Hair and Scalp Care Product Testing Services

Consumers today are increasingly focused on the health and beauty of their hair and scalp. This has resulted in challenges for the hair and scalp care product industry to develop effective, safe products that cater to diverse needs in a highly competitive market. Product testing services have therefore become essential tools for manufacturers to overcome these challenges and achieve their business goals.

Product testing not only ensures the quality and efficacy of the products but also serves as a crucial resource in the development of new product formulations, ensuring the quality of raw materials and finished products. Product testing services are key to helping manufacturers stand out, build credibility, and succeed in the beauty industry.

Hair Care Product Market Trends

The Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) personalized hair care product market is expected to grow rapidly, from approximately USD 3.04 billion in 2023 to USD 12.53 billion by 2031. This growth is driven by consumers’ desire for products tailored to their hair type and the use of AI technology to analyze personal data and recommend suitable products, such as shampoos, conditioners, and treatments specific to each individual’s hair type and concerns.

The concept of personalized hair care is a breakthrough in the cosmetic industry, using AI to facilitate direct communication between manufacturers and consumers. These customized products meet specific hair care needs and goals, such as shampoos and conditioners, which have become daily necessities for everyone. Manufacturers can customize products through online platforms, such as surveys and feedback systems, where customers provide information on their hair condition, dandruff, oily scalp, and daily care routines.

Awareness of personalized hair care products that meet individual beauty needs is a key factor in the market’s growth. Moreover, rapid advancements in digital technology and AI’s ability to analyze individual characteristics are expected to create future market opportunities. However, the high cost of personalized products may pose a barrier to market growth compared to standard products.

Categories of Hair Care Cosmetics

The Cosmetics Act B.E. 2535 delineates a tripartite classification of cosmetics:

  1. Special Controlled Cosmetics necessitate registration.
  2. Controlled Cosmetics necessitate notification.
  3. General Cosmetics.

Within the regulatory framework of Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hair-related products can be further categorized based on their inherent characteristics and intended uses. The principal categories of hair care cosmetics encompass:

  1. Shampoo and Conditioner: These products serve the purpose of cleansing and conditioning hair without inducing any structural alterations. They fall under the purview of General Cosmetics and can be readily notified in accordance with standard procedures.
  2. Hair Coloring Products: Designed to modify hair color, these products can be classified as permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary. They mandate rigorous safety testing due to the potential for allergic reactions arising from certain constituent ingredients.
  3. Hair Styling Products: This category encompasses products such as sprays, gels, and mousse employed for hair styling purposes. These products must undergo a comprehensive process of inspection and testing to ensure their safety for consumers.
  4. Hair Treatment Products: This category includes products like serums, hair oils, and those intended for nourishing the scalp and hair. These products necessitate dermal testing to preclude any potential irritation.
  5. Permanent Hair Dyes: These products incorporate chemicals capable of permeating the hair shaft to effect permanent color transformations.

The Importance of Product Testing Services for Hair Care Products

Hair and scalp care product testing services assume a multifaceted role of paramount importance:

  • Research and Product Development: Testing empowers researchers and manufacturers to meticulously assess the effectiveness of novel product formulations, conduct comparative analyses of their performance against existing market offerings, and refine formulations to achieve optimal efficacy. This process ensures that products not only fulfill consumer expectations but also remain aligned with prevailing beauty trends.

  • Quality Control: Testing serves as a mechanism for manufacturers to rigorously verify the quality of products across each production batch, thereby guaranteeing consistent quality and unwavering adherence to established standards. This practice is indispensable for upholding customer satisfaction and fostering unwavering trust in the brand.

  • Cultivating Credibility: Test results emanating from accredited laboratories, coupled with stringent clinical trials, can be strategically employed as scientific substantiation to bolster product claims and instill confidence in consumers. This represents a pivotal determinant in their purchasing decisions.

Efficacy and Safety Products Testing

The evaluation of efficacy and safety in hair and scalp care products is of paramount importance in establishing product and brand credibility. Visbio Co., Ltd. offers the following testing services:

In Vitro Testing

Our laboratory provides cell-based testing to assess the product’s efficacy at the cellular level

  • The study of a product’s ability to inhibit the 5α-Reductases enzyme, or 5-alpha-reductase, focuses on an enzyme that plays a significant role in the conversion of steroid hormones in the body. The action of the 5α-Reductase enzyme, which converts testosterone into DHT, is crucial in the development of male characteristics and the health of hair.

  You can read more about the 5α-Reductases enzyme inhibition testing service. click

  • Antioxidant activity testing is conducted to evaluate a product’s ability to neutralize free radicals, which may help protect hair from damage.

    You can read more about the antioxidant activity testing service (Anti-Oxidant). click

Testing the Quality and Quantity of Active Ingredients in Products

  • Active Ingredient Quantification: This ascertains whether a product contains the stipulated quantity of active ingredients as indicated on its label or serves as a quality control measure for active ingredients incorporated into the product. Our laboratory extends its services to encompass the testing of various active ingredients employing HPLC techniques, including but not limited to Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B9. Additionally, we offer testing for Total Protein and Total Collagen content.

  • Microbiological Testing: This evaluates the presence or absence of microbial contamination within the product. Our laboratory provides analytical services for quantifying the total viable aerobic count and the total yeast and mold count in samples.

Clinical Trials for Hair and Scalp Products with Volunteers

Product Efficacy Evaluation: To ensure the efficacy and safety of your hair and scalp care products for consumers, we provide efficacy evaluation services involving real-world volunteer testers. These services are conducted with an unwavering commitment to the highest ethical and safety standards.

Efficacy Evaluation with Dino-Lite Edge AM4115ZT (R9)

  • Reduction of Hair Loss: The Dino-Lite camera can be employed to capture images of the scalp both before and after product application, facilitating a comparative analysis of hair density and an assessment of the product’s efficacy in mitigating hair loss.

  • Enhancement of Hair Thickness: Leveraging its magnification capabilities of up to 220x, the Dino-Lite camera enables precise measurement of hair thickness, thereby evaluating the product’s effectiveness in augmenting hair thickness.

  • Regulation of Scalp Oiliness: The high-resolution, sharp images generated by the Dino-Lite camera empower experts to conduct a more accurate evaluation of scalp oiliness levels.

Data collected from the trials, including images and videos captured with the Dino-Lite, will be statistically analyzed to evaluate the product’s efficacy and safety. The results will be clearly presented, allowing them to be used for product development, supporting product claims, and boosting consumer confidence.

Hair and scalp care product testing with volunteer participants, aided by advanced technology like the Dino-Lite Edge AM4115ZT (R9), is a critical step in ensuring product quality and safety. Testing must be conducted under strict ethical and scientific standards to produce reliable results that benefit both manufacturers and consumers.

Literature:

  • ภก.ปรุฬห์ รุจนธำรงค์: กฏหมายใหม่เกี่ยวกับเครื่องสำอาง ตอนที่ 1 สืบค้นวันที่ 20 กันยายน 2567
  • Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) Personalized Haircare Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Products (Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair loss treatment products (Masks, etc.), Hair Oil, Hair color, Other products), By Platforms, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024-2031