Hair extensions in South Africa: types, prices and how long they last
Hair extensions add length or volume with hair that you clip, tape, sew or bond onto your own. The main kinds are clip-in, tape-in, sew-in, weft, ponytail, micro-ring and keratin. In our 6 Oct 2026 price check, human hair clip-in sets started at R648 and tape-in packs at R239. Choose by how long you want to wear them, and by what it costs to have them fitted.
Four kinds of extension, and where our check starts
The kinds of hair extension, and what they start at
Events and occasional wear, per Easihair Pro
Out each day. FrontRow says a set lasts 3 months to a year.
R648
Semi-permanent wear with move-ups
A move-up every 5 to 8 weeks, per Easihair Pro and Wigs.co.za.
R239
Textured hair, per Easihair Pro
6 to 8 weeks, up to 12 with maintenance, per UNice.
See the sew-in guide
Sewn or beaded on by a stylist
4 months to a year for the hair, per Coovip and Vivien.
See the weft guide
A quick change of style
Under 10 minutes to fit a drawstring piece, per Alpha.
R980
Salon wear
Lifespan not found on pages we opened. Salons list push-ups and removal.
R157
Salon wear for months, per Volure
Flirt Hair lists maintenance every 3 months.
R1,285
Grams, tapes and pieces for a full head
- 120 g to 220 gFrontRow's clip-in set weights, from fine, layered hair to maximum volume. Volure lists 80 g and 160 g.
- 40 to 60 tapesFlirt Hair in Pretoria lists this as its most popular full-head tape-in order at 50 cm. An Easihair Pro box holds 12 tapes.
- 2 to 3 bundlesMayvenn, a US retailer, recommends 2 bundles up to 14 inch and 3 from 16 inch for a sew-in with a closure or frontal. A bundle is about 100 g.
- 100 to 150 strandsFlirt Hair lists a keratin full head as 100 to 150 strands, which it gives as 100 g to 150 g, at 50 cm.
What to check before you buy
- Decide how long you want to wear them. A clip-in comes out daily, a tape-in or sew-in stays for weeks, and keratin and micro-ring are listed as salon wear for months.
- Ask the salon what the price includes: the hair, the fitting, the removal and the move-up.
- Check that the listing says human or synthetic, and whether the hair is remy. Easihair Pro describes its hair as 100% cuticle intact remy.
- Ask how many grams, tapes or bundles your head needs. Counts differ between sellers.
- Look at your hairline once a month. The American Academy of Dermatology lists broken hairs, a receding hairline, pain and crusts as warning signs.
- Remove or loosen anything that hurts. The Academy says pain or a headache means the style is too tight.
Hair extension prices across SA stores
Checked 6 Oct 2026Cheapest first. No store pays to be listed or ranked here.
Colours and where to look next
Find an extension stylist in your city
City pages open once we have verified three stylists there.
Hair extensions, explained
The main kinds of hair extension
Hair extensions fall into a handful of kinds, and the kind decides how long you wear them, who fits them and what it costs. Easihair Pro, a professional brand, describes these: clip-ins, for short-term length or volume, applied and removed easily and reused; tape-ins, pre-taped panels applied between small slices of natural hair, which are semi-permanent and reusable; and the sewn method, which sews or beads wefts onto a base of braided or beaded rows and suits textured hair.
Add ponytail pieces that fit over a ponytail of your own, and two salon methods: micro-ring, which uses individual strands, and keratin bonds, which Volure sells as U-shaped pieces in packs of 50 or 100 for salon application. We have a page for each of clip-in, tape-in, sew-in, weft and ponytail extensions, and the table below puts the cheapest matching product of each kind side by side.
Human hair or synthetic
The hair is either human or synthetic. Easihair Pro describes its tape-ins as 100% cuticle intact remy human hair. Glamorhair lists tape-ins in synthetic hair that is heat resistant to 160 degrees Celsius, and in Indian remy, European remy and virgin remy human hair.
Price follows the hair, and our clip-in guide shows synthetic and human hair sets side by side with their prices. Human hair lasts longer, according to one UK retailer's blog, which says human hair ponytails keep their quality for 4 months or longer and synthetic ones last 1 to 3 months.
What the hair costs
The table shows the cheapest option for each kind that our check could match, with the store and the date. A pack of 10 micro-ring strands, titled 100% human hair, is R157. A 10 piece tape-in pack is R239, and its title does not say what the hair is. A 7 piece human hair clip-in set is R648, a drawstring ponytail that its page calls 100% human hair is R980 and a 50 piece keratin pack is R1,285.
Those are starting prices for small packs, and most full heads need more. A micro-ring pack of 10 is not a full head, and the keratin pack is 50 pieces where Flirt Hair lists 100 to 150 strands for a full head at 50 cm. Our sew-in and weft guides show bundle prices, and our clip-in guide shows what each set weighs.
