This topic has come up so many times during my trainings that I thought I would write a little bit about it here.

The other day I saw an IG post that explained how we should all be charging our clients hourly for hair extensions. It compared us to plumbers and other hourly workers but didn't go into detail about why. The comments were all in agreement with the post and it shocked me, so I thought I would give a different viewpoint about the subject.

I'll first start by saying that a few of my seasoned stylists working at my salon with me are pretty fast at installing extensions. They have worked in the extension industry for many years and are much faster than some of my assistants and Level 1 extensionists- which is to be expected.  After all, some stylists are still learning and growing. I do not want them to feel like they have to work fast or feel rushed. 

If I charged hourly at my salon for installs, then the most seasoned stylists would make much less money than our newly trained extension stylists. Sometimes even double! There are times where it takes a new stylist 3 hours to do the same install that it takes another stylist only an hour and a half. It doesn't make financial sense to charge hourly.

Instead, our clients purchase their hair from us and we charge per piece, per tab or per weft for the install. They will always know what the charge will be, and it is never based on time. As you get faster, you will be able to raise your prices and give yourself room for steady increases.

The faster you become, the MORE money you will make! You should not be making less money the faster you become. Charging hourly has it's benefits, but don't sell yourself short for being efficient. Your clients will happily pay you more for getting them on their way sooner.