As wigs are consumer products that come into direct contact with the human head, their safety, durability, and realism have become core concerns for global market regulation. Different countries and regions have established strict regulatory standards for wig products, specifying multidimensional testing requirements that cover physical performance, chemical safety, and material identification. This article systematically outlines the main regulatory frameworks and core testing items in the wig industry to provide a reference for production and compliance.

I. Global Major Regulatory and Standards Framework

A. Chinese Standards System

China has established a dual control system of "industry-specific standards + general textile safety standards" for wigs to ensure product quality and safety.

QB/T 2999-2023 "Wig Products - Wigs and Hairpieces": This is the latest light industry standard (effective April 1, 2024, replacing QB/T 2999-2008) applicable to wigs and hairpieces made from human hair, synthetic fibers, etc. Core requirements cover size accuracy, color difference control, flame retardancy, sewing/wearing strength, follicle tension, fiber content, as well as safety indicators like formaldehyde content, pH value, odor, decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amines, and heavy metal content. This is the basic basis for the circulation of wig products in the Chinese market.

GB 18401-2010 "National General Safety Technical Code for Textile Products": A mandatory textile safety standard, as the wig's net/cap part belongs to textile products, it must strictly comply with its requirements. The standard classifies products into Class A (infants), Class B (direct contact with skin), and Class C (non-direct contact with skin), with wigs usually controlled as Class B or C, focusing on limiting formaldehyde content, pH value, colorfastness (water, sweat, dry rub, saliva), odor, and decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amines.

GB 31701-2015 "Safety Technical Code for Infants and Children Textile Products": A mandatory standard specifically for children's wigs, requiring stricter limits on harmful substances and physical safety performance (such as the firmness of small parts) to ensure children's safety.

B. EU Regulatory System

The EU focuses on chemical safety and general product safety for wigs, centering on the REACH regulation and cosmetics regulation, supplemented by CE certification requirements.

REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006: The core EU chemical control regulation, focusing on limiting harmful substances listed in Appendix XVII in wigs, including specific carcinogenic aromatic amines released by azo dyes ≤30mg/kg; heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium; phthalate plasticizers in children's products; nickel release from metal parts (like buttons) ≤0.5 μg/cm²/week.

EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: If a wig claims "UV protection," "nourishing hair," etc., or its accompanying glue, cleaning agents, etc., fall under cosmetics, they must comply with this regulation. It strictly controls banned substances, restricted substances, and types and doses of preservatives.

CE Marking and the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR): The CE marking is a mandatory mark for market access in the EU. The GPSR (Regulation (EU) 2023/988) has replaced the former GPSD. It requires that wigs ensure safety during normal use, with flame retardancy being a key assessment indicator. Wigs need to pass corresponding combustion performance tests. Additionally, according to GPSR requirements, non-EU wig manufacturers are required to appoint an Authorized Representative in the EU (EU Authorized Representative). This representative is responsible for product compliance communication, document retention, and responding to inquiries from regulatory authorities to ensure that the products continuously comply with EU regulations.

C. US Regulatory System

The US focuses on children's product safety, combustion performance, and labeling compliance for wigs, forming a control network through multiple federal acts.

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA): The core regulation for children's wigs, requiring total lead content in substrates and coatings ≤100ppm; content of six specific phthalates in children's products ≤0.1%.

Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA): Implements label management for flammable wigs, requiring warning labels. The US grades wig flame retardancy through the 16 CFR 1610 standard, classifying safety levels based on burning speed rather than complete prohibition.

Labeling Regulations (Textile Fiber Products Identification Act & Wool Products Labeling Act): Mandates that wig products clearly label fiber content (such as "100% human hair," "100% synthetic fiber," or mixed ratio) and country of origin, ensuring consumer right to know.

D. Other International Standards and Regional Requirements

ISO International Standards: Such as ISO 12891 "Wig Products - Vocabulary," providing a unified terminology definition and testing method reference framework for the global wig industry.

Japan: Based on the "Household Products Containing Harmful Substances Control Act," setting strict limits on harmful chemical substances like formaldehyde in wigs to protect consumer health.

