How to Order Hair Samples From a Supplier
If you’ve ever placed a $1,200 bulk hair order only to open the box and find dry strands, off color, or wefts that shed before you even install them, you already know why learning how to order hair samples from a supplier the right way isn’t a waste of money—it’s non-negotiable. We see dozens of new salon owners and resellers skip this step every month, convinced they can judge quality from product photos or TikTok reels, only to reach out a week later frustrated with stock they can’t sell. This isn’t about being overly cautious; it’s about making sure the hair you stock matches what you promise your clients, without blowing your startup budget on bad inventory.
Skip the “free sample” trap
Honestly, 9 out of 10 first-time inquiries we get open with “can you send free samples?” I get it—you don’t want to spend money before you know what you’re getting. But here’s the hard truth: legitimate human hair suppliers almost never send free full-sized sample bundles. Raw and virgin hair costs real money to source, process, and ship, and suppliers who hand out free samples to anyone who asks usually make that money back by sending low-quality, silicone-coated hair that feels great out of the package but turns to straw after one wash.
Expect to pay $20-$40 per individual sample, depending on length and texture, a price that usually covers the cost of the hair itself plus discounted shipping. If a supplier offers completely free, no-strings samples of 100% human hair? Run. Those samples are almost always a bait and switch, sent to hook you into a large order that looks nothing like the test piece you received.
Know exactly which samples you actually need
You don’t need to order one of every single length, texture, and color a supplier carries to test quality—that’s a waste of cash, and most suppliers will side-eye you for it if you’re clearly never going to follow up with a real order. Start with the 2-3 textures and lengths you actually sell most in your business. If 70% of your salon’s bookings are for 20-inch body wave sew-ins and 18-inch kinky straight tape-ins, order those first, not a 30-inch curly bundle you’ve never had a client ask for.
Most sample pieces are 10-20 grams each, enough to feel texture, run a wash test, check for shedding, and match to your color ring, but not enough for a full install. If you sell multiple extension types, grab one sample from each core line you stock: for example, one bulk hair for braiding sample, one machine weft sample, and one k-tip or tape-in sample if those are your top sellers. That’s usually 3-4 samples total, enough to get a real feel for the supplier’s consistent quality across lines without dropping $200 on test pieces.
What to say when you order hair samples from a supplier
You don’t need a fancy formal email to request samples, but being clear up front cuts down on back and forth and makes sure you get exactly what you’re asking for. Skip the vague “send me your best hair” line—that tells suppliers you’re not serious, and you might end up with random odds and ends from their warehouse floor instead of the exact stock you’d get in a bulk order. Mention your business type (salon, braider, online reseller), the specific textures, lengths, and colors you want to test, and note that you plan to place a bulk order within 2-4 weeks if the samples meet your standards.
You don’t have to share your entire business plan, but that small bit of context helps the sales team pull samples from the exact same batch of hair they’d use to fulfill your full order, not a premium “sample only” batch that’s higher quality than their regular stock. Be upfront about your sample budget, too. If you only want to spend $100 total on test pieces, say that. Most suppliers will help you pick the most useful samples for your business instead of pushing you to order more than you need. If you’re still narrowing down which suppliers to reach out to in the first place, our guide on choosing a bulk hair supplier walks through the red flags to watch for before you even spend a dime on samples.
Test samples properly before you commit
It shocks me how many buyers get a sample, run their fingers through it once, and decide it’s good enough to place a $2,000 order. Don’t do that. You need to put that small 15 gram piece through the exact same wear and tear your clients will put their installs through, because coated, low-quality hair will pass the finger test every time.
- First, do a shed test: Run a fine-tooth comb from root to tip 20 times, applying firm (but not aggressive) pressure. More than 2-3 stray strands? That’s a red flag for excessive shedding once installed.
- Next, wash it with a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo, no conditioner, and let it air dry. A lot of factory-coated hair will feel silky straight out of the package, but after one wash it’ll turn frizzy, tangly, or dry out completely. If the sample still feels soft and holds its natural wave or curl pattern after washing, that’s a good sign.
- Do a quick color test if you offer custom coloring services: Mix a small batch of 20 volume developer and apply it to a 1 inch section of the sample, leave it for 20 minutes, rinse, and see how it lifts. Hair that’s been mixed with synthetic filler will melt or turn a weird brassy orange when you try to lift it, and that’s the last thing you want when a client pays you for a custom blonde install.
Hold the sample up next to any hair you currently stock to compare texture, color match, and thickness. Remember: the sample you receive should be identical to the bulk hair you get later. If you place an order and the bulk stock feels noticeably drier or thinner than the sample, that’s a supplier you don’t want to work with long term.
You don’t owe anyone a bulk order
So many new buyers feel obligated to place a large order after receiving samples, especially if the sales rep was friendly over email. Let’s be clear: samples are a paid transaction. You bought that small piece of hair to test, no strings attached. If the sample sheds too much, feels dry after washing, or is the wrong color, just be honest. Tell the rep exactly what didn’t work for you.
Good suppliers will take that feedback, and might even send you a replacement sample of a different texture for a discounted rate if it means earning your business long term. If they push back, get defensive, or claim “all hair does that” when you point out excessive tangling? That’s your cue to move on. If you have questions about our sample policies specifically, you can always check our FAQ page for lead times, pricing, and shipping details before you reach out.
Quick answers to the sample questions we get every week
How long do sample orders take to ship?
For most China-based suppliers, standard sample shipping to the US takes 7-10 days via DHL or UPS, if sample pieces are in stock. If you’re asking for a custom color or rare texture, that adds 3-5 days of processing time. Don’t pay for expedited 3-day shipping on samples unless you’re on a super tight restock deadline—it’s usually double the cost, and most of the time the sample arrives only a day or two earlier than standard shipping.
Can I use sample credit toward my first bulk order?
A lot of suppliers (us included) will apply 50-100% of your sample purchase cost to your first bulk order, as long as that order meets their standard MOQ (usually 10 bundles or 20 packs of tape-ins, depending on the product line). Just ask up front—don’t assume that credit is automatic, because some smaller suppliers don’t offer it.
How many suppliers should I order samples from?
Start with 2-3, max. Ordering from 8 different suppliers at once leaves you with a pile of hair samples you can’t keep track of, and you’ll end up spending $300+ on test pieces when you only needed $100 to narrow it down. Once you find one supplier whose samples pass all your tests, you can always test 1-2 more down the line if you want to expand your product offerings. Once you’re ready to move forward with a full order, our guide to bulk orders from Chinese suppliers walks through the process step by step so you don’t miss anything.
Ordering samples doesn’t have to be a complicated, drawn-out process. It’s just a small, low-stakes test to make sure you’re not locking yourself into a large order of hair that leaves you with unhappy clients and lost revenue. You don’t need to jump through hoops to impress a supplier to get good samples—just be clear about what you need, test the hair thoroughly, and don’t be afraid to walk away if something feels off. If you’re ready to pick out samples to test for your business, browse our full selection to pick the textures and lengths that make sense for your client base.
Send Us Your Hair Inquiry
Need bulk pricing, samples, or a private-label quote? Fill in the form and our team will get back to you within one business day.
