Whether you are a hair extensions veteran or a hair extensions virgin, knowing how much extensions cost is a good look for your style and your budget.
If you're asking: "How much are hair extensions?" here are five things to consider that will affect the price:
- the type of hair extension
- application method
- length of hair
- weight
- hair color
There are several types of hair extensions, not just in the type of hair, but the application as well. The most common types of hair extensions are synthetic, human hair and Remy hair extensions.
In terms of at-home or self-applied hair extensions, there are clip-in hair extensions, tape-in extensions, halo extensions and ponytail or bun extensions. There are other types of extensions that can be done at a salon or by a professional such as sewn-in extensions, fusions, nano ring or micro loop.
Along with the type of hair and the application types, the other biggest considerations for hair extensions cost include the length of hair, weight, and color.Â
Hair extensions can be purchased online or at almost any hair and beauty store or salon. Like most other must-haves in your hair and beauty arsenal, the cost of hair extensions comes down to quality, lifespan and versatility.
Really, it’s how you want to wear your extensions and what you need out of them.
Paying for the quality of hair extensions that you can wear and style almost as naturally as your own will understandably cost more but can also last for up to, or more than a year. Hair extensions of a lower quality with less flexibility and versatility for styling, texture or color may be on the cheaper side, but may not give you the best wearability.
How much are hair extensions?
The average cost of hair extensions like clip-in or tape-in run from as little as $25 all the way up to $400 or more.
However when determining how much hair extensions should cost for you, look at your unique key factors; do you wear them often? Do you prefer clip-ins? Long extensions or short? One color or hair extensions with balayage and dimension? Do you like to heat style your extensions or wear them as is?
It may seem like a lot to consider but narrowing down your must-haves will not only help you shop for the best type of extensions for you but keep you on budget too. Savvy and stylish? Characteristics no woman should overlook.
Why do synthetic hair extensions cost less?
Simple – it’s in the name. Synthetic hair extensions can come in any length and any color you can imagine. They can be clip-ins, tape-ins, ponytail extensions or even bangs. Synthetic hair extensions can be made from a variety of artificial materials and contain no human hair at all. This is why they can go for as little as $25 online as they do not cost a lot to make. For higher quality synthetic hair extensions, you can expect to pay anywhere from $60-$85.
Synthetic hair extensions can be made from fake fibers such as acrylic, nylon, or polyesters. These materials are heated and sent through tiny micro tubes to mimic the look and feel of hair strands. Synthetic hair extensions may also be labelled differently; Vegan synthetic fiber from Japan, 100% high heat synthetic fibers and NextGen faux fiber are just a few examples.
One most common factor of synthetic hair extensions is the shine, because synthetic hair is made from artificial material, it can almost resemble Barbie’s hair, overly shiny and sometimes stringy or stiff. Essentially, synthetic hair extensions have a much less natural look and are more noticeable as a hair piece.
Synthetic hair extensions are on the cheaper side no matter the application but depending on how often you wear them or how you treat them, you may find yourself buying more of them more often.
The average life of synthetic hair extensions is around 1 -3 months. They are typically not heat resistant or can only tolerate a very low heat. For safety, we should note that heat and synthetic do not get along and you may end up melting or burning the extensions with high heat.
Keep in mind with fake fibers or synthetic hair what you see is essentially what you get. Not only can you not heat style synthetic hair extensions, you also cannot dye them or apply styling products as this causes major build-up and will sit on the fibers instead of with them like human hair.
Washing synthetic hair extensions is also a no-no as this causes tangles and the fibres may loosen from its clip or tape.
Technology has changed the way a lot of synthetic hair extensions look and feel. Some of the better-quality ones can more closely resemble human hair, but touch and feel still differ greatly. The wearability of these more advanced hair extensions is also limited to little heat styling or any styling at all.
If you’re looking for a one-time or little wear (costume, anyone?) and not wanting to spend much, synthetic hair extensions may be in your budget, but bear in mind its limitations and lack of versatility.
How much do human hair extensions cost?
Human hair extensions are made from a variety of types of human hair, from Asian to Indian to European. In Asia, China and India are the biggest exporters of human hair, where the majority of European hair comes from Russia, Romania or Ukraine.
There are also different grades of human hair depending on how the hair has been collected, treated, and sorted. Virgin hair – hair that’s never been chemically treated before collection is prized for human hair extensions. There is also Remy human hair.
With Remy hair, the cuticle (outermost layer of the strand) is kept intact, not stripped on collection and aligned in one direction, just like natural hair. This process ensures that the hair will remain smooth, shiny, and relatively tangle-free throughout its lifetime. During the manufacturing process, the hair is treated to achieve a certain color, but, for the most part, the integrity and strength of the hair remains. This type of hair is the most desirable for hair extensions as it is literally made of the same material as natural hair—keratin, making it the most natural blend.
