2025 Hair Extension Service Expectations Part One: What Clients Should Know Before Booking Hair Extensions at a Salon

In my opinion one of the biggest takeaways from this was: choosing a salon for its content creation fame and online hype usually doesn't meet the expectations you create in your head. That choice, mixed with unclear communication about pricing and who would actually be doing the work, turned into a storm of confusion, disappointment, and tiktoks of people spiraling.

And honestly? The larger conversation is overdue.
Clients everywhere-especially here in the Midwest-are now asking what extension services cost, what luxury pricing really includes, and how to tell if a stylist or salon is worth the investment. That's exactly why I wanted to write this blog series and  highlight how easily expectations can get miscommunicated and how important it is for clients to feel fully informed before investing in a service as expensive and personalized as hair extensions.

Extensions Are an Higher Ticket Service - And Clients Deserve Clear Information 

Hair extensions require high-quality hair, technical installation, blending, cutting, and ongoing maintenance. They're not cheap, and they're not supposed to be, but clarity should always be part of the process. The TikTok drama went viral because people felt the pricing didn't match the service, and the client didn't fully understand what she was purchasing. In reality, much of that confusion could have been avoided with better communication and better research. I also think its hard for most of us who are in the low/middle class income levels to grasp how much wealthy people spend on everyday things… like luxury purses or luxury beauty services.

As stylists, we want clients to know what they're signing up for-and what they're paying for. As clients, it's important to look beyond hype or followers and ask the right questions about skill, experience, and certifications. That matters far more than booking with someone because their salon is trending on TikTok. I know it's tempting, but let @notfamous situation be a lesson to you!

Why This Matters In The Midwest 

Extension services here in the Midwest have grown rapidly over the last few years. More stylists are becoming certified, more salons are adding luxury services, and clients are entering the extension space with higher expectations. Even with all this growth, pricing varies dramatically from salon to salon.

That's not a bad thing-it reflects differences in training, time, product quality, and service structure (sometimes, I'll be discussing that more in part two). But it does mean clients should be consulting with more than one stylist and asking clear, detailed questions during the process. Transparency isn't optional anymore. It's part of the service.

What Clients Should Be Asking During Consultations

Most issues clients have with extensions can be traced back to the consultation stage. It's the most important part of the whole experience, but it's often rushed or skipped entirely when someone is booking based on hype or urgency. A strong consultation gives clients a clear picture of the investment, the method, the maintenance, and what their results will actually look like.

Here is my list of questions to bring up during your consultations:

• Who will be installing the extensions?
• How much experience do they have with my hair type and the method I'm interested in?
• What certifications or trainings do they have?
• Can I check out your work online? Before/after's?
• What does the total cost include-hair, installation, color, cutting, blending?
• What does maintenance look like, and how often should I expect move-ups?
• What brand of hair is being used, and how long does it typically last?
• Are assistants involved, and if so, what parts of the service do they handle?

None of these questions are "too much." They're essential to making an informed decision. A trained, confident stylist should be able to answer them without hesitation.

Why Research Matters More Than Social Media

Choosing a stylist based on viral posts or a salon's follower count can set unrealistic expectations. A large team-based salon may work differently than a single-stylist suite location. Pricing structures vary. Assistants may handle certain steps. Some salons itemize every part of the service, while others bundle everything into one number.

That doesn't make any of these models wrong-but clients need to know what they're signing up for so there are no surprises. When fame or cross promotion leads the decision instead of skill and communication, clients are more likely to feel misled-even if the stylist did everything correctly.

The Hair by Chrissy situation made this clear. It wasn't just about the bill. It was about expectations, clarity, and the assumptions clients make when a brand is built on visibility or content creation rather than a one-on-one luxury salon experience with professional customer service.

What's Coming in Part Two

This series exists because clients deserve clear, realistic information about what extensions cost-and why.
In Part Two, I'll share real data from Midwest stylists, including:

• average starting prices
• what their pricing includes
• the extension methods they specialize in
• how they structure maintenance
• the biggest myths they deal with daily

These insights, combined with the feedback from the five-question survey, will give clients a grounded look at what extension pricing actually looks like in our region <3