How Much Do Hair Extensions Cost in the UK? 2025 Market Breakdown

If you're considering hair extensions, you've probably noticed something: prices are all over the map. One salon quotes £350 for a full head, another wants £2,300. Both claim to use "premium human hair." So what gives?

The UK hair extension market has matured significantly. Valued at around £2.69 billion within a global sector now exceeding $3.43 billion, the industry has moved beyond the budget clip-ins and dodgy salon work of the 2000s. Today's clients are better informed, more willing to invest in quality, and focused on results that last.

Below, we'll break down exactly what you can expect to pay for every major extension method in 2025, what drives costs up or down, and how to spot genuine value versus expensive mediocrity.

Understanding the 2025 UK Hair Extension Market

The hair extension industry has shifted dramatically in recent years:

• Longer wear times - Modern methods like micro rings and nano rings last 10-12 weeks between maintenance appointments, compared to 4-6 weeks for older tape methods
• Reusable hair - Premium human hair can now be refitted multiple times over 9-12 months, making the cost-per-wear much lower
• Quality over quantity - Clients are visiting salons less frequently but spending more per appointment on higher-quality, longer-lasting hair

The result? The average UK client now spends more upfront but achieves better results that last longer - a win if you know what to look for.

UK Hair Extension Price Guide 2025: Method-by-Method

Here's what you'll actually pay across different extension types:

Clip-In Extensions (DIY)

• Hair cost: £90-£250
• Installed cost: N/A (self-applied)
• Maintenance: Remove daily
• Lifespan: 6-12 months

Tape-In Extensions

• Hair cost: £140-£280 per 100g pack
• Full head installed: £350-£1,000
• Maintenance: Re-tape every 6-8 weeks
• Lifespan: 9-12 months with proper care

Nano Ring Extensions

• Hair cost: £40-£65 per 25g bundle
• Full head installed: £320-£650
• Maintenance: Re-position every 10-12 weeks
• Lifespan: 9-12 months

Micro Ring Extensions

• Full head installed: £350-£1,100 (hair included)
• Maintenance: Re-fit every 10-12 weeks
• Lifespan: 9-12 months (hair is reusable)

Learn more about micro ring extensions

Keratin Bond Extensions

• Full head installed: £450-£1,400 (hair included)
• Maintenance: Move up or remove every 10-12 weeks
• Lifespan: Hair can be reused for 9-12 months with proper refits

Learn more about keratin bond extensions

Sew-In / LA Weave

• Full head installed: £400-£1,000 (hair included)
• Maintenance: Tighten every 6-8 weeks
• Lifespan: 6-9 months

Note: Central London boutique salons typically charge £900-£1,000 for full-head tape or micro ring installations. Ultra-luxury salons advertising "raw virgin" Slavic or Russian hair can exceed £2,300 for 22-inch lengths.

What About the Extremes?

Budget end (£250-£400): Usually indicates synthetic hair, trainee stylist, or bulk-purchased pre-packaged extensions. Results can be hit-or-miss.

Premium end (£1,800-£2,300+): Typically found in Central London or celebrity-focused salons. You're paying for location, brand prestige, and often genuinely exceptional hair quality - but not always.

Why Do Prices Vary So Dramatically?

Five key factors drive hair extension pricing:

1. Hair Quality

This is the biggest variable. The hair extension market has several quality tiers:

• Synthetic - £50-£150 per pack. Won't last, can't be heat-styled properly, looks obviously synthetic
• Brazilian/Indian human hair - £140-£280 per 100g. Decent quality, some variations in texture
• Eastern European Remy hair - £250-£450 per 100g. Finer texture, cuticles intact and aligned, minimal tangling
• "Raw virgin" Slavic/Russian - £500-£800+ per 100g. The premium tier, often claimed as single-donor with minimal processing

The quality leap from £140 hair to £400 hair is substantial. The jump from £400 to £800? Mostly comes down to processing, quality, movement and texture

A Word of Caution: Verifying Hair Origin

Here's something most salons won't tell you: it's virtually impossible to verify where hair actually comes from without genetic testing. Several high-profile UK hair extension companies have been challenged on their claims about Russian, Slavic, or single-donor hair origins - and without DNA analysis, there's no way to prove the hair's true source.

This matters because you might be paying £700-£2,000 for "Russian virgin hair" that's actually lower-grade hair from multiple sources that's been heavily processed to look premium. Some red flags:

• Vague origin claims ("European hair" without specifics)
• No documentation or certification of origin
• Prices that seem too good for the claimed quality
• Generic marketing language without substance

The reality? Most "premium" hair comes from India, China, or Southeast Asia, then gets processed and marketed with exotic origins to justify higher prices. Genuinely verified single-donor Russian or Slavic hair exists, but is expensive, and is sourced from specialist suppliers.

