Sourcing wigs, hair extensions and false lashes

Duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, complete wigs of synthetic textile materials, other articles of synthetic hair, articles of human hair, and articles of other materials, which cover false eyelashes, all carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.

The material decides the code, human hair or synthetic, so confirm the commodity code against the fibre specification.

When a cosmetic is in the box

Lash adhesive, remover and bonding glue for extensions are cosmetic products. GOV.UK sets out that a Responsible Person with a UK address must make them available in Great Britain, must submit information on the product to the Office for Product Safety and Standards through the Submit cosmetic product notifications service before it is made available, and must hold a product information file including a safety report with a safety assessment by a qualified person.

Many lash kits include glue made by a different factory from the lashes, so ask for the glue's full formulation and safety data, and plan the Responsible Person and notification before the kits ship; the beauty guide covers cosmetics in depth.

Hair quality and grading

Human hair is sold in grades that are not standardised: remy or non-remy, virgin or processed, single or double drawn. Define what each means in the product specification, with length, weight, colour reference and cuticle direction, and check samples from the batch for shedding, tangling and colour.

Synthetic hair should state its heat resistance, and be tested before it is sold as heat-friendly.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 2,000 human hair wigs, commodity code 6704 20 00 00, bought for £80,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance, so £83,000 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 2% rate for human hair wigs is £1,660. VAT at 20% applies to £84,660, so £16,932. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £1,660 to the landed cost. Freight assumes air, which is common for high-value hair. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

Inspection checklist

Size and colour: measure cap circumference and lace area of sampled wigs against the size chart, measure hair length straight and weigh bundles on a calibrated scale, and compare colour against the approved colour ring under daylight.

Children's and costume wigs: wigs sold as toys must meet the applicable toy safety requirements, including flammability requirements; BS EN 71-2 provides a way to demonstrate compliance for wigs, masks and beards, so ask for the report on the exact fibre and check the warning labels. For related costume hairpieces, see our false beards and moustaches sourcing guide.

Lash glue and packs: check every adhesive, primer and remover carries the UK Responsible Person's name and address and the ingredient list required by retained Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, and that its batch matches the product information file; check lash trays hold each pair without crushing the band.

What goes wrong

Hair products fail on the hair, the base and the glue. Hair sold as 100% human remy is mixed with non-remy, animal or synthetic fibre, so it tangles and sheds, and processed hair loses its colour or texture after the first wash. Lace fronts tear, wefts shed at the stitching, bundle weights are short, lashes lose their curl, and lash glue is supplied without a UK Responsible Person or with restricted ingredients.

Burn-test strands to tell human hair from synthetic, run comb and wash tests for tangling and shedding, weigh bundles and measure lengths, check lace and weft stitching strength, check lash curl after handling, and for any adhesive or remover confirm the Responsible Person, safety assessment and ingredient list before it ships.

Lashes and packaging

Lash styles are bought as a range, with band type, length and curl, and packaged in own-brand trays and boxes. Approve the band comfort and curl retention on samples, and check the tray and box print at inspection.

Cambridge China Bridge sources wigs, hair extensions and lash ranges, with grading, samples and any cosmetic components planned before production. See how our sourcing service works. For the reverse trade route, see exporting UK wigs to China.

Related guides: Human hair bundles for wig making from China.