Dropshipping Hair 101: How to Turn Wigs & Extensions into a Profitable Online Business

The global hair industry is worth billions (yes, with a “B”), and it’s growing faster than your favorite influencer’s following. From TikTok “wig install” tutorials to Instagram before-and-after transformations, hair products are everywhere, and customers can’t seem to get enough. 

In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Dropshipping Hair. Whether you’re new to eCommerce or looking to expand into a high-demand niche, this playbook will show you how to get started the smart way. Let’s dive in.

Is Hair Dropshipping profitable in 2025?

Hair dropshipping can be profitable in 2025. Success comes down to picking the right niche, working with reliable suppliers, and building a brand that stands out — not just selling the same wigs as everyone else.

The global wigs and extensions market is worth billions and is still growing in 2025. People buy wigs, extensions, and hair care products for fashion, protective styling, or medical needs — and demand isn’t slowing down.

What makes it attractive?

• High margins: Wigs and extensions often bring 40–60% profit margins, especially human hair products.

   

• Social media power: TikTok and Instagram “before & after” videos drive massive sales for hair brands.

   

• Repeat buyers: Once customers find quality hair, they often come back for more.

   

But it’s not automatic profit:

• Shipping delays (especially from overseas) can hurt.

   

• Human hair quality varies a lot, so choosing good suppliers is key

   

• Ads are expensive — you’ll need organic content (TikTok, IG Reels) to stay profitable.

   

What products can you dropship in the hair niche?

From expensive goods like wigs and extensions to commonplace necessities like hair care products and accessories, you may dropship a broad variety of products in the hair niche. Popular categories include clip-in or tape-in extensions, synthetic and human hair wigs, multi-pack bundles, styling tools, and maintenance products.

Hair Extensions

Hair Extensions are the key players of the business. Indeed, the world hair extension market is worth more than 2.7 billion dollars in 2023, with the demand increasing due to the TikTok manuals and Instagram makeovers. Extensions of all varieties are available: clip-ins to allow newcomers wanting to experience more length immediately, tape-ins and sew-ins, which are typically available to those with hair salon appointments, and halo extensions, which are desirable by those who enjoy the instant effect of glam doll without having to actual commit to an appointment. The customers can not wait to experiment with colors and textures, which ensures they return to the stores they can trust.

Hair extensions are a major driver in the beauty industry, with the global market exceeding $2.7 billion in 2023. Social platforms like TikTok and Instagram fuel the demand, as tutorials and makeovers inspire shoppers to try new looks. Extensions come in many types, catering to different needs and preferences, making them a versatile and repeat-purchase product.

• Variety of options:

   

• Clip-ins → Instant length, ideal for beginners.

   

• Tape-ins & sew-ins → Popular in salon settings for longer-term wear.
  
  

   

• Halo extensions → Quick glam effect without salon commitment.

   

Wigs 

Then there are the Wigs, which are even more focused not on subtlety, but on a full transformation. Another sign that there is potential in this industry is the wig market, which was valued at 1.9 billion USD in 2020 and is projected to grow to 3 billion USD by 2028. Synthetic wigs are affordable, colorful, and excellent in their high volume sales. On the other hand, the human hair wigs are of premium quality, and prices are high ranging to hundreds of dollars. Lace front wigs are also extremely popular at the moment because of their realistic hairline and versatile styling options.

Hair Bundles 

For shoppers who want more volume for sew-in styles, Hair Bundles are a top pick. Bundles are usually sold in packs, encouraging larger orders and higher cart values. They’re especially popular when paired with closures or frontals, making them a smart upsell for store owners.

Accessories & Tools 

Besides the core line of hair products, there is also the huge hair accessories industry, worth more than $22 billion in the same year. Such products as hair claws, scrunchies, headbands, ponytail holders, etc., are cheap and easy to deliver due to their lightweight. They are the type of impulse purchases that customers will gladly add to their shopping cart and increase your average order value.

Hair Care Products 

Naturally, the hair needs to be styled and maintained as much as it is necessary. And here is where hair care products (such as shampoo, conditioner, serums) and tools (brushes, hot tongs, scalp massage tools) come in. 

Such products are not simply add-ons: they make new purchase cycles. A buyer may not visit your wig store every few months, but they can repurchase their favorite serum or heat protectant spray every few weeks.

