The United States has a high demand for hair products, with hair extensions being imported in large quantities to meet the beauty needs of women. Among the various hair sources available in the U.S., Vietnamese hair stands out for its superior quality.
If you’re looking to start a hair business in the U.S. and plan to use Vietnamese hair as your primary source, this guide is a must-read. It provides a detailed overview of how to import hair from Vietnam to the U.S. and includes recommendations for the topwholesale hair vendors in the country.
Overview of the Hair Extensions Market in the USA
The USA stands as one of the world’s largest importers of hair, reflecting its significant demand in the market. As of June 2024, Volza reports that the USA has handled approximately 105,000 import shipments of human hair, not including synthetic hair products. This aligns with findings from a February 2024 Statista report, which highlighted that the USA leads the global hair care market, with revenues exceeding $13 billion.
In the U.S. market, hair extensions are in high demand, driven by trends and the desire for convenient, high-quality hair solutions. The primary sources of hair imports are China and India, with significant contributions from other Asian countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and notably Vietnam. Human hair extensions are particularly popular due to their natural appearance and quality, encompassing types like unprocessed hair, virgin hair, raw hair, and Remy hair.
The market for hair extensions in the USA is robust, with both offline and e-commerce channels experiencing substantial growth. This expansion has resulted in a variety of purchasing options, payment methods, and shipping solutions, catering to diverse customer needs.
The competitive landscape of the U.S. hair import market includes a mix of domestic and international players, featuring hair extension manufacturers, retailers, and numerous salons. The growing demand for high-quality hair extensions presents ample opportunities for those looking to enter the hair business and for those interested in importing hair from Vietnam.
This dynamic market environment offers promising prospects for businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to capitalize on the thriving hair extensions industry in the USA.
Why Import Hair from Vietnam to the USA?
Before exploring how to import hair from Vietnam to the USA, it’s essential to understand why Vietnamese hair is highly regarded and considered top-notch.
Superior Quality of Vietnamese Hair
Despite the hair extension industry in Vietnam being relatively young—established over the past 10-20 years—Vietnamese hair suppliers have achieved remarkable success. Unlike major producers like India or China that focus on high-volume production, Vietnamese hair factories prioritize hair quality and ethical sourcing practices.
High-Quality Vietnamese Hair Extensions:
Vietnamese hair is renowned for its lustrous, natural appearance and exceptional durability. The hair is primarily sourced from Vietnamese women living in rural mountainous regions with a mild climate and minimal sun exposure. These women use natural herbal shampoos and avoid harsh chemicals, which helps maintain the hair’s strong keratin layer, resulting in thick, black, and shiny hair.
Even after chemical treatments like dyeing and bleaching, Vietnamese hair retains up to 80% of its original quality, showing minimal tangling and shedding. This durability ensures that the hair remains usable for an extended period.
The workers in Vietnamese hair factories are highly skilled, combining traditional craftsmanship with meticulous manual work to create unique, high-quality products. Although the factories may not always feature the latest technology, their expertise and attention to detail are evident in the finished products.
Diverse Hair Products:
Vietnamese manufacturers offer a wide range of products, including bulk hair, hair toppers, weft hair, clip-ins, tape-ins, tip-ins, ponytails, and human hair wigs. These products come in various colors, textures, and lengths, catering to diverse customer needs.
Affordable Pricing for Vietnamese Hair Extensions
Vietnamese hair offers excellent quality at highly competitive prices, often more affordable than in European countries. Several factors contribute to the cost-effectiveness of Vietnamese hair:
- Proximity to Supply Sources: Vietnamese factories are located near hair supply sources, reducing input costs and logistics expenses.
- Low Labor Costs: The cost of labor in Vietnam is relatively low, which helps keep production costs down.
- Natural Straightness: Vietnamese hair is naturally straight and silky, eliminating the need for extensive processing like straightening, which is often required for coarser hair types.
The combination of these factors ensures that Vietnamese hair remains affordable without compromising on quality. Understanding these benefits highlights why importing hair from Vietnam to the USA is a smart choice for those seeking high-quality, cost-effective hair products.
How to import hair from Vietnam to USA: Detailed Guideline
Importing hair from Vietnam to the USA might seem complex due to regulations and procedures, but it’s a manageable process if you follow these steps. The USA generally has straightforward regulations for importing human hair, such as virgin, Remy, and raw hair, provided the hair’s origin is clearly documented. Hair with ambiguous origins or mixed sources is not permitted. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure you have verified information about the hair and understand the import taxes involved, as these will impact your overall cost.
Step 1: Discover your target clients
The initial step in importing hair from Vietnam to the USA is to clearly identify your target customers, their needs, and what your business can offer them.
Identify Your Customers:
- Customer Segments: Determine whether your customers will be local retail buyers, hair salon owners, hair extension retailers, or beauty supply store owners.
- Customer Preferences: Understand that your customers should recognize the value of high-quality Vietnamese hair extensions and be willing to invest in premium products.
Assess Customer Needs:
- Product Preferences: Find out which products are most in demand among your target audience—whether they prefer wigs, closures, frontals, or bulk hair. Research the benefits and drawbacks of each product type to better understand customer preferences and to inform your import strategy from Vietnam to the USA.
Step 2: Do market research on potential wholesale vendors in the USA
The second step in importing hair from Vietnam to the USA is to conduct thorough market research to identify potential wholesale vendors in the USA. It’s crucial to compile a list of the top 5 to 10 reputable Vietnamese hair suppliers. Given the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of the hair industry in Vietnam, it’s possible to encounter less trustworthy suppliers. To streamline this process, consider using VietStrand as your supplier. We offer 24/7 support and guidance to address any issues you may encounter.
