Search what anything costs in New York and you get a range so wide it tells you nothing. "Lash extensions: $80 to $400." Technically true. Useless if you are trying to work out whether the tech who just quoted you $110 is being reasonable.
So we did the boring thing. We read the published price lists of 182 home-based beauty vendors across New York City — 3,293 individually priced services — and worked out what the middle of the market actually looks like.
The short answer
If you are booking with a home-based vendor in NYC in 2026, the typical list price is:
- Classic lash full set — $100 (37 vendors)
- Volume lash full set — $117 (56 vendors)
- Acrylic full set — $60 (32 vendors)
- Gel manicure — $50 (27 vendors)
- Knotless braids — $250 (18 vendors)
- Install or sew-in — $140 (34 vendors)
Everything below breaks those down and explains where the spread comes from.
How much do lash extensions cost in NYC?
Lashes are the deepest category we have in New York — 67 vendors, over a thousand priced services.
- Classic full set: typically $100, with most vendors between $84 and $120 (37 vendors)
- Hybrid full set: typically $102, most between $90 and $129 (36 vendors)
- Volume full set: typically $117, most between $100 and $145 (56 vendors)
- Fill or refill: typically $95, most between $80 and $120 (51 vendors)
- Lash lift: typically $100, most between $80 and $114 (16 vendors)
The thing worth noticing: the gap between a classic set and a volume set is about $17, but the gap between a full set and a fill is small — a $95 fill against a $100 classic set. Fills are where the real cost of lashes lives, because you are booking one every two to three weeks. Budget for the year, not the first appointment. We go deeper in NYC lash prices.
How much do nails cost in NYC?
Nails is the widest spread of any category, and the reason is that "manicure" covers two completely different things.
- Regular manicure: typically $30 (16 vendors)
- Gel manicure: typically $50 (27 vendors)
- Acrylic full set: typically $60, most between $50 and $75 (32 vendors)
- BIAB or builder gel: typically $72, most between $55 and $101 (20 vendors)
- Fill: typically $55 (31 vendors)
- Pedicure: typically $50 (15 vendors)
A $30 manicure and a $72 builder gel set are both honestly advertised as "nails". If a price looks low, it is usually a regular polish manicure. Full breakdown in NYC nail prices.
How much does hair cost in NYC?
Hair carries the highest prices and the widest spread, because length, hair added, and hours in the chair vary more than in any other category.
- Box braids: typically $125 (11 vendors)
- Install or sew-in: typically $140, most between $100 and $188 (34 vendors)
- Colour or balayage: typically $175 (12 vendors)
- Twists, locs and cornrows: typically $192, most between $120 and $300 (20 vendors)
- Knotless braids: typically $250, most between $180 and $350 (18 vendors)
Knotless braids being the most expensive line on this list is not a markup — it is time. A knotless set is commonly five to eight hours of work. Priced hourly it is often the cheapest thing on the page.
Why are home-based vendors usually cheaper?
Every vendor in this dataset works out of a home studio or travels to the client. No storefront lease in Manhattan, no front desk, no commission split with a salon owner. In New York, where retail rent is the single largest line item a salon carries, that difference shows up directly in the price.
What you trade is the storefront experience — walk-ins, a receptionist, someone to call if a booking goes wrong. You are dealing with the person doing the work.
How to read a price list without getting surprised
Most unpleasant surprises come from four things, and all four are askable before you book:
- Does the price include removal? Taking off an old set of lashes or acrylics is often a separate $15 to $25 line.
- Is length or size included? Extra-long nails and waist-length braids commonly carry a surcharge.
- Is hair included? For braids and installs, sometimes yes, often no.
- Is there a travel fee? A mobile vendor crossing boroughs may add one.
Ask all four in one message. A vendor who answers clearly is telling you something useful about how the appointment itself will go.
How we got these numbers
We read the published price lists of home-based beauty vendors listed on BuzzGram in New York City and grouped them by what the service actually is, not what it is called. "Volume set", "mega volume" and "full volume set" all land in the same bucket.
Every figure is a median of published list prices, with the number of separate vendors behind it shown next to it. We use the median rather than the average so one $400 outlier cannot drag a category upward. Where fewer than eight vendors publish a price for something, we leave it out rather than guess.
These are list prices in US dollars, before tip and before any add-on. They are what vendors say they charge, which is not always what someone pays after a consultation. More on the method in how we calculate local pricing.
Browse vendors directly: lash techs in NYC, nail techs in NYC, hairstylists in NYC. Comparing cities? See Toronto vs New York and Toronto beauty prices. Before you pay anyone, read how to check an Instagram vendor.
FAQ
How much is a full set of lash extensions in NYC?
The typical published price is $100 for a classic full set, $102 for hybrid and $117 for volume, based on 37, 36 and 56 home-based vendors respectively. Most classic sets fall between $84 and $120.
How much does a gel manicure cost in New York City?
About $50 with a home-based vendor, based on 27 vendors. A regular polish manicure is closer to $30, and builder gel or BIAB is around $72.
How much do knotless braids cost in NYC?
The typical published price is $250, with most vendors between $180 and $350, based on 18 vendors. Length and the amount of hair added are the main drivers.
Are home-based beauty vendors in NYC cheaper than salons?
Generally yes. Home-based vendors do not carry retail rent, front-desk staff or a salon commission split, which in New York is the single biggest cost difference. You trade the storefront experience for a lower price and direct contact with the person doing the work.
Do these prices include tip?
No. Every figure here is the published list price before tip and before add-ons such as removal, extra length or travel.
How often are these numbers updated?
We refresh them as vendors update their published prices. This guide reflects list prices as published in 2026.
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