How to start a Hair Dropshipping Business (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Choose Your Niche & Audience

Not all customers are the same. Some are scrolling TikTok for budget-friendly clip-ins, while others want luxury human-hair wigs that look like they grew straight from their scalp. Pick a niche you can truly serve—whether it’s:

• Luxury wigs for high-end buyers.

   

• Affordable extensions for budget-conscious students.

   

• Natural hair care products for protective styling.

   

Pro tip: Don’t try to sell everything. Niching down makes it easier to stand out in a crowded market.

Step 2: Pick Your eCommerce Platform

Your web store is your salon chair- it is where the magic will be achieved. The most favorable are the following:

• Shopify – user-friendly, tons of apps, perfect for beginners.

   

• WooCommerce (WordPress) – flexible, but needs more tech skills

   

• Etsy – great for handmade or custom wigs

   

• Amazon – huge audience, but lots of competition.

   

If you’re just starting, Shopify is like the “lace glue” of eCommerce—it holds everything together without too much hassle.

Step 3: Find Reliable Suppliers

Suppliers are your backstage stylists. Choose wisely, because bad hair = bad reviews.

• USA Suppliers – faster shipping, higher costs.

   

• China Suppliers (AliExpress, Alibaba) – cheaper, wider variety, but longer delivery times.

   

• Private Label Suppliers – let you brand hair under your own name (great for long-term success).

   

Always order samples first. You wouldn’t install a wig without checking the lace quality—same logic applies here.

Step 4: Brand Your Store

Branding is that aspect that transforms your business venture into a familiar name. Focus on:

• Custom packaging: A wig in a branded silk bag feels luxurious.

   

• Logo & color scheme: Consistent visuals across your website and socials.

   

• Voice & vibe: Do you want your brand to be fun and playful, or sleek and high-end?

   

Good branding = higher prices + loyal customers.

Step 5: Set Up Your Online Store

The exciting phase is about to begin: store design. Among the necessities are:

• A clean theme (beauty-focused Shopify themes work great).

   

• High-quality product photos (invest in good lighting or UGC).

   

• Detailed product pages: length, density, cap size, installation method — customers need specifics

   

• Trust badges & policies: Refund policy, shipping info, and secure checkout.

   

Step 6: Launch Marketing Campaigns

Even the best wig won’t sell if no one sees it. Time to market:

• TikTok & Instagram Reels: Perfect for before/after transformations.

   

• Influencer UGC: Pay or gift products to creators who show installs and styling tutorials

   

• Paid ads: Test Facebook and TikTok ads once you know which products convert

   

• Email marketing: Collect emails early — offer discounts, tutorials, or style guides.

   

Step 7: Manage Orders & Customer Service

Congrats, you’ve made your first sale! Now comes the less glamorous part—keeping customers happy.

• Track shipping times and be upfront about delays.

   

• Have a clear return/refund policy.

   

• Offer friendly, fast responses to customer questions (a DM left on “read” is a lost sale)

   

Happy customers = repeat customers = bigger profits.

5 Best Dropshipping Hair Suppliers (USA, China & Global)

AliExpress (China)

Two of the biggest online marketplaces in the world, AliExpress and Alibaba, link thousands of Chinese producers with customers throughout the world. They’re famous for their low-cost products and massive selection, making them the go-to platforms for beginner dropshippers.

What they offer: Virgin human hair extensions, wigs, lashes, and custom branding services.

Best for: Beginners testing products with low upfront cost.

Private Label Extensions (USA)

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Private Label Extensions is a well-known U.S. supplier specializing in human hair wigs, extensions, and lashes. They are notable in providing the services on a private label, meaning that you can add your label to the products you need to make them look professional.

What they offer: Virgin human hair extensions, wigs, lashes, and custom branding services.

Best for: Branding-focused entrepreneurs who want premium packaging.

DHgate (China & Global)

DHgate is a China-based B2B and B2C eCommerce platform that connects manufacturers with buyers worldwide. Similar to Alibaba, it specializes in wholesale pricing and bulk deals but also caters to smaller order quantities, making it popular among dropshippers.

What they offer: Human hair wigs, synthetic wigs, bundles, closures, and accessories.

Best for: Bulk discounts and variety.