Our recommendation: Judge hair by how it performs (minimal tangling, natural movement, longevity) rather than marketing claims about exotic origins.

2. Length & Weight

Basic maths: more hair costs more money. Adding 100g of 18-inch extensions versus 150g of 22-inch extensions can double your bill. Most salons charge per pack or bundle, so a stylist's recommendation on how much hair you actually need makes a huge difference to final cost.

3. Stylist Expertise

A senior extensionist with 10+ years' experience will command higher fees than a newly qualified technician - and rightly so. Poorly fitted extensions cause damage, discomfort, and costly corrections. Factor in your stylist's track record, not just the salon's marketing.

4. Location Overheads

A Central London salon paying £8,000/month in rent will charge more than a home-based extensionist in Yorkshire - even if they're using identical hair. You're partly funding their postcode.

5. What's Actually Included

This is where pricing gets murky. Some salons quote a price but charge per packet. Suddenly that £350 quote becomes £500. Always ask for a fully inclusive price. Consultations sometimes come with a fee also so look out for that.

How to Spot Value vs. Expensive Mediocrity

Red Flags

• "Premium hair" with no origin specified - Where's it from? Brazilian? Indian? Eastern European? If they won't say, it's probably low-grade
• Suspiciously cheap full-head installs - £250 for a full head of "human hair" usually means poor quality or a trainee fitting
• Hidden extras - "Hair is £400, fitting is separate" means you're not getting the full picture
• No maintenance plan - If they don't mention 10-12 week refits, they're not planning for longevity
• Generic stock photos only - No real client results? Walk away

Green Flags

• Transparent pricing - Everything included in one quote
• Specific hair origin - "Hand-selected Eastern European hair" is better than "premium quality hair"
• Realistic promises - "Your hair will grow 6 inches overnight" = run. "You'll have natural-looking volume and length" = believable
• Clear maintenance schedule - They book your refit appointment before you leave
• Real client photos - Unfiltered, multiple angles, diverse hair types

Real-World Cost Examples

Budget: £200-£350 (Full Head)

What you get: Likely pre-packaged hair, possibly Brazilian or Indian human hair, shorter lifespan (4-6 months), tape-in or basic nano ring method

Best for: First-timers wanting to try extensions, those on a strict budget, temporary events

Watch out for: Limited customisation, poor colour matching, may need replacing sooner than expected

Mid-Range: £350-£500 (Full Head)

What you get: Better quality human hair (often Eastern European), professional fitting, micro ring or keratin bonds, 9-12 month lifespan with refits

Best for: Most clients wanting reliable, natural-looking results

Watch out for: Still ask what's included - some salons in this range charge extras

Premium: £500-£1,400 (Full Head)

What you get: Top-tier Eastern European hair, expert colour matching, bespoke fitting, comprehensive aftercare, reusable hair

Best for: Clients prioritising maximum longevity and customisation, fine hair requiring specialist techniques

Watch out for: You should expect genuinely excellent service at this price - anything less is overpriced

Ultra-Premium: £1,400-£2,300+ (Full Head)

What you get: Often single-donor "raw virgin" hair, celebrity stylist, Central London location, luxury experience

Best for: Those who want the absolute best regardless of cost

Watch out for: Diminishing returns - £2,000 hair isn't always twice as good as £1,000 hair

How Premium Salons Can Offer Better Value

Here's an industry secret: the most expensive isn't always the best value, and mid-market isn't always mid-quality.

Some salons manage to offer genuinely premium service without the Central London price tag:

• Lower overheads - Studio-based rather than high-street shopfront
• Direct relationships - Buying hair direct from suppliers rather than through distributors
• Specialisation - Focusing exclusively on extensions rather than being a general salon
• Volume - Doing enough fittings to buy hair in bulk while maintaining quality

For example, a salon in North Yorkshire using the same Eastern European hair as a £1,800 Central London studio might charge £650-£750 - not because the quality is lower, but because their rent isn't £8,000/month.

What About FAKE's Pricing?

Since we've been discussing market rates, it's worth noting where we sit. Our 2025 all-inclusive prices for keratin bond or micro ring extensions are:

• 14 inch – £370 - £630
• 16 inch – £410 - £670
• 18 inch – £450 - £710
• 20 inch – £490 - £750
• 22 inch – £530 - £790

Prices vary based on hair density selected. Every price includes: hand-selected Eastern European hair, custom colour matching, expert fitting, precision cutting, aftercare support, and reusable hair lasting up to 12 months.