II. Comprehensive Analysis of Core Testing Items

A. Physical Performance Testing

Physical performance testing directly relates to the user experience and durability of wigs and is the foundation for product quality assurance.

Size and Color Difference: Verifies whether product size matches the design claim, checks color uniformity and color difference range with the sample, ensuring appearance consistency.

Flame Retardancy: A key safety indicator, testing the burning speed, after-flame time, and ember state of wigs when exposed to fire, assessing fire risk.

Sewing/Wearing Strength: Examines the firmness of seams at the wig cap through tensile tests, ensuring the product is not easily damaged or deformed during normal wearing and combing.

Follicle Tension: Tests the pull-out force of a single hair strand at the net base (follicle), directly reflecting the wig's anti-hair loss performance, a core durability indicator.

Hair Strand Elasticity and Elongation: For hair strand products, tests the elastic recovery ability and maximum elongation after stretching, ensuring shape stability during use.

Dry and Wet Combing Performance: Simulates daily use scenarios, testing combing resistance and knotting degree of wigs in dry and wet states, evaluating ease of use.

B. Chemical Safety Testing

Chemical safety testing focuses on harmful substances in wigs, preventing health risks, and is a key focus of regulatory control in various countries.

Formaldehyde Content: Excessive formaldehyde can cause skin allergies and respiratory irritation, and must meet regional limit standards.

pH Value: The scalp has a weakly acidic environment; inappropriate pH values in wigs can irritate the scalp and should be controlled within a suitable range.

Decomposable Carcinogenic Aromatic Amines: Tests carcinogenic aromatic amines produced by azo dyes under specific conditions, strictly prohibited in most countries and regions.

Heavy Metal Content: Tests residual amounts of harmful heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, avoiding chronic harm to the human body through skin contact or inhalation.

Phthalates: Focuses on testing plasticizer content in children's wigs or parts containing PVC, preventing endocrine disruption risks.

Nickel Release: Tests the nickel release rate from metal accessories in wigs (such as clips, adjustment buckles), preventing contact dermatitis.

C. Material Identification and Label Authenticity

This type of testing aims to regulate market order, prevent material fraud, and protect consumer rights.

Fiber Content Analysis: Accurately identifies hair material (human hair, synthetic fibers like Kanekalon, high-temperature fibers, etc.) and mixed proportions through combustion, microscopy, or chemical dissolution methods, a key means to combat commercial fraud.

Colorfastness Testing: Includes sweat fastness (fading under sweat), friction fastness (dry/wet rubbing fading), water fastness (fading in water), and light fastness (color stability under light), ensuring the product does not easily fade during use.

D. Microbial Testing (Specific Scenarios)

For special-use wigs, such as theatrical wigs and long-term medical wigs, microbial safety assessments are required, including total bacteria count, coliforms, mold, and yeast detection, preventing bacterial growth and scalp infections.

III. Compliance Key Points Summary

To achieve product compliance, wig companies need to focus on the following four aspects:

Clarify Target Market: Choose corresponding regulatory standards based on the region where the product is sold (e.g., China QB/T 2999-2023, EU REACH, US CPSIA) to avoid market access obstacles due to non-compliance.

Focus on Product Material: The testing focus varies for human hair, synthetic fibers, or mixed materials (e.g., synthetic fibers require additional attention to flame retardancy, human hair needs verification of component authenticity), and testing plans should be tailored accordingly.

Differentiate Applicable Populations: Wigs for children and infants must meet stricter safety standards (e.g., GB 31701, CPSIA), requiring enhanced limits on harmful substances and physical safety tests.

Regulate Product Claims: If claiming special functions like "flame retardant," "antibacterial," "cosmetic," etc., pre-testing verification is required to ensure claims comply with regulatory requirements.

CIRS Testing Reminder

Since wigs come into long-term contact with consumers' bodies, their functional reliability and chemical environmental safety are particularly important and will be subject to stricter and more comprehensive regulation. CIRS Testing suggests that relevant companies prepare in advance, manage raw material quality and production processes better to meet regulations and standards, and provide safety and health protection for consumers. CIRS Testing can conduct "wig products" related testing services and provide customized quality control solutions for enterprises. Please contact us for more technical support!

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via test@cirs-group.com.