Sourcing Chignon Hairpieces from China

UK duty and chignon materials

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6704 covers wigs and similar articles of human or animal hair or textile materials. Finished chignon hairpieces are bun-shaped additions secured over the wearer's own hair. The supplied material lines all carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.

The other-material line carries CITES import and export controls and controls on cat and dog fur. Cat and dog fur, and products made from it, cannot be imported. For animal-hair chignons, identify the species: official CITES guidance says listed species require permits. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable documents and restrictions for the shipment from China before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual fibre and finished construction. Synthetic chignons belong in the other-articles material line rather than the complete-wig line. The table shows product variants sharing material codes, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See ponytail hairpieces for the wider heading.

Bun shape, fibre and fastening

Specify a pre-shaped bun, loose curled chignon or hair-covered elastic ring, with the finished dimensions, hair weight, colour reference, texture and coverage of the base. Agree whether the attachment uses a claw clip, combs, a drawstring or elastic. Keep a physical approval sample so the factory can match the silhouette, shine and density.

For human hair, define the supplier's grade terms and agree processing and cuticle alignment. For synthetic hair, agree care instructions and test any claimed heat resistance on production samples. Consumer products must be safe when used normally or as reasonably foreseeable; include exposed clip teeth, sharp metal edges and attachment security in the safety review.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 synthetic chignon hairpieces under 6704 19 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,120 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,120. Duty at 2% is £82.40. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,202.40, so it is £840.48. Import taxes total £922.88; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £82.40 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shape and colour: compare the unpacked bun with the retained sample, check coverage around the base and compare shades in daylight.

Fibre and finish: weigh the hairpiece, comb and wash samples as appropriate to the agreed care instructions, and check shedding, tangling and colour transfer.

Fastening: open and close clips, check comb teeth and metal edges, and test whether drawstrings and elastic hold the bun on the agreed hair arrangement.

Packing and identity: check shade labels, agreed batch references and pack contents; unpack compressed pieces to assess shape recovery. Use the approved sample for quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A chignon can match the photograph but look different when worn because the base is too visible, the curl pattern is uneven or the fibre is too shiny. Tight packing can flatten the bun. Compare production pieces after unpacking and fitting, rather than judging them through the bag.

Weak clip springs, slipping elastic and drawstring ends that pull free can make a hairpiece unusable. Fibre substitutions can change colour, tangling and heat performance. Record the approved fibre, base and fastening in the order, and inspect pieces from different cartons.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.