I would say do some checking in your area and see what other stylists are charging.  Also,  figure out what the going rate is for 'regular' services in your salon since you want to make at least that much doing extensions, and hopefully more per hour, for your expertise.

 

In several classes that I have taken,  the companies do usually make suggestions about what you should charge, but again, it differs with geographical location.  I just took the SoCap class in LA last month, where many of the stylists in LA are getting $1500-2500 for Socap.  Well, in my area, in Sacramento, the going rate (I've called around) for SoCap is $800-$1200.

 

 

Please forgive me if I am mistaken but I thought you used to work with  Great Extensions?  Do you only do SoCap or do you do multiple types of systems?  A few of my hairdresser friends that used to do GL switched to SoCap USA and most of them only do SCU now.  I was just curious at the trend. 

Thanks for your reply... in my area, extensions are rare, well except for a bond in or sew in.  There's one salon 40 min. west of me that offers a strand by strand method, extend tubes.  I've been to one other shop 1 and a 1/2 hours from me that offered shrink tubes.  Other than these couple shops, there's not a whole lot in my area.   If I mentioned SoCap Extensions to 20 stylists in my area, maybe 2 would know what it was.   So, it's hard to even know what to charge people.  I'm an hour and 1/2 east of Cleveland. 

 

Are you still doing a lot of the Shrink Links?  I'm excited to be doing my first fusion install next month on a girl friend.  

Hi Karen:  You ask if I do 'Great Extensions' , I think you mean Great Lengths.  No, I have not taken the Great Length course.  For fusion, I decided on So.Cap, since they have good hair and decent prices that match what my clients are willing to pay.

 

I do all methods.  For strand extensions I like the shrink links, silcone lined mircro rings, and now I added So.cap.   For wefted methods, I do sew in and bonded, and also some seamless. I  also do hair replacement, so I have some wig and hairpiece clients. 

 

So, what do I do most of?  Let's see, probably it's a cross between micro rings and shrink links, since I've been doing these methods a long time.  I may try to switch some of these clients to SoCap though.

 

By the way, I just did a take down of a client that I put the Donna Bella fusion on.  Those suckers stayed in very well, but yet were very easy to remove.  I think the Donna Bella glue is a bit fussier than the So.Cap in that it makes a more chunky bond and it sort of burns the fingers, but I'd use it again, and I think they sell to the general public. 

 

Hi MetalGirl,

 

Oops...my goof.  Yes, I meant Great Lengths. 

 

I have heard very good things about SoCap.  I also heard it is more affordable the GL but still good hair.  So it is nice to get your feedback on the subject since you are working with it.

 

Thank you for providing so much great info about your methods.  If you were closer to Dallas I would be bringing my HB models over to see you for some of your amazing work.

 

I found it fascinating that you do the most of micro rings and shrink links.  I have heard great things about both methods and really am chomping at the bit to have someone from HB have those installs done.  I want Brigid to try either rings (do some people call them beads?) or shrink links next.  She has had a series of installs and it is interesting to hear her feedback on each one because she is walking around with the installs all the time.

 

WOW...you do so many different things.  That is so great because it gives your clients so many options.  What a great way to run your hair extension business.

 

Thanks for the feedback on Donna Bella.  The guy I talked to said that they don't sell to the general public but then I have had a few other people besides yourself tell me that they will.  I am going to check into that further.

 

Thanks again for all the great info. 

 

I am also sorry to hear about the SoCap install.  It is always disappointing when you invest time and money for any type of hair treatments and it doesn't turn out as you planned, hoped, desired.

 

I have actually heard there are three different SoCaps out there.  The original SoCap, SoCap USA and SoCap Europe?  Do I have that right?  I did hear that SoCap was started by a family that split apart and each took a slice of the company.

 

 

 

Remy simply means that the root direction is maintained, but the hair can be processed or cuticle removed.

 

http://www.ultralace.com/human-hair-typs_2.asp - http://www.ultralace.com/human-hair-typs_2.asp

 

I once met this hair extension "expert" hairdresser who had been doing GL since almost day one.  He did absolutely beautiful work and I actually went to his studio and watched him many years ago.  I asked him the secret to spectacular hair extensions and he said.....the expertise or lack of expertise of the person putting in the extensions.

 

This made so much sense to me, especially when I became the unwitting victim about 2 1/2 years ago of a "hair colorist" who really was just a hairdresser who dabbled in color.  My hair turned orange and my scalp burned for days and peeled.  She would not return my emails or calls.  It took about 2 years to get my hair back to where it looks good again.  When I told my friend Robert Hallowell about it he said.....the results of great hair color lies in the hands of the person doing the color and many hairdressers say that are experts but really are not.

 

I think the same is true with extensionists.  Some like our very own MetalGirl and others here have make the committment to take classes (on their own time & out of their own pockets) to learn as much as they can.  Then they do tons of research and work hard to be really great at their craft.  I have a lot of respect for that.  Those classes are NOT cheap either.

 

Then there are people who do not really put the time and commitment in to become "experts" and unfortunately they may not do the best job for their customers.

 

Unfortunately whatever "system" they use may get a bad rep when it is really the person doing the installs and their lack of experience or training or committment to doing a great job and not necessarily the hair system.

 

Whatever the reason, again, I am so sorry you had a bad experience.  I know the pain and suffering having your hair treated badly can cause.  I developed a new empathy for anyone having a bad hair color experience after my own hair turned orange and it cost me $150 to boot.

 

Thanks for sharing your story with us.  It helps all of us.

 

Hi Holland...so much great info.  Thank you so much.

 

When you pre-tipped did you also seal the strands?  I talked to the guy we bought the last kit from and he said that sealing is always a good idea.  We didn't seal but so far no shedding.

 

I can't believe you pre-tipped yourself.  That is so time consuming and tedious.

 

I would also be very interested in Ara's hair link.  I have talked to so many people that wholesale hair and they have all told me that it is so hard to validate where hair is really coming from these days. 

 

Which is a good question for the forum.  Is there any US requirements about this sort of thing?  There are such tight restrictions about labeling on so many things that come into this country.  Do they have any way of making vendors prove where the hair is actually coming from?

 

Thanks again for all the great info.  I would be very interested in whatever else you might care to share.

i couldnt have answered better!

good for u, its nice to know others have the same professionalism.

where are you located girl?