DIY Tape In Hair Extensions vs Salon: Real Cost, Quality, and Time Compared
If you're researching tape in extensions in Australia, you'll quickly discover the price gap between DIY kits and salon installations is huge. A salon set costs $400 to $1,200 for the install alone, on top of the hair. A DIY kit from Muse is the hair plus everything else you need to install and maintain it for 9 months.
So is the salon worth the markup? Honest answer: sometimes yes, sometimes no. This is a side by side comparison built from real numbers, written by an Australian DIY extension brand that wants you to make the right call for you, even if that's not us.
Cost: the real numbers
Here's the all in cost for a full head of tape in extensions, both routes, over 9 months. Numbers based on average Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne salon pricing in 2026 plus standard retape cycles.
Salon route, 9 months
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial hair (40 to 50 pieces, premium remy) | $450 to $750 |
| Initial install (3 to 4 hours of stylist time) | $300 to $500 |
| Retape at 6 to 9 weeks (4 to 5 retapes over 9 months) | $200 to $350 each = $800 to $1,750 |
| Total over 9 months | $1,550 to $3,000 |
DIY route with Muse, 9 months
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial DIY kit (hair + adhesive + tools, 7 wefts) | $389 to $539 depending on length |
| 4 to 5 retape kits (adhesive tabs only, no new hair) | $39 each = $156 to $195 |
| Total over 9 months | $545 to $734 |
The savings: $1,000 to $2,300 over 9 months for the exact same Remy hair. The hair is the same product whether you buy it from us or your salon orders it on your behalf, the difference is the markup on labour.
Time: how the math actually works
Salon route:
- Initial install: 3 to 4 hours in the chair
- Retape: 1.5 to 2.5 hours every 6 to 9 weeks
- Travel time + booking
- 9 month total: 12 to 18 hours
DIY route:
- Initial install: 20 to 30 minutes (first time), 10 minutes once practiced
- Retape: 30 minutes
- Watch a YouTube video while you do it
- 9 month total: 2 to 3 hours
The salon route eats roughly 6x more of your life over 9 months. Whether that matters depends on whether you find the salon experience relaxing or stressful.
Quality of the hair itself
This is where most comparison articles get it wrong. The hair is the same.
Muse uses 100% Remy human hair, double drawn, sourced from the same Indian and Cambodian regions every premium salon brand sources from. The hair we sell is identical specification to what you'd get installed in a $1,000 salon visit.
What changes between brands isn't the hair, it's:
- Adhesive quality (poor adhesive = slippage)
- Weft construction (cheap wefts shed)
- Colour matching (off shades = visible bonds)
- After sales support (good brands troubleshoot, bad ones disappear)
Don't believe anyone who tells you their hair is fundamentally better. They're selling you marketing, not chemistry. The honest question is: who do you trust to back up their product if something goes wrong?
Skill required
Salon route: zero skill, you sit in the chair.
DIY route: moderate skill the first time, low skill after that. The reverse tape method we developed is specifically designed to be applied without training.
If you've ever applied false eyelashes you can apply tape ins. If you can section your hair to apply hair dye, you can section it for extensions. The tools (section comb, application clip) come in the kit.
Where DIY genuinely doesn't work:
- Severely matted or damaged hair that needs colour correction first
- Bonded extensions (keratin tip, micro link) which require professional tools
- Anything where the hair needs to be cut into a specific style — get a stylist to cut it after applying
Aftercare and ongoing maintenance
Aftercare is the same regardless of where they were installed. Same washing routine, same products to avoid (silicone heavy, K18, Color Wow), same brushing and sleeping habits.
The difference: when you DIY you HAVE to learn the aftercare routine because you're now responsible for the bonds. Most salons send you home with a 30 second verbal explanation. Most Muse customers spend 5 minutes with our included aftercare guide and never have a problem.
Either way, plan for:
- Washing every 2 to 3 days max (not daily)
- Avoiding heat directly on the bonds
- Brushing 3 times a day with a wide tooth comb, holding the roots
- Sleeping with hair in a loose plait or low pony
When DIY is the right call
- You want to save $1,000+ over 9 months for the same hair
- You're comfortable doing your own hair (dye, blow drying, anything similar)
- You want to install whenever it suits you, not when the salon has a slot
- You're already wearing extensions and just want to switch from salon to home
- You travel a lot and need flexibility
When the salon is the right call:
- You have severely damaged or chemically fragile hair that needs an expert eye
- You're getting your hair cut into a new style at the same time as the install
- Money truly isn't a factor and the salon experience is the part you enjoy
- You've never done your own hair beyond the basics and the idea of sectioning sounds stressful
There's no shame in either choice. We're an Australian family business and we'd rather you go to a salon and have a great experience than DIY and have a bad one. Most of our customers came to DIY after a few salon cycles when they realised they wanted the savings and the flexibility.
If you want to try DIY
The full guide is here: Best DIY Hair Extensions Australia: The Complete 2026 Buyer's Guide.
Start with a DIY Hair Extension Kit. Use our free shade matching service before ordering, link in the menu. Application is the Reverse Tape Method. Removal in 9 weeks: How to Remove.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are DIY tape in extensions worth it compared to salon?
If you're already paying $1,500 to $3,000 a year for salon extensions, switching to DIY saves you $1,000 to $2,300 a year for the same Remy human hair. The decision usually comes down to whether you're comfortable doing your own hair and whether you value the time savings.
How much do tape in extensions cost in Australia?
Salon installations cost $750 to $1,250 upfront ($400 to $750 hair plus $300 to $500 install) and $200 to $350 every 6 to 9 weeks for retape. A Muse DIY kit is $389 to $539 with retape kits at $39. Over 9 months DIY costs roughly a third of the salon route.
Is the hair in DIY kits lower quality than salon hair?
No. We use 100% Remy human hair, double drawn, sourced from the same regions every premium salon brand uses. The hair specification is identical. Brand differences are in adhesive, weft construction, and customer service, not the hair itself.
Can a hairdresser refuse to retape DIY extensions?
Some salons will, most won't if you ask politely. Many salons charge to retape extensions they didn't supply but will still do the work. If you want salon retape on Muse extensions, ring ahead and confirm pricing first.
What if I install DIY and they look bad?
Email support@museforhair.com with a photo. We troubleshoot remotely 6 days a week. Most install issues are sectioning related and can be fixed in 5 minutes by repositioning a weft.
Are DIY tape in extensions safe for fine hair?
Yes. The reverse tape method we use places weight 0.5 to 1cm below the section line, not at the root, which actually puts less stress on fine hair than salon sandwich application.
Can I DIY if I've never had extensions before?
Yes. Most Muse customers are first time extension wearers. The reverse tape method was designed for at home application. The kit includes the section comb and application clip, and our free shade matching makes sure colour is right first time.
How often do I need to retape DIY extensions?
Every 6 to 9 weeks, same as salon installations. Your own hair grows about 1cm per month, so by the 6 to 9 week mark the wefts have moved down enough to need repositioning. Retape kits cost $39, no new hair needed.
