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Woman Spends $47,000 Per Year on Her Hair

by Deborah Dunham (Subscribe to Deborah Dunham's posts)
Posted Apr 6th 2010 at 5:50PM  
437 Comments
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Brandi Irwin spends $47,000 per year on her extensions. Here she is, pictured before extensions (left), and after extensions (right). Photo: Imogen Brown / Splash News

We recently reported that the average woman spends roughly $50,000 on her hair over the course of her lifetime. And on Kate Gosselin's $7,000 hair extensions.

Brandi Irwin has both of these jaw-dropping stats beat.

The 28-year-old New Yorker reportedly spends $47,000 in a year on her long locks -- an expense that could amount to $1.4 million over the next 30 years, all for an extra 24 inches of hair.

Every time the former model steps into the Gemini 14 salon in New York City, she forks over $10,000 for hair extensions, which she gets done three times a year. Add to that her color sessions every six weeks at roughly $300 a pop, twice a week blow-outs at $65 each, plus tips and cha-ching! This woman spends as much in one year as most women spend in a lifetime.

"It's my biggest expense," Irwin told the New York Post. "But it makes me feel beautiful. And I've worked hard for what I have." It seems her family has also worked hard to support her tumbling tresses that cascade down to her hips. Irwin stated that her parents made some very good investments when she was younger.

What makes these extensions so expensive?

Apparently, they're made from "virgin" or unprocessed hair that Indian women donate as part of a traditional Hindu practice where they sacrifice their beauty. The locks are then sold (by the temple for a pretty price), carefully de-pigmented without the use of chemicals and bonded with a keratin protein polymer, which helps them to last longer and look more natural than other brands.

A process that Irwin says is well worth the price.

"Without the extensions people say, 'Well, she's cute,'" Irwin remarked. "You add all this hair and it puts a 'Who is she?' factor on me. Without the hair, I'm this normal average person. But with it, I walk around the corner, and it's like there's a wind machine on me. It's like I've stepped off the pages of a centerfold."

Other Gemini 14 clients agree. "If you want to look like a million dollars, you have to spend 10 grand," stated 27-year-old makeup artist, Kate Bazazian. "If you spend 50 bucks, you're going to look like you spent that."

But hair extensions are not just for the rich and unfamous.

Nearly every Hollywood star has faked it at some point according celebrity stylist, Patrick Melville, in an earlier interview. "If they don't have them right now, they have used them at one point in time -- celebs like Britney Spears and Fergie, for example." And let's not forget Miley Cyrus, who, it just so happens, frequents the same big-ticket salon for her mountainous mane. See who else wears hair extensions.

What do you think of women who spend so much on their hair? Are they crazy, or is looking good worth the cash? How much you spend on your hair per year?

And if you're into trying extensions yourself, watch our video on how to insert them into your own hair, below. Believe it or not, it's pretty easy, and a mere fraction of the cost or pricey salon extensions.

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Filed under: Cuts & Style, Hair, News
Tags: 000 a year on hair, 000AYearOnHair, 47, aol original, AolOriginal, Brandi Irwin, cost of extensions, CostOfExtensions, extensions, Gemini 14 salon, Gemini14Salon, hair, Hair Basics, hair basics video, hair expenses, HairBasics, HairBasicsVideo, HairExpenses, salon costs, SalonCosts
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READER COMMENTS

(437)Add A Comment

Hildabrand, 4-07-2010, 11:28AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Hildabrand

This lady looks better and more natural with her own hair.
The long hair extensions look fakey and just look like too much hair.
Maybe she wants to look like a lioness.

Reply »

Keith, 4-07-2010, 11:55AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Keith

You are right. She looks just as good if not better with her natural look but hey.............what is really nauseating is the culture of "ME ME ME". It is obscene, considering the millions of poor people who have no jobs, houses, and can barely feed themselves. That $47,000 could feed a lot of people if this self indulgent person would forego that cost for a couple of years and send it to worthwhile causes. And by the by. $47,000? Her hairdresser has found a real fish.

»

Jim robertson, 4-07-2010, 1:40PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
Jim robertson

You simply cannot fault this lady. She is doing exactly what she should do. If she does not need the $47,000 dollars then she should be using it to support local businesses and the economy. Way to go!

»

WTF, 4-07-2010, 1:29PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
WTF

Please she wish she could be so fortunate as to have that royal mess on her head compared to something as majestic and gorgeous as a lioness. LOL!!!!!!!!!!! She's a million dollar idiot or just one damaged individual. Her extensions don't help her look in the least bit.

