How the New U.S. Tariffs Are Impacting the Hair Industry — And What We’re Doing About It

If you’re a stylist in the U.S., chances are you’ve heard the buzz about the new tariffs. Or maybe you’ve just noticed prices creeping up and you’re wondering, what the hell is going on?

Well, here’s the deal: importing anything from China just got a lot more expensive — and yes, that includes hair extensions. But don’t panic. We’ve got the full breakdown of what’s happening, what it actually means for your business, and what we’re doing at Onlypro to stay ahead of it.

Let’s get into it.

What Are Tariffs, and Why Should Stylists Care?

Think of tariffs as extra taxes the government adds to imported goods. So when a brand imports products (like wefts or wigs) from another country, the U.S. might charge a tariff to make those imports more expensive — supposedly to protect American manufacturing or send a message in trade negotiations.

Up until now, human hair extensions from China were basically tariff-free. But as of April 2025? That’s out the window. The U.S. just hit Chinese imports with a whopping 125% tariff — and there’s currently no exemption for hair.

Shipments Over $800: Imports of hair extensions from China valued over $800 are now subject to a 125% tariff, effective April 9, 2025. This means a shipment valued at $1,000 would incur an additional $1,250 in tariffs, totaling $2,250 before shipping and handling costs .

Shipments Under $800 (De Minimis Exemption): Previously, shipments under $800 were exempt from tariffs under the de minimis rule. However, this exemption will be eliminated for Chinese imports starting May 2, 2025.

Upcoming Changes Effective June 1, 2025

Shipments Under $800: Starting June 1, 2025, all shipments of hair extensions from China, regardless of value, will be subject to a 90% ad valorem duty or a minimum of $150 per package, whichever is higher .

This change is hitting a lot of brands hard — especially those who rely heavily on Chinese production (which, let’s be honest, is most of the industry). And that’s where Tariff’s on Hair Extensions starts to feel very real for working stylists.

Why This Matters in the World of Extensions

Here’s some honest tea: most human hair on the market doesn’t come from Russia or Europe, no matter what the labels say. Over 90% of raw human hair comes from countries like India, China, and a few others in Southeast Asia. And a ton of it gets processed in China — even if it ends up being labeled as something else.

So now, with these new tariffs in place, we’re very curious to see how brands that advertise “Russian or Slavic Hair” are going to justify their new pricing. Spoiler alert: the hair probably came from China all along. Watching those price tags jump is going to be... interesting.

Onlypro’s Long-Term Strategy

Now, let’s talk about what we’re doing.

We’re not going to suddenly double our prices and tell you it’s just the cost of luxury. That’s not who we are. Passing the full tariff cost onto stylists or clients isn’t a real plan — it’s a cop-out.

Instead, we have a plan.

Should the tariffs for Hair Extensions stay in place, our plan is to process raw hair in China (because the infrastructure and expertise are already there), and then shift all final manufacturing and production to the UAE. It’s a big transition, but it’s how we plan to stay consistent with quality and avoid getting slammed by the full tariff rate.

According to U.S. Customs, the country of origin is based on where the last major transformation takes place — so once production is in Dubai, the hair will officially be labeled Made in UAE.

And just to be clear: we’re still sourcing our raw hair from the same trusted suppliers. That part isn’t changing.

For Stylists: What You Can Do Now

If you’re behind the chair wondering what this all means for your prices, your clients, or your margins — here’s the short version: stay informed, ask questions, and work with brands that aren’t cutting corners or playing games.

Navigating the tariff increase for hair extensions doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It just means partnering with companies that actually care about keeping things sustainable — for your business, not just theirs.

We’ll keep sharing updates as things evolve. In the meantime, our shelves are stocked, our strategy is solid, and we’re ready for whatever comes next.

And if you ever want to chat about what this means for you or your salon, our DMs and inbox are always open.