Hair foil order timeline
A stock hair foil order takes 15–20 days from order to dispatch, and a custom printed order 25–30 days, with artwork, plates and the sample included. No order takes more than 25–30 days. Freight comes after it, quoted for your destination port or airport and the service you choose.
Timeline by order type
Three kinds of order take three different routes to the production line. A stock order goes straight to it. A custom order passes through artwork, plates and a sample first. The times below run from the confirmed order to goods ready for dispatch, with every step included.
| Stock size, plain foil | Custom printed foil | New size | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steps | Production and inspection | Artwork, plates, sample, production and inspection | Box artwork, cutting die or re-set, sample, production and inspection |
| Usual time | 15–20 days | 25–30 days | 15–20 days |
| At most | 25–30 days | 25–30 days | 25–30 days |
The time you take to approve artwork and the sample is part of it, so a quick approval keeps an order near the usual time. Lead times for every format are on MOQ and lead time by format.
Shipping time by market
Transit time depends on the route more than on the country: the port of loading, the destination port or airport, and whether the service is direct or transships. A single figure for a whole market would mislead, so we quote transit with the schedule for your route. Sea freight is quoted port to port and air freight airport to airport; export clearance, import clearance and delivery from the port come on top.
| Market | Terms offered | Transit time |
|---|---|---|
| USA | EXW, FOB, CIF, DDU (DAP), DDP | Quoted for your destination port and service |
| UK | EXW, FOB, CIF, DDU (DAP), DDP | Quoted for your destination port and service |
| EU | EXW, FOB, CIF, DDU (DAP), DDP | Quoted for your destination port and service |
| Australia & New Zealand | EXW, FOB, CIF, DDU (DAP), DDP | Quoted for your destination port and service |
| Canada | EXW, FOB, CIF, DDU (DAP), DDP | Quoted for your destination port and service |
We quote EXW, FOB, CIF, DDU and DDP. Under EXW or FOB you appoint the forwarder, and the transit time is theirs to quote. Under CIF we arrange the sea freight to your port; under DDU or DDP we quote delivery to your door, with duty paid under DDP. The difference in cost is worked through in hair foil landed cost.
What delays orders
Most delay happens before the foil reaches the line, and most of it is avoidable.
| Cause | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Artwork not built on the dieline | Start from our dieline for your exact size and count |
| Several rounds of sample correction | State colours as Pantone references; describe corrections in measurable terms |
| Specification changed after plates were made | Settle size, count and colours before approving the proof |
| Mandatory label text missing | Check labelling for your market before the artwork is final |
| Missed sailing | Agree the forwarder and the booking before production ends |
| Customs hold at destination | Settle the classification with a broker before the first shipment |
Planning backwards from a launch date
Work from the date you need stock, not from today.
- Take the date the goods must be in your warehouse.
- Subtract delivery and import clearance at destination.
- Subtract transit, by sea or by air.
- Subtract production and inspection.
- Subtract the sample, including your own testing and approval.
- Subtract plates and artwork.
The date you reach is the latest day to send a complete brief. If that day has already passed, the options are air freight, a stock size in a custom box, or a later launch. Tell us the launch date with your quote request, and we lay the stages out against it.
- 1BriefYou provideFormat, size, thickness, quantity, target market, launch dateWe deliverSpecification and quotation
- 2ArtworkYou provideArtwork files on the dielineWe deliverPrint-ready proof for approval
- 3PlateYou provideProof approval, plate feeWe deliverPrinting plates
- 4SampleYou provideCourier addressWe deliverPrinted foil and box sample
- 5ApprovalYou provideWritten approval, depositWe deliverProduction schedule
- 6ProductionYou provideNothing furtherWe deliverProduction photos on request
- 7QCYou provideThird-party inspection booking, if wantedWe deliverInspection report
- 8ShippingYou provideForwarder details or delivery addressWe deliverShipping documents
Timeline FAQ
How long does hair foil production take?
A hair foil order at Hair Foil Factory takes 15–20 days for stock pop-up foil and 25–30 days for custom printed foil, counted from the confirmed order to goods ready for shipment, with every step included. No order takes more than 25–30 days. Freight is added after that.
How long does sea freight to the UK take?
Sea freight time from China to the UK depends on the port of loading, the UK port and whether the service is direct or transships, so it is quoted with each shipment's schedule. That time is port to port. Add export clearance before sailing and import clearance and delivery after arrival.
Can you ship by air for a first order?
Yes. A first order of hair foil can ship by air, quoted airport to airport for your destination. Foil is dense, so air freight costs much more per box than sea freight; it suits launch stock and small top-ups.
What causes delays in private label orders?
Private label hair foil orders are most often delayed before production starts: artwork that needs correcting, a sample that takes several rounds to approve, or a specification that changes after plates are made. After production, the usual causes are a missed sailing and customs clearance at destination.