What it costs to have them fitted
Fresha listings that we read on 6 Oct 2026 show what each salon charges for a service. Units vary, and some listings do not say whether hair is included, so read each carefully. Tape-in application is listed at R400 to R550 in Cape Town, per box, row or five sandwiches. A sew-in is listed from R350 to R1,210 or more in Johannesburg, and weft installation at R800 to R1,500 at several Johannesburg salons. Microlinks individual installation is listed at R3,000 for 4 hours 30 minutes in Cape Town, with removal of micro-rings at R350, and K-tip installation at R420 for each 30 minutes at another Cape Town salon.
A studio quotes differently. Flirt Hair in Pretoria, whose price page is dated 1 March 2026, lists tape-ins at R12,500 to R17,600 for 40 to 60 tapes at 50 cm, a weft at about R11,000 for 2 wefts at 50 cm, and a keratin full head at R11,500 to R16,050. Those prices include hair and installation. It lists single donor, double drawn European virgin remy hair, so compare it only with similar products.
How long each kind lasts
Clip-ins last as long as you look after them. FrontRow says its sets last 3 months to a year. Tape-ins need a move-up every 5 to 8 weeks, according to Easihair Pro and Wigs.co.za, and Easihair Pro says the hair can be reused. A sew-in lasts 6 to 8 weeks, and up to 12 weeks with maintenance, according to UNice. Weft hair itself lasts 4 months to a year, according to two sources that disagree on the detail.
Flirt Hair lists keratin maintenance every 3 months and weft maintenance every 4 to 12 weeks. We did not find a lifespan for micro-rings on any page we opened, so we do not give one. The American Academy of Dermatology says to wear weaves and extensions for two or three months at most, then give your hair a break.
Damage and traction alopecia
Any extension that pulls can cause traction alopecia. The American Academy of Dermatology says constant pulling could damage hair follicles, and that once they are damaged your hair cannot grow back. It says to remove extensions straight away if they cause pain or irritate your scalp, and to opt for sewn-in weaves rather than glued ones. The British Association of Dermatologists lists weaves and extensions among the causes, and says stopping tight hairstyles is the most important step.
Research by Khumalo and colleagues in African girls and women found traction alopecia in 17.1 percent of schoolgirls aged 6 to 21 and 31.7 percent of women aged 18 to 86. The highest risk, compared with natural hair, came when traction was added to relaxed hair, with an odds ratio of 3.47. Those figures cover all traction, not extensions alone.
Curly, afro and finding a stylist
For curly or afro textures, Easihair Pro says the sewn method suits textured hair. If the hair is curly, Mayvenn says curls shrink, so order 2 to 4 inches longer than the length you want rather than adding bundles.
Fresha lists extension services in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria with prices on each listing. Hair Extension Experts in Johannesburg says it offers tape, petite tape, micro-ring, weft and invisible bond extensions, and toppers. We have not verified any stylist yet. Our directory opens city by city, and a salon can ask to be listed.
Hair extensions: questions
What are the different types of hair extensions?
The main kinds are clip-in, tape-in, sew-in, weft, ponytail, micro-ring and keratin bond. Clip-ins you fit and remove yourself. Tape-ins, sew-ins, micro-rings and keratin bonds are fitted by a stylist. Each kind has its own page on this site, linked above.
How much do hair extensions cost in South Africa?
It depends on the kind. In our 6 Oct 2026 check, human hair products started at R157 for a 10 strand micro-ring pack, R239 for a tape-in pack and R648 for a human hair clip-in set. Fitting is extra. A Pretoria studio lists a full set at R11,000 or more including hair.
Which hair extensions last the longest?
It depends on how you count. Clip-ins last 3 months to a year per FrontRow but come out daily. Tape-ins need a move-up every 5 to 8 weeks. Keratin is listed for maintenance every 3 months. The American Academy of Dermatology says to rest your hair after two or three months of wear.
Are human hair extensions better than synthetic?
Human hair costs more and can be heat styled, and one UK retailer's blog says it lasts 4 months or longer in ponytails against 1 to 3 months for synthetic. Synthetic is cheaper and often pre-styled. Our clip-in guide shows synthetic and human hair sets with their prices.
Do hair extensions damage your hair?
They can, if they pull. The American Academy of Dermatology says constant pulling could damage follicles and cause permanent hair loss, and to remove extensions at once if they hurt. The British Association of Dermatologists lists weaves and extensions among the causes of traction alopecia. Check your hairline every month.
Where can I get hair extensions near me?
Fresha lists extension services in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria, and salons such as Hair Extension Experts in Johannesburg and Flirt Hair in Pretoria publish what they offer. We have not verified individual stylists yet, so check a salon's own work and reviews before you book.
Does Londie London sell hair extensions?
We could not open Londie London's own website, so we cannot list an extension range for it. Fresha lists a Sew in at a Johannesburg studio called Londie London Hair Studio at R650 for 1 hour 30 minutes, as at 6 Oct 2026. Our brand page covers its hairpieces.
Which extensions work for curly or afro hair?
Easihair Pro says the sewn method suits textured hair. For curly bundles, Mayvenn says to order 2 to 4 inches longer than the length you want, because curls shrink. Our sew-in guide lists curly bundles with prices, and a stylist can advise on the right method for your hair.