»

Susan, 4-07-2010, 1:30PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Susan

I am going against to consensus here. I think the extensions look great on her..If she wants the "Wow" factor, the extensions give it to her. Her natural hair is very nice but she's right, it's average. As for the $47K a year, that is outrageous but I guess it's her money and if it makes her feel better about herself, who am I to tell her how to spend her money!!!

»

SayI'maBird, 4-07-2010, 2:11PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
SayI'maBird

This woman is insane! She should save her money and grow her own hair! It looks fake anyway... is that the look she was going for? LOL

»

Lisa, 4-07-2010, 2:40PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
Lisa

ENOUGH WITH THE GIVE THE MONEY TO CHARITY CRAP. BLA BLA BLA. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SHE DOESN'T GIVE TO CHARITY? ANYONE THAT HAS THAT MUCH MONEY USUALLY GIVES A LOT TO CHARITY. I COME FROM OLD MONEY AND WE DO ALL KINDS OF STUFF FOR CHARITABLE REASONS. I GUESS THERE ARE SELFISH WEALTHY PEOPLE OUT THERE BUT MORE DO THAN NOT. BESIDES IT'S A GREAT WRITE OFF.

»

Leila, 4-07-2010, 3:30PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
Leila

I agree with Jim robertson and Susan. It does not matter what we think she looks like or how much money she spends. If she thinks the extensions make her beautiful, then by all means get them. If she wants to spend 47K on them, that is her money that SHE earned NOT YOU and has every right to do with it as she pleases. Even if she doesn't give to charity, so what! Once again, she earned that money and it is hers to do with as she pleases. We have no right to tell others what to do with their income. Would you like someone demanding you fork over 5k a year to charity when you make 80k to 100k? You certainly could afford it if you cut back on restaurants, phones, and cars. So why don't YOU give up on your little vices to give to charity instead of demanding it from someone else.

»

sweetchocotoffee, 4-08-2010, 12:29PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
sweetchocotoffee

She looked pretty before the extensions but they definitely enhance her look. If she has that kind of money to spend on herself, she should do it. Her spending is comparable to someone who buys an additional house, car, shoes, clothes and so on. After all, you only go around once in this life.

»

TanToes, 4-07-2010, 8:16PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
TanToes

Yes, she looks better and younger. Even without knowing how stupid she is for spending that amount for the 'after' look.

»

rantfreely, 4-07-2010, 11:25AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
rantfreely

She could spend a million and still be ugly!

Reply »

wordman238, 4-07-2010, 12:44PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
wordman238

She ain't ugly but she ain't a dog either. I certainly wouldn't kick her out of bed. Yep I'd do her. I think she's 'bout a 6 or so.

»

wordman238, 4-07-2010, 12:55PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
wordman238

I meant to say she ain't beautiful but she ain't a dog either.

»

Cindy, 4-07-2010, 12:58PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Cindy

Thats funny! You're very brave to say that! But in my opinion she just has issues on what is cute and what is not... put simply, she just has bad taste. I've worked with girls who wear extensions and they too look so much better w/out. But there is no convincing them. I hope this girl and the girls I know read the polling results. Its a BLOW-OUT!!!

»

Rick, 4-07-2010, 1:32PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Rick

Right on. She needs plastic sugery. The moron that thinks your'e a fat chick or gay only dates playboy girls and his hand is getting cut on staples

»

Erica, 4-07-2010, 11:30AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Erica

I honestly think she looks prettier without them.

Reply »

carol, 4-07-2010, 12:05PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
carol

I think its it is sinful and selfish to waste $ like that. Its fine to want to look nice and invest in yourself but that is ridiculous. She should consider spending some of that of that $ on helping others, improving her community, etc ..that would make her a lot more attractive inside and out.

»

Donna, 4-07-2010, 12:03PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Donna

Definitely prettier without them!!!

»

Firehaven, 4-07-2010, 1:20PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Firehaven

Carol? Where does it say that she doesn't give any money to charity? I missed that part. You give your money...you spend yours how you like...not tell others what to do unless you pay their bills...

»

trlkly, 4-13-2010, 6:59PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
trlkly

Firehaven: You don't get it. It doesn't matter how much money she gives to charity. The point is that she is wasting $47,000 on something that doesn't even do what she wants it to do (make her look better). She might as well spend that money on something that is worthwhile, i.e. helping out people who don't make that much money.

»

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