I am wondering if it is worth it...
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Extension Topics
Forum Name: Hair Extensions
Forum Description: Hair Extensions can be the quick fix for short hair.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=30623
Printed Date: August 04 2025 at 10:01pm
Topic: I am wondering if it is worth it...
Posted By: CandiLocks27
Subject: I am wondering if it is worth it...
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 12:05am
|
I have mastered my braiding skills for sure. I have braided so many
people's hair that it is crazy. I dont charge for labor yet, so hair is
about 10-15$. But what everyone keeps saying is, that the extensions cost too much! I charge about 50$ for installing right now to add to a portfolio including PH. I do pinch braids. I would think that is f**king cheap for extensions. ONLY HAVING TO PAY 50$?! And PH with shipping costs like 40 some odd dollars i think for 2 bags. I am just sitting here having a cow. And everyone says they LOVE the pinch braids I do, it is just too expensive. I dunno what to do. I was really wanting to get into shrinkies, but I dont wanna make that investment of 30$ for practice shrinkies and 100$ for an iron until I have a cosmetology license. I dunno how I am gonna charge for labor after a while. I do great work... :( I have no pinch braids pics to show though... (everyone I know interested in extensions has seen the people with the pinch braids in.) Maybe I should wait? :-\ I sound antsy I do, but I really need some income and I cant get a job because no one is hiring... damn.... -------------  Hugs!
 Candi Locks!
|
Replies:
Posted By: zapevaj
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 12:31am
|
People are cheap. They will complain no matter what. Wait until you are certain that your work is pro quality, and then charge what you think is fair. If someone doesn't like it, tell them to go to any other extensionist in town, who is likely working at some chi-chi downtown salon and charges $1000. After they do, and choke on their own tongues, they will come begging back to you. I mean, hell, I charge four times what you currently do and I'm -still- the cheapest game in my town (that sounds naughty, doesn't it?) ------------- http://www.hairalchemy.net - Hair Alchemy |
Posted By: metalgirl
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 1:24am
|
Trust me, you will very soon get tired and resentful of doing $50 extension jobs. You are investing time and money in your education, and for that you need to get paid a decent wage. Find out what is considered average in your area for extension work and price accordingly. If you are going to be in the salon, you need to take in account your expenses and your opportunity cost. By opportunity cost, I mean that the 4 hours it takes you to do 1 extension job may be the equivalent to the money you could have made doing 2 highlights. So if highlights in your salon go for $100, you would need to charge at least $200 for that 4 hour extension job. Also take in account your expenses: I pay $750 per month to rent my room in my salon, $300 per month for yellow pages ads, $25 per month webpage fee, $250 per month in color supplies, $80 per month to have a credit card machine, etc. In other words, it's expensive to run my business, so I need to make a certain amount of money to cover my overhead. Good luck!
------------- http://www.Godiva-Hair.com - http://www.Godiva-Hair.com http://www.MetamorphosisHairDesign.com - http://www.MetamorphosisHairDesign.com |
Posted By: Jenny_RR
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 5:22am
|
Umm...where do you live, how old are you, and how old are your clients,
if you don't mind me asking? And how many heads have you done? Fifty dollars is, of course, dirt cheap for extensions, so I don't understand why anyone would think it was too much to charge. If you are in the process of starting a business and building a clientele, you really should be taking photos of these heads, too. Even if people don't want to be photographed from the front, you should be able to get some shots from the back. :) |
Posted By: Kalika
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 9:39am
|
Exactly, Ive seen people at WALMART bitch about how expensive a pack of $2 sponges is. shoot, for $50 I would get my hair redone by you every friggin week! God, new hair every week.... *drools* |
zapevaj wrote:Posted By: LauraR
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 9:53am
|
$50??? where are you? ditto Kalika, I'm in for every week! |
Posted By: FinaFina
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 10:21am
|
Candy, looks like ya got a built-in set of clients right here willing to pay AT LEAST $50! I, like Jenny, am curious about your current clientele. Perhaps they aren't the right demographic for you to be going after. At double or triple your current prices you should be pretty busy! I encourage you to market to a different crowd. (Like, say, US!) Don't question your value. Your skills are worth more than you are charging. |
Posted By: Kalika
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 11:42am
| shoot my TIP is usually over $50, Im still amazed people complained. sheesh. |
Posted By: marie87
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 12:12pm
Yep 50 and up is a nice tip. If these are teenagers and paying with there allowance and you havent any other clients then I guess you take what you can get But...They eaven will pay more than that for there jeans!!!!!! I would up your price
