The most I have paid for braids were $200. They were the "Hidden Braids". This is where your hair is in rows of individual cornrows with the hair covering it. It is very similar to normal freestyle braids. It is better on hair and temples (depending on who braids your hair) than the regular individual braids. I think some people call them tree braids. If done right and small enough, you can barely tell they are braids. (Almost like a freestyle weave) They are just like the braids that Beyonce wear (ex:The Movie Carmen, Vibe Cover) , except my front row of conrows were braided straight back. I think she normally wears her front with a part , so hers are braided sideways. As for the hair. I purchased the hair my stylist ordered from New York. I got the wet and Wavy human hair that you can wear curly and flat iron straight. It does not tangle and you can reuse it. For 1/2 pound of hair (two bags) with highlights the hair is $140.
It is high quality reuseable hair so I was not tripping.