Extensions are the most life-changing service we offer and the one with the biggest gap between expectation and reality — so here's the honest version. In Chicago, quality extensions are a real investment: the hair itself plus installation typically runs from several hundred dollars to $1,500+ depending on method, length, and how much hair your goal requires, plus maintenance every 6–10 weeks. At Reverie, every extension journey starts with a $35 consultation where you get an exact written quote — because honest extension pricing is impossible sight-unseen, and any salon quoting you a flat price before seeing your hair is guessing.
The three main methods
Tape-ins: thin wefts taped flat against the root. Fastest install, most affordable entry point, moved up every 6–8 weeks. Great for adding volume; lie flat in fine hair.
Hand-tied wefts: rows of weft sewn onto a tiny beaded track. The most natural movement and the favorite for serious length — moved up every 6–8 weeks, with the hair itself reusable for months.
K-tip / fusion: individual keratin-bonded strands. Maximum blending freedom (especially around the face and in shorter or layered hair), longest install time, and the hair stays in 3–4 months before reinstallation.
What nobody tells you
The hair is half the cost. Quality human hair is expensive before anyone installs it — and it's exactly where cheap extensions cut corners. Bargain hair tangles, mattes, and dulls within weeks.
Color-matching is the skill. A great install with a slightly-off color reads fake instantly. We custom color-match — and often color the extensions or your hair — so the blend is invisible. This is why extensions belong with a colorist, not just an installer.
Maintenance is a commitment, not fine print. Move-ups every 6–10 weeks, gentle brushing, sleeping in a loose braid, and proper washing. Skip the upkeep and the investment shortens dramatically.
Your natural hair's health comes first. A responsible extension stylist will tell you if your hair isn't currently a good candidate — and what to do so it becomes one. That "no" is worth more than any install.
Who does extensions at Reverie
Lilah Al-Surakhi leads our extension work — it's her particular passion — with custom color-matching and invisible blending across tape-in, hand-tied, and fusion methods. Start with the extension consultation ($35): you'll leave with an exact quote, a method recommendation, and an honest assessment of what your hair can support.
