The time required to put in hair extensions depends on the method of application, the amount of hair being applied and the experience of the stylist.

There are different methods of application for extensions. For example, if you are going for wefts of hair to be glued in place, you can have a full head of hair extensions applied in as little as 30-45 minutes at most. It’s important to note, however, that with this method, they will need to be taken out and re-glued every 3 to 4 weeks. Other methods – such as the track and sew method and the fusion method – can take several hours and may be broken into multiple sessions. Extensions that are glued in individually typically look the most natural and are often the most expensive. These can take more than 3 hours to put in.

On the other end of the spectrum, clip in hair extensions take less than 5 minutes to apply and only 60 seconds to take out. They are super easy to use and are the quickest and easiest way to transform your look in a matter of minutes.

As a general rule, the simpler the application method, the least expensive and time-consuming it is. However, the simpler and less expensive methods have a greater risk of being spotted as artificial, and they need more frequent maintenance than some of the more expensive methods.

For example, the fusion method requires less maintenance and offers great flexibility in styling while giving you much more natural looking results.

The time also depends on the look that you are going for and how many extensions are going to be required to achieve your desired look. On average, a thickening process takes from 1 to 3 hours and a lengthening process takes roughly 4 to 5 hours.