2025 Hair Extension Service Expectations Part Two : Why Extension Prices at Salons Vary — And What Clients Should Know
I'm Meg Ann Lee, back with part two of my hair extension service expectation series. If you missed part one read it HERE. This week, I reached out to several Midwest stylists who offer extensions and combed through what felt like every salon website in the Chippewa Valley to get a real sense of current pricing, let me tell you.. it was DIFFICULT to see any prices upfront and IMO that's a RED FLAG.
I asked each stylist five key questions about their methods, pricing structure, experience, what clients should expect at a first appointment, and the misconceptions they deal with regularly. What I discovered confirms a lot of what we saw with the viral salon drama on tiktok: most of them were politely NOT sharing their price points with me.
That's not wrong - they're allowed to protect their pricing - but it proves exactly why clients need to shop around, ask direct questions, and treat consultations like homework. If you don't know how much experience someone has, or what's included in their prices, why would you be comfortable spending top dollar with them? If a salon can't give you even a starting price range up front on their price list... I would keep shopping around.
Hair Itself Is Getting More Expensive
Extensions aren't just about the hours spent installing them anymore. One of the biggest cost drivers today is the hair itself. High-quality remy and virgin hair has gone up over the last few years, and that affects every step of your service.
This is why two clients can ask for the same "final look" and still end up with totally different price tags. One client might already have long hair and only need 80 grams for added fullness. Another might start with a short bob and need 200-220 grams for a full transformation. Those are completely different investments.
So when you're budgeting, remember: what you bring to the table matters just as much as the stylist's work.
On top of that, different hair brands come with different price points. A salon-exclusive luxury weft is going to cost more than a basic bundle sold to the general public - and stylists pay different wholesale costs depending on their certification and supplier access.
What You're Actually Paying For
Even though every salon structures pricing differently, extension services typically include:
-
The hair itself ( usually over 1/2 or 2/3 of total price
-
Coloring your natural hair or custom coloring the extensions
-
The install (method varies )
-
Cutting/blending
-
Finishing and styling
The hair cost portion alone can vary wildly based on texture, length, and quality. And yes - even as a stylist - researching average hair prices for this blog was surprisingly difficult. Some stylists didn't share numbers, and some hair brands literally require stylists to pay for education before they're even shown hair pricing.
Gatekeeping? Yeah… a little bit.
What Pricing Actually Looks Like in Eau Claire Right Now
Most of the stylists I contacted didn't give exact numbers. Maybe because I wasn't a real client, maybe because they custom-price every install, or maybe because they just weren't comfortable sharing. All valid reasons - but again, not very transparent for clients trying to compare services.
From what I could find:
Most Eau Claire-area installs, including hair, start in the mid-hundreds and generally land between $600 and $1,500+, depending on:
-
grams of hair
-
method
-
brand of hair
-
whether custom color or multiple methods are used
-
the density and starting point of your natural hair
And yes - I've heard of installs here hitting $3,000. Not in LA. Not in Scottsdale. Literally in Eau Claire.
Clients wanting long, dense, high-volume installs or specialty methods (like toppers or V-light) will always fall on the higher end, especially with premium hair.
But here's the part that stood out the most:
Experience doesn't always match the price.
Some stylists just starting out charge nearly the same as stylists with years of experience and multiple certifications. Sometimes the difference was only $20-$80.
So why would a client choose someone with almost no real-hands on extension experience who charges the same as someone with hundreds of installs under their belt?
The answer is exactly what started this entire blog series:
Marketing. Perceived value. The image a stylist builds online.
It's not always about what you know - it's often about who looks the part and who you are behind the chair. And while that's frustrating for stylists who spend thousands on education, it's also a reminder for clients to research the stylist and their experience.
From the Stylist POV: Why Transparency Matters
When someone sits in my chair, I want them to understand exactly what they're investing in, why I recommend a certain method, and what maintenance looks like for their lifestyle and budget. Extensions are a luxury service - every stylist I spoke to made that clear - and we've all invested heavily in education, technique, and ongoing training and stylist deserve to be paid for it.
My intention with this post isn't to scare anyone away from extensions. It's to help you pick the right stylist for you.
When clients understand real pricing structures, real hair costs, and the wide range of experience levels in our industry, they make more confident decisions - and avoid the kind of confusion or disappointment we saw in the @notfamous / Hair By Chrissy situation.
Whether you're brand-new to extensions or planning a full transformation, the stylist you choose matters. Take your time. Ask questions. Compare training, experience, and transparency. Don't select a stylist based only on hype or who has the lowest price - choose someone whose work and communication make you feel genuinely informed.
Extensions should feel empowering, not overwhelming - and the right stylist will always make sure you understand the investment from start to finish <3