|
Posted By: CandiLocks27
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 1:55pm
|
Sadly alot of them are teenagers. I have done one lady's braids who
gave me 100$ and I was so grateful to her. I have some pics that i have
to take off my camera and put into a binder and show off. I have no
idea how to do that cuz its my bfs camera. lol. I have done pinch braids on 2 people, my mom and my cousin, and my cousin could only afford the 40$ and my mom WOULD only afford the 40$ but she pays me 20$ a week for allowance and we dont have good income. My cousin started crying because she said it looked exactly like her hair (like blending i guess lol) when it was long. My camera was broken then so i couldnt get pictures of either of them. (did them the same day) but I have alot of pics of braids. These are the only pics RIGHT now that I have of my braids and I dont have clear pics.  I will do someone elses pinch braids soon and take pics of everything! Braids on top, braids on bottom, full style, back style front, side, etc. Thanks for your inquiry girls! BTW you have any good methods for promotion just around my town? The only thing I tell people I can do is with PH and they get mad probably because they are "black" and I tell them its more of a silky texture. I dunno, I think monofibre is a required taste and hair type lol. I live in antelope, CA (somewhere around sacramento or in sacramento. thats bad! I dont even know....) Anyone who I cant do their hair I have refered to meta and I didnt even know I was refering them to her until I realized the connection to her on this forum and her on her site. I gave everyone her web site information and showed them the address and a couple said they got their hair done by you i think. Dont remember who though. I tell people, basically braids, cornrows, and dreads and any combination and style of those I do. I definantly have to find someone who will do Pinch braids for me though. (thats horrible. for ME) but thats how it is around here. Definantly will get more business as soon as i AQUIRE my license. I am just sitting here going to school every day learning all this stuff and they are like "YOU CANT CUT REAL HAIR RIGHT NOW! BAD!" like a damn dog.... lol well enough of my babble! later girls! thanks for all your help. you guys help me so much every day! :) ------------- Hugs!
Candi Locks!
|
Posted By: CandiLocks27
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 1:56pm
oh btw, the braids are on my best friend diana who ALSO doesnt have the money for PH.  im gonna go insane after a while lol.I am almost 17 also..... I wont even be 18 when I get out of my vocational school! Ill have a license and everything and people still wont take my prices seriously. I tell most of them that they should check the area to see if they can find better. Yeah, I do work out of my house, but you STILL will get extensions 4X that amount and more in a salon for the same thing. Most people I have talked to btw I have talked to on the phone. and I look older than 18 my friends say so who knows? Ill just beg some friends or even people on here to let meh do their hair. lol laters ------------- Hugs!
Candi Locks!
|
Posted By: MERGUTHRIE
Date Posted: May 12 2005 at 12:16am
|
have you been on quinnsters board, i bet people on there would pay more, you need to not do it for less than a certain amount or trade for things at least...
edit: i agree your mom is a different story. ------------- i love plastikhaar |
Posted By: metalgirl
Date Posted: May 12 2005 at 1:18am
|
Thanks for referring people to my site, Candi. I appreciate that. You're young, just study hard so you can pass that state board exam and there will be a lot of time for you to make a fortune doing extensions for people who will pay you well for your talent and dedication! ------------- http://www.Godiva-Hair.com - http://www.Godiva-Hair.com http://www.MetamorphosisHairDesign.com - http://www.MetamorphosisHairDesign.com |
Posted By: CandiLocks27
Date Posted: May 12 2005 at 1:30am
|
Yeah I am starting to realize that. I am thinking about just sticking
with braids for now and work on full extensions later. I love it, but I
am just too scared to try to do much more than braids and dreads. I'll
keep on top of the board though for idears and inspirations on my own
styles! PS my instructor says i have got massive potential and she is really rooting me on. I feel very loved at that academy lol. Oh and i talked to a girl the other day who said she went to u like a year ago or something like that and I told her i talked to you on here and she said to say hi. I think her name is Amber if ya remember her. I found out I am the only person in sacramento (as far as I have checked. about 15 salons) who can do "silky" or "caucasian/asian" hair with braids through out all the ethnic salons. I havnt checked anyone who has been on the forums but I have definantly checked around! I am happy! maybe Ill promote that and the dreads. Definantly still refering to you meta because you and all the other girls have helped me so much! I was seriously stressing over this and I am so glad you girls put up with my indecisiveness and my rambling. :) thanks from the fullness of my heart! ------------- Hugs!
Candi Locks!
|
Posted By: Jenny_RR
Date Posted: May 12 2005 at 6:53am
|
Well, good luck. I think I remembere you from Quinn's now. Remember, take photos of your work. I can't emphasize this enough. Then, when the time comes, you'll have all the proof you need to attact clients. :) |