The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
by Stacey Soble
How to Choose the Right Hair Extensions
Your client has made it past the consultation and is ready for an extension service! But with so many extension options on the market, how do you choose which is right for your clientele, salon and needs?
September 11, 2018
When finding a line and attachment method that is right for you, most importantly, educate yourself. Ask coworkers or clients if there is a line that they have previously worked with and liked. Photo via HairUWear Pro.
4 min to read
Your client has made it past the consultation and is ready for an extension service! But with so many extension options on the market, how do you choose which is right for your clientele, salon and needs?
Saretta Bowerman, Owner and Extension Specialist at Blue Water Salon in Naples, Florida, orders from four brands and uses two different attachment methods. Her work consists of long, boho styles, bridal work, and balayage effects. Because of this, the extensions she uses must fit the bill for those trending looks. For others, she says the extensions you work with should fit your styling personality—do you like tedious, detailed work, or do you do something that takes less time and dexterity?
Bowerman says there are many factors to consider when choosing which lines to carry in your salon. These can be summed up with cost, colors, customer service, convenience and care.
“Do they have a good variety of ombre/rooted colors—if not, I don't even bother because that is what my clients need and want right now,” she says. “How easy is it to talk to someone? Are you on hold forever? Can you only order online? What kind of shipping do they offer—either overnight or two-day shipping is the max you want. How do the extensions dry naturally? Whenever I am testing a new brand, I wash and air dry a sample. What is the quality of the bond? Do your own personal research or look up forums online. The bond is SO key to a successful extension client relationship. You don't want slipping or stickiness or for the work for yourself to be really hard.”
Additionally, look into which attachment method best fits your needs and those of your clientele. Being able to offer different types of methods to your clientele is huge—that way you can always offer the healthiest most effective method for whatever type of hair comes your way.
Amanda Diedrich, known by her Instagram handle @blohaute, works with tape-ins, beaded weft and hand-tied extensions. She says these picks all depends on her clients’ lifestyle—the maintenance they’re willing to keep up with, their budget, and what they want to achieve with their extensions are all key factors when deciding.
For clients with thinning hair specifically, Bowerman says a single sided tape would likely be the best method because it is very lightweight and the weight is evenly distributed. Dietrich agrees, and adds it also depends on where the client is thinning and how thin their hair is.
“Most of the time I would say either beaded weft or tape in, but if it is really thinning, sometimes suggesting clip-ins is best,” she says. “Clip-in extensions are always a great alternative. I mean, they are still extensions, however they are DIY and easily removed rather than being a more permanent method.”
Chicago-based celebrity hairstylist Alex Brown says if clients have extremely fine hair, she may only recommend a few tape-ins as opposed to a whole head. And, rather than using two
“If clients do have extremely fine hair, I may only recommend 2-5 tape in extensions for them instead of a whole head,” Brown says. I also love doing “one sided” tape in extensions on clients with very fine, thin hair. One sided tape in extensions only use one piece of hair and a piece of one sided tape as opposed to 2 wefts of hair taped to each other. This creates less weight and stress on the client’s hair and tends to blend into their fine hair much more naturally. The second I see any type of damage to the hair and/or scalp, I inform the client right away and find a solution to why this is happening (brushing too hard, not taking proper care at home). If it is not improving, I will suggest removing them and not reapplying as the client’s hair condition is what’s most important.”
View this post on Instagram
When finding a line and attachment method that is right for you, most importantly, educate yourself. Ask coworkers or clients if there is a line that they have previously worked with and liked. Try it, take a class and see if you are happy with the results. If you aren’t, there are nearly limitless other options.
The extension business is buzzing—how can you be a resource to your hair loss clients looking for a solution.The annual HAIR+ Summit is September 30-October 2 in Atlanta. Read more about your HAIR+ business here.
The extension business is buzzing—how can you be a resource to your hair loss clients looking for a solution. Read more about your HAIR+ business here.
Originally posted on Modern Salon
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
The Most Wonderful Time in Salons and Spas
Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.
by Stacey Soble
Leading with Empathy, Humility and a Mastery of Systems
When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
Pagoda Brings AI-Powered Operations to Skinovatio Medical Spa Locations
Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
by Staff
How Women are Rewriting the Rules of Grey Hair
At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.
by Stacey Soble
Warm Leadership and Analytical Precision
At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.
by Stacey Soble
Trotting the Globe, Forging Connections, Fostering Artistic Creativity
In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.
by Stacey Soble
Client Retention Guidebook
Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.
Success Grown from Within
Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
How Salon Leaders Can Process the Pain and Lead Forward When a Team Members Leaves Unethically
In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.
How AI Is Closing Revenue Gaps for Salons and Spas
The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Premium Talent Magnet: The Modern Salon Playbook for Attracting Six-Figure Stylists
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Five Revenue Leaks Hiding in Your Salon
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Heartbeat of Zandi K's Success
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
by Stacey Soble
Rethinking Retail in the Era of E-Commerce
In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.
by Stacey Soble
The Harper Ellis Hair Co. Certification Program Teaches Stylists a Smarter, Safer Way to Install Extensions
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
by Staff
The Micro-Salon Blueprint: How Kat Scott Quadrupled Income by Maximizing Her Suite
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
by Staff