Tips for Identifying Reputable Wholesale Factories:
- Verify Online and Offline Presence:
- Many companies may claim large-scale production, but some are simply warehouses or intermediaries. Research their online presence and look for customer feedback. Verify their address, head office, and factory locations. If visiting in person is not feasible, arrange a video call to view the facility and inspect sample products.
- Check Pricing and Quality:
- Ensure that the suppliers offer products within your budget. Be cautious of suppliers with unusually low prices, as this could indicate substandard quality or a potential scam. Confirm that the hair you receive meets the promised quality standards.
- Evaluate Customer Service:
- Choose suppliers known for their responsive and helpful customer service. A supplier with a quick response rate (ideally over 60%) is preferable for efficient communication and support.
- Understand Policies:
- Familiarize yourself with the supplier’s return and refund policies. It is essential to have clear terms in case you are unsatisfied with the received products. Avoid suppliers without a return policy, as they may refuse refunds or exchanges. Also, review their shipping and delivery policies to ensure timely and reliable delivery.
Step 3: Be aware of USA import regulations
When importing hair from Vietnam to the USA, it’s essential to understand and comply with U.S. regulations to avoid any potential penalties.
- The FDA classifies human hair extensions as cosmetics, so it is crucial to ensure that the imported hair meets safety standards. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires specific documentation, including invoices, packing lists, and certificates of origin.
- These requirements help control the quality of imported products and ensure their safety for U.S. consumers. To meet these regulations, you need documentation from Vietnamese hair manufacturers that verifies the hair’s origin and confirms that it has not been treated with harsh chemicals. Therefore, selecting a Vietnamese hair supplier with clear sourcing practices and high-quality standards is essential for successful importation into the USA.
Step 4: Order and inspect the hair
Once you’ve completed your research and chosen the best hair supplier to meet your needs, follow these straightforward steps to import hair from Vietnam to the USA efficiently:
- Contact the Salesperson: Reach out to the salesperson from your selected Vietnamese supplier to finalize your order. Provide details about the color, length, texture, quantities, and budget for the hair products you need.
- Confirm Invoice: Review the invoice provided by the supplier carefully. Ensure that it accurately reflects the agreed-upon price, quantity, hair specifications (such as length, texture, and color), and any additional fees.
- Deposit Payment: Most suppliers will require an upfront deposit, typically ranging from 30-50% of the total order value, to secure your order and begin production. Use secure payment methods like wire transfers or letters of credit.
- Hair Inspection: Before making the final payment, request sample photos or physical samples of the hair extensions package. This allows you to verify the quality and ensure it meets your expectations and product specifications.
- Receive and Reinspect the Hair: After the hair has been shipped, expect a delivery time of 7-14 days. Once received, thoroughly inspect the shipment to confirm that the quantity, quality, and other details match what was agreed upon.
When finalizing guidelines for importing hair from Vietnam to the USA, payment and shipping policies are crucial considerations:
- Payment: Hair factories in Vietnam typically offer several payment methods, including VISA/MasterCard, Western Union, RIA/Remitly, PayPal, MoneyGram, and credit card payments. The choice of payment method may depend on your location and the available options suggested by the Vietnamese hair supplier.
- Shipping: For shipping to African countries, many factories use Nigerian agents based in Vietnam, who then forward the packages to their offices in Africa for distribution. For shipments to European countries, international logistics companies such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS are commonly used. These companies provide enhanced security and offer warranties for package protection.
Top best Vietnamese manufacturers in USA
If you’re searching for a reliable hair supplier, VNHair is a top choice that you shouldn’t overlook.
VNHair stands out as a premier Vietnamese hair manufacturer known for its high-quality raw and virgin human hair. They prioritize sourcing hair from reputable single donors, ensuring each bundle is of superior quality with no mixing of donors.
Product Range: VNHair offers an extensive selection of hair products, including bulk hair, weft hair, clip-ins, ponytails, tape-ins, closures, frontals, and wigs. Their hair lengths vary from 6 inches to 40 inches and come in a variety of colors such as piano, balayage, gray, and natural 613. The hair is soft, tangle-free, smooth, and shiny, rivaling the quality of the most renowned hair brands globally, yet remains competitively priced. For example, you can purchase 10 pieces of bulk hair (1 kg) for only $88, and an 8-inch orange bob wig for just $77.
Pricing and Capacity: Whether buying retail or wholesale, VNHair offers factory prices directly, eliminating intermediaries. Their factory boasts a production capacity of several tons per month, making them well-equipped to handle large and urgent orders.
Contact and Shipping: To stay updated on seasonal discounts and promotions, visit VNHair’s website, Facebook, or Instagram. VNHair collaborates with reputable shipping agencies and banks to facilitate easy transactions. Hair shipments from Vietnam to the USA typically take just 5-10 days.
For more information on importing hair from Vietnam to the USA or to place an order, contact VNHair today.
Contact VNHair Factory at:
- Hair Factory: Dong Bich Village, Dong Tho, Yen Phong, Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam
- Office: Hoang Hoa Tham, Tay Ho, Ha Noi, Vietnam
- WhatsApp: (+84) 965 160 040 or +84949 49 3883
- Website: vnhair.org
In summary, this blog provides a comprehensive and current guide on importing hair from Vietnam to the USA. It aims to help you find the most straightforward methods and reliable long-term wholesale hair suppliers for your business. For further insights into the global hair trade market, follow VNHair for the latest updates and information.