This type of hair material is pure, as factories don’t treat it with chemicals.
Although high-end hair extensions may require more upfront money, you will get the best value for every dollar. If you want a natural look that will last the longest, then high-priced hair extensions are the best buy.
Fake Hair Extension Prices
Fake hair or synthetic hair extensions are a cheaper alternative to human hair extensions. This option costs between $5 and $50. One key strength of synthetic hair extensions is that they are not easily affected by humidity and rain, as the synthetic material used has already been pre-set.
Of course, color and heat treatments are not possible with synthetic hair extensions. It may be more expensive to use synthetic hair extensions in the long run, as you cannot reuse them like human hair extensions.
The cost of hair extensions is also dependent on the option and application method. Here is a breakdown of the price ranges for each option and application method.
If you want to spend the least money on extensions, use the least expensive method. That seems obvious, but you might wonder what extension type is the most affordable of the many on the market today. Most hairstylists will point to clip-ins for being the cheapest. While that’s true, there are other methods!
Nowadays, clip-ins, I-tip extensions, micro rings, and tape-ins cost pretty much the same.
Another thing to consider is whether you want to install the extensions yourself or have them done professionally at a salon because that will significantly increase the price. If y u’re on a budget, we recommend that you purchase weft or strand-by-strand extensions online and apply them yourself. Most of the mentioned methods are simple to get the hang of and do at home. Ther are great tutorials on how to do it that you can find.
Clip-in and Flip-in Style Extensions Cost
Flip-ins require no skill at all. Just place the wire on your head, and it’s over. Clip-in extensions, on the other hand, could cost you a few dollars if you ask hairstylists to do them. However, since the whole process takes less than 20 minutes, the prices are never steep.
To save money, check some tutorials online and install these yourself. It’s easy!
Can Install Yourself? Yes
Price Range: $0 to $50
Micro Ring Loop and I-Tip Hair Extensions Cost
This application method involves stringing up the hair with tiny copper coils. You insert hair extensions into the hair and clamp down the copper coil with a special tool to keep the strands and your natural hair in its original position.
The procedure uses no chemicals, and the tension on the hair is kept to a minimum. The price range for this option depends on your preferences.
Can Install Yourself? Yes
Price Range: $0 to $500
Weave and Weft Hair Extensions Cost
One method that many prefer is the application of hair extensions. The wefts are woven or braided into your hair. This is the most appropriate method if your primary reason for using hair extensions is to fill out the thinner portions of your hair.
Depending on the hair stylists’ experience and salon, prices are not that bad. It’s faster to get weave extensions installed that rely on strand-by-strand types.
Can Install Yourself? No
Price Range: $200 to $600
Keratin and Hot Fusion Hair Extensions Cost
This option uses a polymer, a keratin-based ingredient, to attach hair extensions to your hair. This procedure is gentler than hot fusion bonding and lasts up to 6 months.
That’s also the main reason the procedure is so expensive. The overall range for this option is from $500 to as high as $1,000.
However, you can switch to glue and make it a slightly more economical method. The procedure involves using hot glue to attach the hair extensions to your hair.
Can Install Yourself? No
Price Range: $350 to $1,000
Tape-in Hair Extensions Cost
The cost of installing tape-in hair extensions is not that great. Not only can you install these tresses yourself, but salons won’t charge you that much. This is mostly because the method itself does not require hundreds of strands.
Instead, you have 40 to 80 tapes that are super easy to attach and remove. If the salon nearby charges you more than a few hundred bucks, go to the next one. Even better, learn how to install hair on your own with your friends.
Can Install Yourself? Yes
Price Range: $0 to $200
Another important aspect of hair extension cost relates to its care and maintenance. You may need to visit the salon monthly to properly care for and maintain your hair extensions. A trip to the salon may cost you around $50 to $100. The amounts cited here are generally the average values for each of the cost components. Most extension methods are easy to master, so it’s safe to do it yourself.
The price can easily escalate and can even run up to $5,000 if you plan to use the high-end and exclusive salons, like the ones frequented by known celebrities such as Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears.
Many stores avoid discussing hair extension profit margins. How much does it cost to buy strands from hair donors and then turn them into wefts? You might think that hair factories are racking up millions, but that is untrue. The beauty business can be brutal on margins, but extensions are a different beast altogether.
Most hair factories will go bankrupt within the first year. That’s how thin their profits are. Hair suppliers compete with one another and, more often than not, sell hair for a loss! Why? They believe in long-term success and will try to destroy competitors, but since there are so many new factories opening for business, these never survive long enough to reap the benefits.
On average, retailers buy extensions for prices that are surprisingly close to the original selling cost. The trick here is to offer additional items and cover the costs.
The average price of hair extensions is about $80. You can get hair for as low as $30, assuming weight or length is not an issue. It is by thousands of our clients. Most women will buy 20″ length hair extensions weighing 100 – 150g.
Here is the current price list (source: AiryHair) for strand by strand extensions:
16” (40 cm) (40g) – $28.93
16” (40 cm) (80g) – $44.30
16” (40 cm) (100g) – $49.18
18” (45 cm) (50g) – $35.85
18” (45 cm) (80g) – $45.11
18” (45 cm) (100g) – $51.13
20” (50 cm) (50g) – $37.90
20” (50 cm) (70g) – $43.33
20” (50 cm) (100g) – $54.06
22” (55 cm) (50g) – $39.95
22” (55 cm) (80g) – $51.78
22” (55 cm) (100g) – $59.26
24” (55 cm) (70g) – $53.89
24” (55 cm) (100g) – $63.00
24” (55 cm) (140g) – $77.15
26” (60 cm) (50g) – $45.69
The profit margin is no more than 5% on any of these; 3% is the average. This business does not create millionaires unless you build a global brand and sell the same hair quality for twice or four times the price. I’m sure you’ve heard of all these big brands by now.
Conclusion
If you find the prices of hair extensions way over your budget range, then you may consider using clip-ons, the cheapest alternative. You can easily attach this hair extension yourself using the built-in clip of the hair extension.
If you would like to order quality hair extensions, click here to check our store.
