How to Become a Hair Extension Specialist
It’s no secret that the hair extension industry is a multi-billion dollar powerhouse, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. If you’re looking for your slice of the pie, you came to the right place, love!
Hair extensions are one of, if not the most, impactful services you’ll offer as a stylist, and clients get HOOKED. On top of that, they massively boost your earning potential as a stylist. Trust us, we’ve been in the business for over two decades now, both providing luxurious hair extensions and certifying stylists to transform their own clients.
It’s our mission to provide the best of the best, in both education and hair, and we pride ourselves in lending the same attention to detail to our trainings as we do in developing our hair extensions.
What is a hair extension specialist?
A hair extension specialist is different from a stylist who simply holds a certification. You’ve seen enough hair extension horror stories online to know that for yourself.
A hair extension specialist sets themselves apart from other stylists offering extensions through many factors, the most important of which being the client experience. Being able to confidently recommend the correct extension method(s) and color nearly instantaneously, providing an efficient but relaxing application, educating your client in proper care, and properly maintaining each installation with beautiful growout will set you as your clients’ standard for hair extension experience, and keep them coming back to your chair.
How do I become a hair extension specialist?
This first one’s a no brainer. You have to get certified in extensions to become an extension specialist!
Trainings are like hair extensions - the cheapest option is not going to be the best quality. There’s no shame in starting small, but we highly recommend training with a reputable brand able to offer you the experience you deserve!
Choosing between online certification and an in person hair extension training is a good place to start! Both offer unique perks, like the convenience of online training and the group learning of a live training. Either way, make sure you’re getting plenty of hands-on practice and input from educators during the certification process. This tends to be a weakness of online certifications (but not ours)!
One certification is just the beginning though. Think about it… You wouldn’t call yourself a blonding specialist after learning a single new technique!
Variety is your friend here, and we’ve got you covered! We offer five different methods online, and three in person, including multiple weft application methods, to make sure you’re able to satisfy each and every client!
Another factor to consider when extension certification shopping is what’s included! Optimally, your hair extension training should include a kit with everything you need to install extensions, a mannequin for practice, access to educators for your inevitable questions, and opportunities for continuing education! Of course, we’ve got you covered on all these.
Once you’ve got multiple hair extension methods under your belt, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which lane you’re ready to excel in!
Offering everything is a luxury you’ll be able to provide as a multi-certified stylist, but as you already know from your existing clientele, you’ll have favorites, and marketing and performing those services is going to come much more naturally to you. Selecting a niche that coordinates with the needs of your existing clientele will make each install an easier sell, so choose wisely!
Whether you’re weft transformation obsessed, a dimensional keratin queen, or the ultra-rare vivid mane curator, we’ve got your back, and can’t wait to see you blossom.
Installing hair extensions needs to become second nature to you, and the quicker the better! It’s time to practice, practice, practice.
While an incredible tool, hair extensions also have the potential to damage natural hair, so it’s vital to protect your clients’ hair and your reputation by fine tuning your technique.
Practicing technique on a mannequin while you iron through all the minute details that make an extension install great will serve you ten times over, and your the confidence you develop by doing so will show through to your clients!
Don’t forget to take pictures of your work either. One day you’ll relish having these reminders to look back on how far you’ve come. Analyzing these photos after the fact will also provide you with an eye for instantly being able to diagnose and correct issues in your installs.
We’re here for you every step of the way as you practice, with educator access and practice feedback integrated into both our live and online trainings, plus a dedicated customer service team able to provide you with the information you need to excel!
Knowing what to charge for hair extensions is half the battle when it comes to turning your certification investment into sweet, sweet profit.
Luckily, both our online and live trainings incorporate suggested pricing strategies into the course, so you’ll have a baseline idea of how to ensure you’re making the most out of this time intensive service.
We also highly recommend doing some research on your community’s extension pricing to ensure you’re not low balling or overpricing yourself compared to your competitors. Your clients will likely shop around as well, so make sure you know where you rank in the stack!
Comparison aside, a luxurious experience, confidence in yourself, and sufficient extension education under your belt all will make clients much more likely to invest in your hair extension services, even if your price point is above the stylist down the street, so don’t be shy when it comes to charging your worth!
You’ve got the certification, the skill, and the business model. Now it’s time to talk your sh*t!
To become a specialist, hair extensions need to be visually tied to your brand everywhere! We highly recommend adjusting your social media name (not your handle) to “{your city} extensions” or something similar to allow clients to find you through a simple search.
Incorporating extensions into every level of your marketing will vastly increase your inquiries as well! Creating content about hair extension care, the quality of your installs, and what to expect at their appointment will show clients you’re an expert.
Speaking of showing clients, your hair extension transformation content and your client photography in general really seals the deal. Investing time and energy into displaying your work in a luxurious manner will have clients handing over their hard earned cash.
Don’t forget to be patient as you wait for your business to take off. Building something great takes time!
All in all, taking the leap to becoming a hair extension specialist can be intimidating, but we’re here for you every step of the way, from providing access to the best trainings possible, either online or in person, nurturing you while you build your craft, and keeping your clients happy with luxuriously soft, long lasting hair.
When you’re ready to embark on your journey, we’ll be here!