Silk Press vs Sew-In: Which Makes More Money?

A sew-in brings in more per appointment. A silk press can bring in more in total, because it creates more frequent booking opportunities. In my salon, the real answer is both, because they do different jobs in the business.

What My Numbers Show

So far in 2026, silk presses and sew-ins have accounted for 527 appointments and more than $102,000 in revenue in my own salon. Silk presses made up 447 of those appointments and more than $75,000 of that revenue.

That means sew-ins were about 80 appointments and roughly $27,000.

Per appointment, a sew-in brought in about twice as much as a silk press. In total, silk presses brought in nearly three times as much as sew-ins.

These are my numbers, from my business. Yours will depend on your prices, your clients, and your market. But the pattern shows why the question isn't really which one to choose.

What a Silk Press Does for the Business

Silk presses create more frequent booking opportunities. They fill the calendar between bigger services, keep clients connected to you, and bring in revenue through volume.

They also take less time per appointment than a sew-in, so more of them fit into a week.

What a Sew-In Does for the Business

A sew-in is the higher-value service. One appointment brings in a larger ticket, and the service comes with its own maintenance appointments and takedowns.

It also takes more: more time in the chair, more planning, and, if you include it, hair you have to source and pay for.

Why I Run Both

If I only offered silk presses, my income would depend entirely on volume. If I only offered sew-ins, it would depend on a smaller number of bigger appointments. Running both means each service covers what the other doesn't.

That's how I built a six-figure business running silk presses and sew-ins at the same time.

The Better Question

Instead of asking which service makes more money, ask what role each service plays in your business, and whether your prices support that role. A silk press priced like an afterthought and a sew-in priced without the hair in mind will both leave money on the table, no matter how many you book.

If you want to see how I run silk press and sew-in services together as one business, that's The Silk Press + Sew-In Business Blueprint.

Want more? Inside the free Stylist Corner™ community on Skool, I share resources and behind the scenes insights you won't find on the blog. Click here to join.

Danie | Strategist and Founder of The Stylist Corner™