Boost your business by banking on your extension services. The top tips to know.
Hair extensions typically have a high return on investment for any stylist or salon owner since, much like hair colour formulas, the actual cost of the extensions is far less than what you will charge to secure and style the extensions you are adding to your clients’ hair. Bear in mind, though, that creating that flawless, full head of hair is a time-consuming process for you or your staff, although some hair extensions brands now offer faster application techniques.
What’s more, most hair extensions, especially the tape-in variety, require maintenance and touch-ups in the salon. Which means every five to eight weeks, your client will have to come back to have you remove or reapply their hair extensions. Much like hair colour, it’s an ideal service in that it leads to continuous and consistent bookings. This is one of the reasons why hair extensions are such a profitable salon service.
Your Ideal Client
When offering a type of specialised service, such as colour or extensions, you will want to make sure your client is also taking her part in ensuring her hair is well maintained.
According to Dee Gaultier, Master Hair Extension Artist, Great Lengths Canada, “An ideal client is one who is willing to comply with care instructions. This ensures complete success if the stylist has installed the extensions properly and has fully educated the client on how to care for her hair. If the client does her part in maintenance, such as proper brushing, washing, product use, and respecting the amount of time the extensions should be worn, it eliminates the chance of wear, tear, and damage.”
Master Hairstylist Nik Morel, who’s an extensions specialist at Pure Salon in Montreal and works with Hotheads, says the consultation is key to ensuring your client knows what she is getting, and how to maintain them properly. “But the biggest mistake you can make is to cheapen on the extensions, which will not give the best, most beautiful results. I always recommend clients wait until they have more budget your client if they’re looking into getting extensions.”
More Length or Volume?
From a business standpoint, what is more profitable: long hair for a few clients or adding volume for more clients? “Longer hair is definitely more profitable,” says Dee. “When longer hair is requested, more extensions must be applied to appear real, especially if the client’s hair is shorter to begin with.”
However, more volume is not to be discounted when it comes time to turn a good profit. “With tape-in extensions like Hotheads, I can give my clients more length and volume in a two-hour appointment. And with a single pack of extensions, I can add a lot of volume for more mature clients. This type of extensions has definitely opened the door to bring in another type of client.”
You can charge $500 to add more volume, and you know that person is bound to come back and seek your services to either remove the extensions, add more hair once it starts thinning out – typically after six to eight weeks. “Extensions have permitted me to buy a cottage, so I guess that says a lot about the type of profit you’re potentially looking at with this type of service,” says Morel.
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