RPGShow (Global)

RPGShow is a premium wig company that has been around since 2009, well-known in the beauty community for its high-quality lace-front wigs and celebrity-inspired collections. Unlike marketplaces, RPGShow sells directly and has built its reputation on consistent quality.

What they offer: Premium lace-front wigs, celebrity-inspired styles, and custom options.

Best for: High-end lace wigs and fashion-forward customers.

IndiaMART (India & Global)

One of India's biggest online B2B marketplaces, IndiaMART connects manufacturers and suppliers with consumers around the world. It is particularly recognized for acquiring raw Indian human hair, which is highly needed in the wig and extension business due to its untouched texture and strength.

What they offer: Indian human hair extensions, wigs, and raw hair bundles.

Best for: Bulk human hair suppliers.

Startup Costs & Profit Margins in Hair Dropshipping

The lower boundary of the cost of starting a hair dropshipping business with the essentials is the cost of acquisitions such as a store platform, domain, apps, branding, and marketing, which is approximately 300-1000+ $. Profit margins are very high and vary between 50 to 70% on wigs and extensions, and between 30 50% on accessories and care products.

One of the reasons entrepreneurs love dropshipping is that it doesn’t require you to stock products in advance. But let’s be real: while hair dropshipping saves you from filling your garage with boxes of wigs, it’s not completely free. You’ll still need to cover some startup costs before your first sale.

Cost breakdown for a Hair Dropshipping Business

• eCommerce Platform: Shopify ($25–$399/month), WooCommerce (WordPress hosting ~$20/month), or Etsy (low upfront costs but higher transaction fees).

   

• Domain Name: Around $10–$15/year. Pro tip: keep it short and brandable—“LuxeLocks.com” works better than “BestCheapAffordableHairExtensionsOnline123.com”

   

• Apps & Tools: Think product review apps, email marketing, and upsell tools. Budget $20–$100/month, depending on how fancy you go

   

• Branding & Packaging (optional but recommended): Bulk packaging of wigs/extensions can begin as low as $100-300 on a small order. This immediately elevates your brand to one that is a beauty business as opposed to a random dropshipper.

   

• Marketing Budget: TikTok ads, Instagram shoutouts, or influencer campaigns. A lean start could be $200–$500/month, but serious growth often requires $1,000

   

Total Initial Budget: Anywhere from $300–$1,000+, depending on whether you start lean or go in with strong branding and paid ads.

Profit Margins in Hair Dropshipping

Now to the fun part: how much can you actually make?

• Wigs (synthetic): Buy for $20–$40, sell for $60–$120 → ~50–60% margin.

   

• Human Hair Wigs: Buy for $80–$150, sell for $200–$400+ → 60–70% margin. Luxury wigs can push even higher.

   

• Hair Extensions (bundles): Wholesale at $25–$40, retail for $70–$120 → 55–65% margin.

   

• Hair Care Products & Accessories: Lower ticket items, often 30–50% margin, but great for upsells and recurring revenue.

   

Hair is a high-demand, high-margin niche. Unlike selling $5 phone cases, customers are willing to spend big on wigs and extensions because they’re tied to identity, confidence, and style. A good lace-front wig can feel like a superpower cape — people don’t mind paying extra for that.

Challenges of Hair Dropshipping (and How to Overcome Them)

Hair dropshipping is associated with peculiar difficulties such as quality management challenges, shipping length of time, legality of human hair, and returns. The way to deal with them is by relying on well-established suppliers, expressing clear expectations, and formulating clear policies. By testing products, choosing faster shipping options, and educating customers, you can protect your brand’s reputation while keeping buyers happy.

Quality control with hair suppliers.

The Challenge: Not all suppliers are created equal. Some may send customers wigs that look flawless in product photos but arrive frizzy, thin, or smelling like a chemistry lab. And in the hair industry, quality = reputation. One bad batch of extensions can kill your store’s reviews overnight.

How to Overcome:

• Order samples before you list anything. If you wouldn’t wear it on your own head, don’t sell it.

   

• Stick with suppliers who offer grade A or virgin human hair (if you’re in that niche).

   

• Build long-term relationships with your best suppliers — reliable partners will often give priority service.

   

Shipping delays (China vs USA suppliers).

