Hair extensions come in various types, lengths, colors and textures and can be applied at home or in a salon. Compared to human hair extensions, synthetic hair extensions tend to cost much less but also may need to be replaced more often. The quality of the extensions, regardless of the type, also has a major impact on the price. The color, type, origin, length and application method also affect the final cost of hair extensions.
When one is considering getting hair extensions, he or she should first decide whether the application process will be done at home or in a salon. The cost of hair extensions done in a salon can be significantly more expensive than purchasing supplies to do the process at home. A major factor is the application process used for the extensions, because application methods using glue or sewing usually cost less than those that use fusion or bonding. Many salons also charge according to the time it takes to apply the extensions, so those who need more hair applied or who are using strand-by-strand extensions will usually experience higher costs.
The type of hair — whether human or synthetic — and the way the hair comes packaged will impact the cost of hair extensions. Human hair extensions come in varying prices that range from slightly above to several times the cost of synthetic hair extensions. If one decides to purchase low-quality human hair, the hair can be thin and will ultimately require more hair for the application process. Both human hair and synthetic extensions come in wefts and strand-by-strand packages. Although the strand-by-strand extensions give a person more control over how much hair he or she purchases, the cost of strands can be significantly more than the cost of wefts.
The length of the hair also has a major effect on the cost of hair extensions for both synthetic and human hair. Longer hair wefts and strands generally cost more than shorter extensions, and the price usually runs on a sliding scale that prices the hair in inches or centimeters. In addition to the length of the hair, the hair's color also has an effect on the price. Darker hair colors tend to cost less than lighter colors. This is more likely to occur when one purchases human hair extensions, however, because many synthetic extensions cost the same regardless of the hair color.