Hair salons in Johannesburg: braids, wigs and installs

What braids and installs cost in Johannesburg

Where to buy hair in Johannesburg

Hair salons in Johannesburg, and what they charge

Hair salons in Johannesburg, before you book

Looking for a hair salon in Johannesburg for braids, wigs or a sew-in? Luxora does not list stylists here yet. We list a stylist only after we have checked their work, prices and WhatsApp number, and no Johannesburg stylist has passed that check. What follows is what public price lists showed on 6 Oct 2026. Fresha shows more than 100 Johannesburg venues for hair braiding alone, and these figures include Sandton, Midrand and Fourways venues, so a salon in another part of the city may price differently.

What braids cost

Knotless braids: the middle half of 30 prices at 24 salons sat between R550 and R900, and the full range was R300 to R1,500. A Rivonia listing has medium knotless at R550, a Parkmore listing R600 for short and R900 for medium, a Sandhurst listing R800 for medium and R950 for long, and a Randburg listing R1,200 at waist length. Boho knotless was R1,400 at one salon.

Box braids: the middle half of 17 prices at 15 salons was R800 to R950, with a full range of R350 to R1,650, and some of those include a hairpiece or a wash. Cornrows were cheaper: the middle half of 24 prices at 20 salons was R150 to R350. Time is part of the price. One listing allows ten hours for thin knotless braids, so eat first and charge your phone.

Wig installs, sew-ins and extensions

Across 25 venues the middle half of basic wig install prices was R400 to R700, and the full range was R250 to R1,200. Frontals are priced separately. Ten venues name a frontal, the middle half was R700 to R800, and the full range ran from R450 (a 'from' price) for a frontal wig installation at a Craighall Park salon to R1,600 for a Lagos hairline frontal ponytail at a Woodmead salon.

Sew-ins: across 31 venues the middle half was R500 to R750, with a full range of R280 to R1,250. Weft extensions cost more in labour. Listings show a per row installation at R800 in Jukskei Park, R1,200 in Morningside and R1,500 in Northriding, and R1,580 for two or more rows in Jukskei Park. Ask whether the hair is included.

Where to buy hair and wigs

Silky Hair's own page lists stores at Dragon City on Main Reef Road and at Southgate Mall. The San Hair lists branches at Mall of the South and in Cresta, and Exclusive Virgin Hair lists shops at Gandhi Square and in Roodepoort. Hair City's store locator shows Mall of Africa, which sits in the Midrand part of the Johannesburg metro. Cosmetic Connection's store finder lists no Johannesburg branch, and the closest is Sky City Mall in Alberton. Clicks and Dis-Chem sell braiding hair, braid sprays and edge gel in their online ranges, so call your branch first. We have not visited these shops.

Highveld weather and long styles

Johannesburg sits on the highveld at 1,753 metres, with a subtropical highland climate. There are regular afternoon thunderstorms from November to March, and winter brings dry, sunny days followed by cold nights, with some frost. If you book a long style before an outdoor event, ask the stylist how to protect it overnight and in the rain.

How to book, and what to ask

Many Johannesburg salons show their prices and times on Fresha, and others list only a phone number. Ask whether the hair is included: several listings say 'own bundles' or 'excluding hair', and others include a hairpiece. Ask about deposits and late fees as well, because the Fresha pages we read had no booking rules on them.

The British Association of Dermatologists names tight braids such as cornrows, and attached weaves or extensions, as common causes of traction alopecia, and says regrowth may start around three months after you stop the style. Speak up if a style pulls.

Johannesburg hair: questions