Sourcing combs and hair accessories from China
Combs, hair slides and the like, and hairpins, curling pins, curling grips and hair curlers from China pay 2% UK duty, whether plastic, metal or other materials, with no anti-dumping duty. Hair accessories for children must avoid small parts and sharp edges, and metal finishes need checking. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Combs, hair slides, hair clips, hairpins, curling pins and similar hair accessories pay 2% UK duty from China. Children's safety and finishes explained.
A flat 2%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, combs, hair slides and the like of hard rubber or plastics, of other materials, and hairpins, curling pins, curling grips and hair curlers other than electrical ones carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Electric hair curlers and straighteners are in heading 8516, and textile scrunchies and headbands may be classified as textile articles; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combs and hair slides of hard rubber or plastics | 9615 11 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Combs and hair slides of other materials | 9615 19 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Hairpins, curling pins, grips and curlers | 9615 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Children's safety
Hair accessories are consumer products under general product safety law. Those marketed for young children should avoid detachable small parts such as beads and bows, and sharp edges or points. If an accessory is designed for play, it may count as a toy; the toy safety guide explains the test.
Materials and finish
Specify plastic type, spring steel and plating for clips, and any glue for decorations. Ask for UK REACH screening for restricted substances in plastics and coatings, and test colour transfer on light hair.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 50,000 plastic hair clips under 9615 11 00 00, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
What goes wrong
Hair accessories fail at the spring, the glue and the edges. Claw clips snap at the hinge when the plastic is brittle or recycled, spring clips lose tension or rust when the steel or plating is poor, and rhinestones and bows glued on with weak adhesive drop off in the first week. Combs moulded with flash left on the teeth scratch the scalp and snag hair.
At inspection, open and close claw clips repeatedly and drop-test them, check spring tension and plating for rust, pull-test glued decorations, run a finger along comb teeth for flash, and check that children's accessories have no detachable small parts and that cards carry the UK address and warnings.
Packing and inspection
Retail cards and blister packs need a UK address and warnings. At inspection, check spring strength, edges, stones and glue, and count per card.
Cambridge China Bridge sources combs, hair clips and hair accessories, with safety, finishes and retail packing settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on hair clips from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, combs, hair slides, clips and hairpins of heading 9615 carried 2% duty from China.
Are electric curlers in heading 9615?
No. Electric hair curlers and straighteners are in heading 8516.
What safety issues apply to children's hair accessories?
Avoid detachable small parts and sharp edges; items designed for play may count as toys.
Are fabric scrunchies classified here?
They may be classified as textile articles instead, so confirm the code.