View our full pricing breakdown with all lengths

Why Our Prices Reflect Custom Craftsmanship

Unlike most salons that use pre-packaged extensions straight from the supplier, we hand-craft every extension set in our salon specifically for each client. This means:

• Hand-blending hair - We don't pull extensions from pre-made packets. Each set is custom-blended to match your exact density and texture
• Custom toning - Every set is colour-matched and toned in-salon to your specific shade, including complex balayage and multi-tonal colours
• Bespoke preparation - We hand-tip keratin bonds or prepare micro rings to suit your individual hair structure
• Tailored weight - We control exactly how much hair goes into your set based on your natural hair density and goals

This custom approach takes significantly more time and expertise than fitting pre-packaged extensions, which is why our prices sit higher than budget salons using off-the-shelf hair. You're paying for completely personalised extensions made specifically for you - not a one-size-fits-all product pulled from stock.

Learn more about our hand-crafted method

We're certainly not the cheapest - budget salons charge £200-£350. We're not the most expensive either - Other comparable studios charge £1,000-£2,300+. We sit in the "luxury mid-market": genuinely high-quality work with incredible quality hair. Much of our hair is raw single donor from Eastern Europe.

Often our hair is completely virgin and never been dyed.

Is it good value? Objectively, yes - comparable quality in London costs 40-60% more. But "value" is relative. If you're on a tight budget, £720 is expensive. If you're used to paying £1,500 in London, it's a bargain.

The True Cost: Long-Term Investment

Smart extension buyers think in cost-per-wear:

Budget extensions:

• Initial cost: £400
• Lifespan: 4-6 months
• Refits: Every 6 weeks (£60-£80 each) = £240-£360 over 6 months
• Total 6-month cost: £640-£760

Premium reusable extensions:

• Initial cost: £700
• Lifespan: 12 months (reusable with refits)
• Refits: Every 10-12 weeks (£80-£120 each) = £320-£480 over 12 months
• Total 12-month cost: £1,020-£1,180

The premium extensions cost more upfront but less than double over twice the time period. Cost per month:

• Budget: £107-£127/month
• Premium: £85-£98/month

The "expensive" option is actually cheaper long-term.

Your Extension Investment Checklist

Before committing to any salon:

• [ ] Get a fully inclusive quote (no surprise extras)
• [ ] Confirm the hair origin and quality grade
• [ ] See multiple before/after photos of real clients
• [ ] Understand the maintenance schedule and costs
• [ ] Check the stylist's experience (not just the salon's reputation)
• [ ] Ask about the refit/removal process
• [ ] Get aftercare instructions
• [ ] Confirm the actual lifespan (not marketing claims)

Final Thoughts

The UK hair extension market in 2025 offers more choice than ever - and more confusion. Prices range from £200 to £2,300+ for what might look like similar services.

The key? Know what you're paying for. A £400 quote using pre-packaged hair from an unknown origin with a trainee stylist is very different to £700 for hand-selected Eastern European hair from an expert with 13 years' experience - even if both are called "premium extensions."

Do your research, ask the right questions, and remember: expensive doesn't always mean better, but genuinely cheap usually means compromised.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

Whether you're considering your first extensions or looking to switch salons:

• View our pricing - See our transparent, all-inclusive prices
• Book a consultation - Free, no-obligation consultations to discuss your hair goals
• Ask questions - We happily explain our pricing, hair sources, and application process

Have questions about hair extension costs or want to share your experience? Get in touch - we'd love to hear from you.

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Quick FAQ

How long does a full head fitting take?

Typically 2-4 hours depending on the method. Tape-ins are fastest (1.5-2 hours), micro rings and keratin bonds take longer (3-4 hours) due to the individual strand application.

Will extensions damage my hair?

Not when they're fitted correctly by an experienced stylist and maintained properly every 10-12 weeks. Damage usually comes from poor application, too much weight, or neglecting maintenance appointments.

Can I colour my extensions?

Most premium salons pre-colour match your hair so additional colouring isn't required. Dyeing extensions yourself can void warranties and affect longevity. Always check with your stylist first.

What's the cheapest method that still looks good?

Tape-ins offer a good balance of affordability (£350-£600) and natural appearance, though they require more frequent maintenance than micro rings or keratin bonds. For longevity, micro rings offer the best value.

Are more expensive extensions always better quality?

Not always. After around £900-£1,000 for a full head, you're often paying for location, brand prestige, or luxury service experience rather than significantly better hair quality. The biggest quality jump is between £200-£400 and £600-£800.

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Written by the FAKE UK team. All prices correct as of October 2025. Individual costs may vary based on hair length, thickness, and specific requirements.