Hair extensions Queenstown: cost, methods and what to expect

Updated November 2026. Service prices are from our live price list and are confirmed at your consultation.

Extensions can be brilliant. Length when you've been growing your hair for years, or thickness through ends that won't grow past a certain point. They're also a commitment, so it's worth knowing what they're actually like before you book.

What makes extensions look natural?

Done well, you can't tell where your hair ends and the extension begins. That comes down to three jobs: matching the colour properly, placing them to suit your head shape and how you part your hair, and cutting them in so they blend. Application is followed by a styling and finish, so you see the result before you leave.

The price is driven by how much hair you need, the length and the method. That's why the placement is priced on our list but the hair is quoted once we've seen you.

What happens at an extensions consultation?

Every extension service at Crew starts with a free 15-minute consultation. We look at your own hair's density and condition, match the colour, plan where the tapes or bonds will sit, and give you a quote for the hair and the fitting. No pressure to book on the spot. Bring a photo of the length you're after.

The honest part: upkeep

Tape extensions need moving up every six to eight weeks or so as your own hair grows. That's the retape on our price list. They also ask for a bit more care at home: brushing properly, drying the roots and being gentle at the basin. None of it is hard, but it's a routine, and better known before you commit than after.

Here's a real example. Fifteen tapes is $200 to place, plus the hair. After that, a retape of 15 tapes is $235 every six to eight weeks. Budget for both, not only the first visit.

Looking after extensions at home

• Brush from the ends up, holding the hair at the root with your other hand.
• Use a sulfate-free shampoo and keep conditioner off the tapes.
• Dry the roots straight after washing. Don't leave tapes damp.
• Use a heat protectant before straighteners or tongs, and keep the iron off the tapes.
• Sleep with your hair in a loose plait.

Tape-ins or keratin bonds: how much do hair extensions cost in Queenstown?

Here's our live extensions menu side by side. These are starting prices, confirmed at your consultation.

Tape-in prices are for placement. The hair is quoted at your free consultation, and we'll confirm exactly what's included with keratin bonds there too.

Which method, and which aftercare, to choose

If you want a quick fit and easy maintenance: tape-ins. They sit flat, they're comfortable, and they're moved up as your hair grows. They suit most hair types and are gentle when they're looked after.

If you want long-wearing, individually bonded hair: keratin bonds. One hundred bonds are colour-matched and placed in a five-hour appointment, so plan your day around it.

For shampoo and conditioner: two ways, choose by budget and hair type. Pureology is sulfate-free, which is what tapes want. Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo ($58.08) suits thicker hair that frizzes, and Hydrate Sheer Conditioner ($58.08) is the lighter choice on finer hair, mid-lengths to ends only. If you'd rather stay with Kérastase, Nutritive Masquintense ($83.16) on the lengths once a week keeps extension hair soft.

Before heat: Kérastase Genesis Défense Thermique ($70.56) on damp hair, avoiding the tapes.

What it costs, how long it takes and how to book

Tape-ins from $160 (1 hr 15), retapes from $200 every six to eight weeks, keratin bonds $550 (5 hr), hair quoted at a free 15-minute consultation. Full detail is on our hair extensions page and hair extensions in Queenstown.

Wanting them for a wedding? Read our wedding hair guide and book the consultation well before your trial.

Book a free consultation online any time, or call 03 441 8555. We're upstairs at Level 1, 22 The Mall, open weekdays with a late night until 8pm on Thursdays.

Aftercare: what we'd send you home with

Sulfate-free washing, a light conditioner and heat protection: what we'd send you home with after a fit.

• Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo, $58.08
• Pureology Smooth Perfection Conditioner, $58.08
• Pureology Hydrate Sheer Conditioner, $58.08
• Kérastase Genesis Defense Thermique 150ml, $70.56
• Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Huile Originale 75ml, $105.00
• Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense 200ml, $83.16

Why book and buy with Crew

We're Queenstown stylists, upstairs at Level 1, 22 The Mall, and the haircare we sell is genuine salon stock bought direct from the brands' New Zealand distributors. Free NZ shipping on orders over $75. Book online any time, or call 03 441 8555.

Are hair extensions OK for thin hair?

Often, yes. Plenty of the people who ask us about extensions have fine or thinning hair and want more fullness, not more length. It just needs a bit more care in the planning.

• Fewer, lighter pieces. Thin hair can't carry as much weight, so we'd usually start with fewer tapes and add more later if your hair copes well.
• Placement matters more. Tapes need enough of your own hair on top to cover them. We'll check how your hair sits at the parting and around the hairline before we suggest anything.
• Shorter wear times. Don't stretch your retapes. On fine hair, a tape left too long pulls as it grows down, and that's where breakage starts.
• Gentle washing. A sulfate-free shampoo made for fine hair, like Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo, is a light, sulfate-free option that won't weigh fine roots down.

Sometimes the honest answer is no. If your scalp is showing through, or you're losing more hair than usual, extensions can make it worse, and we'd rather tell you that at the consultation than after the fit. Sudden or patchy hair loss is worth a chat with your GP first. For fine hair care without extensions, see our guide to the best shampoo for fine, flat hair.

Frequently asked questions

Do hair extensions damage your natural hair?

Not when they're fitted, maintained and removed properly. Problems usually come from extensions that are too heavy for the hair, left in too long without a move-up, or pulled out at home. We check your own hair at every maintenance visit and will tell you honestly if it needs a break. Removal starts at $100 for 10 tapes.

Are hair extensions expensive to keep up?

Plan for the ongoing cost, not only the first fit. Tape-ins need a retape every six to eight weeks: $200 for 10 tapes, $235 for 15 and $285 for 20. The first fit is placement plus the hair, which we quote at your free consultation. A wash and blow-dry with extensions is $112 if you'd like us to style them.

Can I swim or go to the gym with tape extensions?

Yes. Tie your hair in a loose plait for swimming or training so it doesn't tangle, and rinse with fresh water afterwards. Dry the roots and tapes fully rather than leaving them damp. Avoid long soaks in very hot pools if you can, because heat and chlorine can loosen the tapes over time.

What shampoo should I use on tape extensions?

A sulfate-free shampoo, worked into the scalp and rinsed through the lengths. Pureology is sulfate-free, so Smooth Perfection Shampoo ($58.08) is a good place to start. Keep conditioner and masks on the mid-lengths and ends, away from the tapes, and dry the roots straight after washing.

Can I curl or straighten my extensions?

Yes, they're real hair, so heat tools are fine with a heat protectant. Keep the iron away from the tapes. Don't colour them yourself. Extension hair takes colour differently from your own, so if you want a change in tone, talk to us first and we'll work out what's possible.

How long does a tape-in appointment take?

Placing 10 tapes takes about 1 hr 15, 15 tapes about 1 hr 30, and 20 tapes about 2 hours, including the styling and finish. Retapes take 1 hr 15 to 2 hours depending on how many tapes you have. Keratin bonds take about five hours, so book a day you're not rushing anywhere after.

Can I get extensions in time for an event?

Usually, as long as you leave enough time. Book the free consultation first so we can match the colour and order the hair, then book the fitting. For a wedding, have them in before your trial so we practise the style with them. Placing and curling extensions on the wedding morning is an extra charge.

Keep reading

• Wedding hair Queenstown: trials, timing and prices for 2026/27
• Queenstown wedding hair from Auckland, Christchurch or overseas: how to book it
• Best Hair Oil NZ: Kérastase Elixir Ultime and How to Use It Properly
• Pureology Smooth Perfection NZ: Frizz Control for Thick, Coarse, Colour-Treated Hair
• Hair Extensions