The Challenge: Customers don’t want to wait three weeks for their new wig. (Imagine telling someone who’s having a bad hair month to “please be patient until mid-September.” Not happening.) Long shipping times are the #1 reason for refund requests in dropshipping.

How to Overcome:

• Use US or EU-based suppliers for faster domestic shipping, even if prices are slightly higher.

   

• To create expectations, clearly state shipping times on product pages.

   

• Offer expedited shipping options when possible. Customers often pay more for speed.

   

Legal restrictions on human hair dropshipping.

The Challenge: Human hair is more than a commodity; it is a regulated product across many countries. Import/export regulations are not uniform, and in certain jurisdictions, the sale of human hair wigs without buyer-seller documentation can result in a legally thorny situation.

How to Overcome:

• Always check local import regulations for human hair products.

   

• Work with established suppliers who already comply with international shipping rules.

   

• If you’re unsure, start with synthetic wigs and extensions — they have fewer restrictions but still sell well.

   

Managing returns in the hair extensions business.

The Challenge: Unlike a hoodie or a phone case, hair products are intimate-use items. Many customers expect the option to return, but reselling opened hair products isn’t hygienic (and in many regions, it’s not even legal).

How to Overcome:

• Set a clear return/refund policy: e.g., only unopened/unused items are eligible.

   

• Offer partial refunds, store credits, or discounts on future purchases instead of full refunds when possible.

   

• Reduce returns by providing detailed product descriptions, sizing guides, and tutorial videos so customers know exactly what they’re buying.

   

Frequently asked questions

1. How much does it cost to start a hair dropshipping business?

You can technically start with as little as $300–$500 if you go lean (domain, basic Shopify plan, and minimal ads). But if you want to scale fast with branded packaging and consistent marketing, expect to invest $1,000–$2,000 in the first few months. Think of it like buying hair extensions: yes, you can go cheap, but the best results usually require a little more investment.

2. Can I dropship human hair wigs legally from China

In general, it does, but it varies with import laws in your country. Most areas permit the importation of human hair, although it may be subject to health certifications, Customs documentation, and/or health inspections. The most secure will be to:

• Partner with suppliers who already ship globally and understand compliance

   

• Double-check your local regulations before listing human hair products.

   

If you’re unsure, start with synthetic wigs or hair extensions, which are less restricted and still popular.

3. What’s the best platform for a hair dropshipping store (Shopify vs WooCommerce)?

• Shopify: Best for beginners. Easy setup, tons of apps, great for scaling. Costs a monthly fee.

   

• WooCommerce (WordPress): Best for tech-savvy sellers who want flexibility and lower ongoing costs. Setup can be trickier.

   

• Etsy/Amazon: Great for testing products quickly, but harder to build a brand since you’re in a marketplace.

   

If you’re just starting, Shopify is usually the go-to. Shopify provides you with a Shopify 1-dollar 3-month plan that gives you a chance to use any Shopify subscription plan for 3 months, only paying 1 dollar, and without any cost when you decide to leave in the middle.

4. Do I need to brand my own hair extensions to be successful?

Not at the very beginning, but branding is what separates a profitable business from a “random dropshipping store.” Customers love hair brands that feel premium and trustworthy. Branded packaging, custom labels, and a consistent social media presence will help you:

• Charge higher prices.

   

• Build customer loyalty.

   

• Stand out from competitors selling the same products.

   

5. How do I find influencers to promote my hair dropshipping store?

Influencer marketing is HUGE in the hair niche — think TikTok “wig install” videos or Instagram “before & after” reels. Here’s how to get started:

• Search hashtags like #wiginstall, #hairtransformation, #hairtutorial.

   

• Start with micro-influencers (5k–50k followers) who have engaged audiences. They’re often more affordable and authentic than big names.

   

• Offer free products in exchange for UGC (user-generated content) or pay a flat fee for shoutouts.

   

• Use platforms like Collabstr or TikTok Creator Marketplace to find verified creators.

   

Pro tip: People love transformation content. A short reel showing “before messy bun” → “after flawless lace wig” can outperform a polished ad.

Final Thoughts

Opening a hair dropshipping store is not only a business focusing on selling wigs and extensions, but a business that actually touches billions in the beauty industry, where fashion and self-confidence are intertwined. The more you satisfy your customers in this business, the greater your brand becomes, and just like flawless silk press, success will reflect.

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