Training to become a licensed hair weave stylist comes with many benefits to boost your career as a beauty professional, make a great income and help people be happy about their appearance.
A hair weaver helps people feel great about their look. And people will pay well to achieve that ideal look. You’ll enjoy flexible hours and many employment opportunities, whether working for a salon or opening your own. Work for yourself and you can literally write your own paycheck. Best of all, you can do this while perfecting your skills, since every client you serve is one more opportunity to create a masterpiece. As an artist, you’ll also enjoy great professional satisfaction by making clients feel better about themselves as you enhance their appearance.
Hair weaving is a non-surgical procedure in which hair extensions are attached to the customer’s existing hair. There are a number of techniques to do this, including pasting, fusion, hair bonding and netting. Natural or artificial hair can be attached to the client’s existing hair.
The two main methods of hair weaving are bonding, which involves the use of a special adhesive to hold the hair extensions in place, and tracking, which involves braiding natural hair across the scalp into several tracks. In a process called fusion, the braided natural hair is attached to hair strands using heat.
Permanent weaving, also known as net weaving, is a process that involves attaching the hair permanently to halt balding or thinning hair.
Every state in the country requires hairstylists, barbers and cosmetologists to be licensed to provide their services. However, hair weave stylists work in a legal gray zone, with some states requiring formal licensing while others do not.
Many certification training programs are available nationwide to learn hair weaving and prepare for licensure.
Once you are practicing, there are professional associations for hair weave stylists and networking groups you can join to meet other professionals, swap ideas and techniques, and make new friends who can help you grow your business.
Get started on a creative and financially rewarding career. Read on to learn how you can become a hair weave stylist.
In this article you’ll learn:
- How much money you can make as a hair weave stylist
- The required training and certifications
- Professional groups to join
- Employment opportunities for hair weave stylists
- Finding clients
- Plus helpful tips for new hair weave stylists
How much money can you make?
The average base salary for a hair weaver in the United States is $29,074 annually. With tips and possibly commission on beauty products you’ll probably be asked to sell at the salon, your income can be much higher. Hair weave stylists with a few years of experience can also charge more and make good money — $100,000 annually or more. One hair weave can cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000 depending on what the client wants to achieve and the quantity of materials required (hair weaves often involve the use of human hair, typically imported and usually expensive).
This is also a growth industry. Employment of hairstylists, a group that includes hair weavers, is projected to grow 8 percent through 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Population growth will lead to greater demand for hair care services, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Training and Certification
Many training programs are available throughout the country to help you learn the art and craft of hair weaving. Again, not every state requires a license to offer hair weaving services, although formal training leading to certification will give you a tremendous advantage over anyone who is not certified. Many employers will require formal training and certification. Plus, becoming certified demonstrates you are a serious professional who has invested the time necessary to master the craft of hair weaving.
There are so many hair weave training programs to choose from, the best approach is for you to review several and decide which is best for your personal circumstances. You can start with this listing of training programs to give you an idea of what’s available.
There are many different techniques for performing a hair weave. Training classes typically focus on one technique per course, with prices averaging $350. Keep in mind you may need to complete as many as 10 courses to become well-versed in different braiding techniques.
Online training is usually less expensive, but it’s up to you to find someone on whom you can practice hair weaving to gain hands-on experience.
Ambitious individuals may want to pursue a full cosmetology certification in addition to hair weaving. This will enable you to offer a much broader range of beauty services, which is incredibly helpful if you are a solopreneur working for yourself. There may not be a daily demand for hair weaves, but with cosmetology training you’ll be able to style hair, offer manicures and so much more.
Professional Groups to Join
The Professional Association for the Beauty Industry is one of the largest and most respected professional groups you can join as a hair weaver. Network with thousands of members, pursue continuing education and keep up with trends and new techniques. Several membership levels are available, from student to business owner. Visit their website for current pricing.
Associated Hair Professionals is another worthwhile group to consider. Members have access to business support resources and affordable liability insurance coverage.
You can also find groups to join on social media. Facebook is home to many groups devoted to the hair weaving profession. You can run a simple search on Facebook to find these groups and join one or more.
Employment
Visiting local spas and beauty salons with copies of your certification, resume (and license, if applicable) can be a great way to get yourself out there in front of potential employers. Even if there are no immediate openings, many employers will appreciate the initiative it takes just to walk through the door and introduce yourself. This instantly sets you apart from the many people who simply email their resumes and wait.
Online searches on sites such as ZipRecruiter and Indeed can also turn up plenty of job openings. Keep in mind that if you move to another state you’ll need to know the requirements and regulations for hair weavers where you plan to live.
Always tap into the networking power of your professional memberships to find jobs. Other hair weavers will be the first to know about jobs coming open in the shops where they work. You might learn about an opportunity even before it’s advertised.
Finding Clients
Business cards and a basic website should be part of your marketing toolkit. The website doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive, just attractively designed, with photos of your work, location and contact information. No need to include your pricing unless you decide to promote a special.
In addition to your business website, create an Instagram account to showcase your services. The link to your Instagram profile should be printed on your business cards and all other marketing materials, including your website. The idea is to post plenty of “before” and “after” photos with hashtags on Instagram so that people looking for hair weave services can find you. Instagram is the #1 online venue for beauty professionals to display their work. You need to have an active Instagram page both to attract customers and seal the deal with curious clients who are almost ready for a hair weave treatment but want to review the work of several providers before making a decision. Be sure to get written permission from your clients before you post images of their faces. You can download and print free photo release forms here.
Other strategies for attracting new business:
- Give discounts to new customers.
- Create a referral program with discounts for returning customers who bring new clients to you.
- Ask clients to review your services online. According to a survey, 90% of people say their buying decisions are influenced by positive online reviews.
- Ask all new clients to complete a simple form about their interest in your hair weaving services. Get their contact information on the form. This lets you follow up with clients, send occasional marketing material such as emails and encourage repeat business.
Good to know:
Offering free 15-minute consultations is a great way to drum up business for your salon. Hair weaves are an investment of both time and money, and clients will often want to know what’s involved, why it costs so much and how long their weave or extensions will last. A free consultation shows you care enough about the individual to take the time to explain the process and answer all questions. When customers are ready to purchase beauty services, they tend to go to the professional who offered the most help and guidance in advance. That can be you.
If you enjoyed this article, check out some other PocketSuite.io content that can help you grow your career as a hair weave stylist. Here’s a great place to start. You’ll also love our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses.PocketSuite has thousands of business owners who all started where you are right now. Our community is always happy to help you ramp up, grow your client base, and achieve your income goals, both within the PocketSuite app and as part of our exclusive Facebook Community Group. PocketSuite’s vision is for any professional to be able to work for themselves and make a great living. It starts here. It starts with you. It starts today. Let’s get started, download PocketSuite now! Feel free to reach out with any questions (we’d love to hear from you)! Text us @ (415) 841-2300.