Human hair extensions cost about $100 and up to $500 and they last for 3-6 months up until a year or more depending on how well they are cared for and how often they are worn. Luxy Hair 20” Remy human hair extensions range from $129-$209, depending on the weight that you choose (120g, 160g, or 220g). Human hair extensions, particularly Remy human hair extensions have the feel and movement of natural hair and doesn’t have that plastic doll hair shine like synthetic hair extensions.
Human hair extensions can also be heat styled and will even last for several days. The Deluxe Hair Extensions Styler can help safely style your remy human hair extensions by holding your extensions in place for easy curling, straightening or any other style. Simply suction onto your mirror, shower wall, or window to hold your extensions securely in place and take it with you wherever you go.
Human hair extensions can also be dyed darker, or color treated to go ombre or even balayage like natural hair. Human hair extensions deliver versatility in color and styling as products can also be used to shape and texture as needed. Human hair extensions can also be safely washed once a month depending on how often they are worn or how much product is used.
To put it plainly, human hair extensions cost more than synthetic because they are of better quality, offer more styling versatility, look and feel more natural and last longer.
Â
Clip-in vs. tape-in hair extensions cost
Tape-in hair extensions are considered semi-permanent and need to be applied by a professional and can last around 4-8 weeks before needing to be changed or re-applied. As tape-in hair extensions need a professional touch to ensure they’re applied evenly for a natural look they have a higher price tag. There’s also more ongoing upkeep as the extensions will grow further from the roots and need replacing or reapplication.
The average cost of tape-in hair extensions can range from $200-$400, with the additional costs of a professional application from $100-$200, tape-in hair extensions are more costly than clip-in hair extensions. As the chemical adhesive tape wears out after time, you may need to purchase more wefts during the length of wear.
Clip-in hair extension wefts come with the clips already attached to them. This means that you can simply take the wefts and easily clip them into your hair all by yourself, without any additional costs, time, or professional help. The average cost is between $120-$300 depending on weight and color (explained more below).
All you need is a rattail comb or Application Kit to help section off your hair and a hair clip to hold the sections of hair up. After sectioning your hair, measure the weft against your head to ensure you’ve got the right size, clip in the extensions as close to your scalp as possible and secure it in. Once the middle clip has been clipped in, clip the left side and then the right, pulling the weft taught. The same process will apply for every weft.
At the end of your day simply unclip and call it a night.
Halo hair extensions are also very easy to put on (think of putting on a headband) and also come in human hair and Remy hair options. Thanks to the easy application and go-to solution, especially for first time users, halo hair extensions also do not cost as much as tape-in. In fact they have similar range of cost to clip-in hair extensions.
Weight and color impact hair extensions cost
The weight of hair extensions is measured in grams, the thickness differentiation in each set does not refer to how thick each individual strand is on its own but rather, how much hair is attached to each weft. The higher the grams, the more hair there is in each set. When considering weight, there are two aspects to look at, thickness and length, we have all the steps on How To Choose The Right Thickness Of Hair Extensions. The thicker, or heavier the set the higher in price, because there are more wefts and hair in a set or bundle.
Color also adds to the price of your hair extensions. Matching your natural hair color to hair extensions can sometimes be tricky – which is why Luxy Hair extensions are offered with a multi-tonal adapt coloring system, which means that there are subtle highlights and lowlights, lighter strands and darker strands throughout each set. This gives the shades movement, dimension, and depth. It also ensures that the extensions blend with your natural hair even if your hair color is a few shades off. If you need help finding the perfect shade, make sure to check out our virtual hair match tool to find a color that works for you in seconds.Â
As mentioned above human hair and Remy hair extensions are pre-treated to achieve certain colors, shades and natural shine. Some hair extensions, like Luxy also come in ombre and balayage styles to give your hair color treatment without the damaging chemicals. These multi-tonal extensions also give that style versatility that lend to a slightly higher price tag. Just as you would pay for an expert colorist for a balayage treatment on your natural hair, ombre and balayage hair extensions will be more in price than uniform color extensions. Ombre hair extensions range from $199-$249.
While human hair and remy hair extensions can be dyed darker if needed, having hair extensions with color treatment already make for a convenient, safe way to style, lengthen or thicken your hair with no chemical damage or blow to the wallet with the amount of color upkeep that’s needed every few months with natural hair.
So how does it all add up?
It all comes down to what you need out of your hair extensions. If you’re looking for thickness, volume or length, the number of grams in a set will be an important factor in your budget. If you’re looking for easy application that you can do at home, clip-in and halo extensions are it and you can expect to spend between $120-$300 depending on the other considerations. Finally, do you love to switch up color? Then that will be your biggest price factor.
Overall, the versatility and durability of human and Remy hair extensions cover the costs of replacing hair extensions often and make your dollars literally last longer. The other factors come down to your personal hairstyle and lifestyle. Either way there are hair extensions for every budget and we’re of the mind set that if it makes you feel good and look good there will always be room in the piggy bank.
Looking for more hair advice and styling tips? Subscribe to our newsletter to step up your hair game.
Written By:Â Rosalyn Solomon
