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A hair extension is a beauty product designed to give you the appearance of longer and/or fuller hair. Hair extensions are made of synthetic material or real human hair and are attached to your natural hair by a variety of techniques such as a weave (sewing), hot fusion, tape-in, cold fusion, bonding, metal clips, micro ring or micro loops, and more. The type of technique you select as well as the quality and volume of the hair you choose all affect cost. Hair extensions can last anywhere from three weeks to six months, depending on the application technique. For example, tape-in extensions may last approximately four weeks, while extensions applied using a hot fusion technique may stay in for up to six months. The hot fusion technique takes longer, costs more, and requires more training on the part of the hair stylist, but the result is more natural-looking extensions that can be washed and heat-styled with confidence.

A mobile hairdresser is a cosmetologist trained to cut, color and style hair who can provide hairdressing services at remote locations. Often, mobile hairdressers are hired for events such as weddings, bachelorette parties, prom night, birthdays and other occasions. The hairstylist can come to your location to do your hair, or provide hairstyling for your group.

For events, mobile hairstylists more often provide updos and formal styles than highlights or hair color. Mobile hairdressers bring all the necessary hairstyling tools and products such as lotions and sprays to create your look. The national average cost for a hairstylist is $70-$110. Pricing for different services can vary greatly depending on stylist reputation, training and regional rates. For example, haircuts could range between $35 and $150, while hair coloring services could range in price from $65 to $200. Some mobile hairstylists may include the cost of travel in their fees, while other may have it as an added charge, such as 50 cents to $1 for each mile beyond their standard service range.

First, pull up a list of nearby hairstylists on Thumbtack, and read their profiles to get an understanding of what they specialize in — hair coloring, cutting, extensions, wedding hairstyles, etc. Then, start searching for stylists who have high ratings and customer reviews. You should also spend some time looking at photos that showcase their work. That way, you can determine if a stylist has the experience and skills needed to achieve the look you want. 

When you’ve identified at least three hairstylists you like, ask them for a cost estimate and make sure they have the proper credentials.

Hair extensions are synthetic or real human hair integrations that add volume and length to your hair. Hairstylists are trained in different techniques to attach extensions to your hair. The cost of extensions can vary greatly depending on the technique used to apply the hair, as well as the type of hair you select. Synthetic hair is typically the least expensive, human hair is next on the pricing scale, remy hair is next, and what is called “virgin” human hair is generally the most sought-after and most expensive. Remy hair signifies that all the cuticles are intact and running in the same direction, making for smoother hair extensions in the long term. Hair is deemed virgin when all the hair is from one donor and has never undergone any chemical processing. Hair prices will vary from company to company; here are some examples of hair from online retailers.

• Virgin strands (25 strands weighing approximately 1 gram each) for hot fusion application: $44 per bundle.
• Virgin hair weave (approximately 4 ounces per package): $149 each.

Here are some sample application costs from hairstylists.

• Full sew-in: $175-$200 or more.
• Partial sew-in: $125 or more.
• Micro-link weft extensions: $300 or more.
• Full-bonded extensions: $75 or more.

After you find a few hairstylists you’re interested in, you need to decide who to hire. To figure this out, ask yourself these questions when evaluating each candidate:

• Does the hairstylist have mostly positive customer reviews and high ratings?
• Is the hairstylist charging prices that are reasonable and within my budget?
• Does this person specialize in my hair type and texture?
• Can the hairstylist achieve the look I want?
• Does the hairstylist have the proper training?
• Can the hairstylist come to me (i.e., are they a mobile hairstylist?), or do I need to go to their place of business?

A seamless hair extension is a type of clip-on hair extension. The extension hair is called the weft. Near the top of the weft, a metal clip mounted to the weft on a silicone base is used to attach the extension to your natural hair. In a traditional clip-on extension, the base that attaches the metal clip to the weft is fabric.

People may prefer seamless extensions due to their lower profile; the silicone can be up to 50 percent thinner than the fabric, making the extension appear more natural — and, therefore, seamless. Seamless extensions usually can be washed (although you shouldn’t keep them submerged for more than 20 seconds) and heat-styled on lower heat settings. You can gently brush seamless hair extensions as well as have them dyed a darker color by a trained professional.

A hairstylist can provide you with a cut, color or highlights, or style your hair for an event. The national average cost for a hairstylist is $70-$110, but prices can vary greatly depending on the service you receive, where you live, and the salon’s or hairdresser’s reputation. A good rule of thumb is to tip your hairstylist 20 percent of your total bill. In smaller towns, 15 percent may be the norm, but in larger cities 20 percent is generally the baseline. If you frequent a salon where the shampooer, colorist, and hair cutter are all different people, you can divide that 20 percent among those service providers in proportion to the skill level and time required to do their job. Many hairstylists rent a chair from the salon and must pay a monthly rent to the salon owner.

Many hairstylists have the training and skills to do the following:

• Shampoo and condition hair
• Blow-dry hair
• Cut and trim hair
• Color, dye and bleach hair
• Straighten, braid and curl hair
• Install hair extensions and weaves

The best hairstylists can recommend styles and advise you on how to properly care for your hair type. Some may specialize in a certain treatment, or they may focus on hairstyles for events, such as a wedding.

A good rule of thumb is to tip your hairstylist at least 20%. Of course, it’s OK to tip more or less than 20%.

If you decide to tip 20%, here’s a quick guide on how much to tip your hairstylist:

If you believe your hairstylist messed up, bring it to their attention. Talk to them about what you expected and why you’re not happy with the end result. Because many professionals rely on positive customer reviews and word of mouth to keep their business going, they’re often willing to make adjustments. For more advice, read our guide on how to resolve issues.