Top Three Ways for Hairstylists to Make Extra Money

The hair industry will always have its ups and downs. The key to a steady income for hairstylists is to create additional income streams to help even out slow periods when clients aren’t getting their hair done as often.

For example, hairstylists focusing on installing wigs and weaves will often see a slump in booking around the summertime. Many of their clients get braids that are easy to manage and not as hot in the summer.

Let’s look at three ways a hairstylist can make extra money while their primary source of income is slow.

Start Selling Hair Products & Hot Tools

People like to buy from who they know and trust. If clients trust you to do their hair, they would probably be open to purchasing products.

Let’s talk about how easy it is to offer Flat Irons, Lace Glue, Lace Tint, and more!

Combine Dropship Beauty's products and Private Label Branding's branding for the winning solution. Dropship Beauty offers an ever-expanding range of unbranded beauty products.

Flat Irons are always a fantastic upsell product. Make sure to use the exact flat iron you sell, show the client how to use it, and offer them the ability to purchase it after a session. Dropship Beauty now also offers Custom Flat Irons with your logo.

Previously, 500 units were required to make custom flat irons. In addition, you can purchase a few hundred flat irons with your logo with laser printing technology. They also offer unbranded flat irons in bulk with a low five-unit minimum.

Depending on your budget, flat irons can be a great way to get additional sales and profits for your business.

I want you to consider selling complementary products to the ones you already have for sale. For example, if you install and sell lace front wigs, there are many other opportunities.

Lace Front Wig Opportunities: 

• Sell the Lace Front Wig
• Charge to Install the Wig
• Lace Glue for Re-installs
• Lace Glue Remover to remove the wig
• Lace Glue Cleaner to clean the lace for reuse.
• Lace Tint
• Wig Grip Band for quick wear of the wig

See where I am going with this?

There are many different opportunities like this for all products and services. Start by writing down a product or service you offer and then what else goes with that product in later use.

You might not be able to offer all these products at once, and that’s okay. Start with what you can and start building up your product portfolio. Remember you must communicate the new products you offer on your website, social media, and especially when you have a client in the chair in front of you.

Become a Cranial Prosthesis Specialist

The everyday hair market might fluctuate, but there is always a need for specialists in the Cranial Prosthesis (Medical Wig) area. Hair loss caused by Alopecia, medical conditions, thyroid disease, iron deficiency anemia, and more need a solution.

A Cranial Prosthesis Specialist consults with clients suffering from hair loss due to medical conditions. During the consultation, the specialist will advise the client what type of medical grade wig best suits their needs.

There are many different types of medical-grade wigs using human hair and different styles of specialty wig caps. The medical-grade wig caps use silicon, silk, and other softer materials as opposed to the standard wigs that use lace. Medical-grade wigs commonly use natural human hair and have many color options.

Wig Medical offers a Medical Wig Certification Course that walks you through the steps of setting up your business to accept payments from insurance companies. Yes, insurance companies pay for the wigs. The Wig Medical course has the information you need to manage consults, and terminology, become an “in-network” provider and prepare to become a cranial prosthesis specialist.

As a hairstylist, adding the title of Cranial Prosthesis Specialist is a perfect match. If you follow the steps in the course, you will be set up with insurance companies quickly and ready to collect payments for wigs sold.

Sell Your Knowledge with Events & Online Classes

The continuing education of a hairstylist never ends as new products and techniques evolve. Tapping into this category will help you earn extra money while making you an authority in your industry.

There are two ways you can set up your classes, online and in-person, with events or 1-on-1 training. Think about how you can utilize the framework for one to work with the other. Start the topic and then outline each category, sub-category, and content.

Creating a course online using a platform like Thinkific is easier than you might think. Once you have the class outline, you could consider hosting the classes at your salon or renting a space.

Make sure you have perfected the course before considering taking the show on the road to different cities. Of course, there are a lot of additional expenses when traveling, so this will cut your profits. But that’s okay when you have a budget in place.

Your course is also a great place to sell the products we discussed earlier, including flat irons, lace tint, and other hairstyling items. Make sure to have them prominently displayed within your videos and presentations. Depending on the cost of the course, you might also want to price in samples of these products, so upcoming hairstylists get to use your products.

More Than Selling & Styling Hair

The hair industry is full of opportunities if you look out for them and stay organized. In addition, organization and system will be essential if your business adds additional products, services, and revenue streams.

So make sure your core business is organized before adding anything else to your plate.