Hair Extension Stylist Red Flags: What to Watch Out For
When it comes to investing in hair extensions, choosing the right stylist is crucial. A poor choice can lead to hair damage, wasted money, and a frustrating experience. To help you avoid these pitfalls, here are a few red flags to look out for when selecting your hair extension stylist.
1. Lack of Credentials and Certifications
A professional hair extension stylist should have proper training and certifications. Invisible Bead Extensions® (IBE®) certification, for example, requires rigorous training. Always ask about your stylist’s credentials to ensure you’re in capable hands. You can also check our stylist locator on the IBE® website to ensure that your stylist is actually certified!
2. No Consultation Offered
A high-quality stylist will always offer a consultation before any service. This ensures they understand your hair type, your goals, and any concerns you may have. If a stylist skips this step, it’s a sign they might not be fully committed to customizing the service to your needs. Do your research ahead of time and ask your stylist questions during this time- BEFORE the extensions are installed!
3. Overuse of Glue or Tape
If your stylist relies heavily on glue or tape, it could cause long-term damage to your hair. Look for professionals who use healthier methods, such as bead extensions, which offer more flexibility and less stress on your natural hair. No sticky adhesive or glues around here!
4. Unclear Pricing or Hidden Fees
A trustworthy stylist will be transparent about costs upfront. If there’s any ambiguity or hidden fees that arise later, this is a major red flag. Luxury hair extensions are an investment, and you deserve clarity.
5. No Maintenance Advice
Your stylist should provide aftercare guidance to ensure your extensions last and remain healthy. If no maintenance tips are given, it may be a sign the stylist isn’t invested in the long-term success of your hair.
These are great rules to follow when investing in hair extensions with a stylist. Do your research ahead of time and make sure the method itself looks like something that you would feel comfortable wearing long-term. Don’t be fooled by beautiful before and after pictures of hair transformations, you want to see what is inside! Look for flip-up pictures, stitching pictures or photos up close of how the extensions are actually attached, and most importantly- GROW OUT PICTURES! You want to know how these extensions are going to affect your hair and scalp after you have worn them for a while. I am happily serving the Woodstock area as an Elite Artist with Invisible Bead Extensions, and I offer free in-person consultations for any guests who are interested in hair extensions, and FaceTime consultations for anyone who can’t make it to an in-person consultation.
Fill out the consultation form linked below to start your journey and let’s chat about your hair goals!