People ask me all the time how I got into sourcing hair extensions. The honest answer? I wanted to build something bigger than what I had, and I couldn't do that while someone else decided what went into the hair I was selling.
WHY I STARTED SOURCING
When you buy from a wholesaler, you get what they have. You don't choose the hair, the processing, the bond, the lengths or the weights. If something isn't quite right, there's not much you can do about it.
I wanted three things:
- Control. To decide exactly what I ordered, down to the specifications.
- Consistency. Hair I could trust for every client, every time.
- Profit. Better margins, so I could grow the business instead of just keeping up with it.
Sourcing my own hair was the only way to get all three.
WHERE I STARTED
I started with large-scale factories in China. That's where a lot of people start, and it taught me a huge amount: how factories work, what to ask for, how to read a sample and how to spot when something isn't what it was sold as.
It also taught me some expensive lessons. Trial orders that didn't match the samples. Hair that looked beautiful in the bundle and didn't hold up on a client. Learning which questions I should have asked before I paid. Those mistakes are a big part of why I teach sourcing now. You don't need to make them all yourself.
HOW IT GREW INTO A PASSION
The more I learnt, the more I loved it. What started as a business decision turned into one of my favourite parts of what I do.
Today I source from all over the world, including Slavic hair and Indian temple hair. Every origin is different: the texture, how it takes colour, how it wears over time. Understanding those differences is what lets me match the right hair to the right client and the right price point.
And I'm still testing. I'm always trialling new suppliers and new hair, because the industry keeps moving and the best supplier today isn't always the best supplier next year.
WHAT THIS MEANS IF YOU WANT TO START SOURCING
If you're a stylist thinking about sourcing your own hair extensions, or starting your own extension brand, here's what I'd tell you:
- Start small. Order samples before you order stock.
- Test the hair on real clients, not just in the bundle.
- Know your specifications before you contact a supplier.
- Expect to try more than one supplier before you find the right fit.
WANT MY SUPPLIERS?
Everything I've learnt from more than 10 years of sourcing is in my sourcing education. The Extension Sourcing Guide gives you the six suppliers I've personally tested. The Extension Sourcing Masterclass shows you exactly how I source, compare and choose hair, with me answering your questions for 12 months.
If you're ready to build your own extension brand, compare all the sourcing options here.
Kim x