On this episode of In Dialog With, International Cosmetics Information turns its focus to the worldwide hair care market—one in every of magnificence’s fastest-evolving classes. Valued at roughly US$110bn in 2025 and forecast to succeed in US$151bn by 2030, hair care is being reshaped by shifting client expectations, scientific advances, sustainability pressures and tightening regulation.
Because the trade strikes into 2026, hair care sits on the intersection of wellness, efficiency and planet-positive innovation, forcing manufacturers and suppliers to rethink how merchandise are formulated, positioned and dropped at market.
This Month’s Knowledgeable Panel
Mallory Huron – Director of Magnificence & Wellness, Future Snoops
Jennifer O’Hara – Director of Advertising & Commercialisation, Inolex
Patricia De Moraes – Senior Director of Shopper Market Insights, Not Your Mom’s Hair Care
Key Takeaways for B2B Leaders
1. Hair Well being Turns into a Wellness Precedence
Hair care is more and more handled by a skincare and wellness lens, with customers prioritising scalp well being, hair retention, progress and barrier safety. Huron highlights how TikTok and peer-led schooling have fuelled a cultural obsession with hair well being—positioning routines as each preventative care and emotional self-care.
“Elaborate routines aren’t nearly outcomes—they’re about ritual, wellness and management.”
– Mallory HuronWith financial uncertainty extending time between salon visits, customers are investing extra closely in DIY schooling and at-home upkeep, reinforcing demand for high-performance merchandise that defend long-term hair well being.
2. Efficiency, Transparency and Worth Drive Loyalty
From a model perspective, De Moraes stresses that Gen Z expectations are uncompromising. Merchandise should ship constant, seen outcomes and clearly substantiate their claims—with out premium value inflation.
“Sustainability is predicted, however efficiency and affordability nonetheless come first.”
– Patricia De MoraesConsumers are more and more proactive in questioning elements, sensitivities and security—usually influenced by social media narratives—making clear, academic communication throughout all model touchpoints important.
3. Biotech, Bond Restore and Multifunctionality Lead Innovation
Ingredient and formulation innovation is accelerating, significantly in biotechnology, bond restore, peptides and proteins. Huron notes rising curiosity in hair plumping and volumising applied sciences that ship outcomes with out structural harm.
O’Hara provides that suppliers are prioritising multifunctional elements that steadiness efficiency, sensory expertise and security—whereas lowering formulation complexity.
“Efficiency is king—but it surely has to really feel good, be protected, and do a couple of job.”
– Jennifer O’Hara
AI is more and more used to speed up ingredient and idea growth, although panellists agree it should complement—not change—human perception, creativity and real-world testing.
4. Sustainability Shifts from Differentiator to Baseline
Sustainability is not a promoting level—it’s a minimal requirement. Youthful customers count on recyclable packaging, cruelty-free positioning and accountable sourcing as normal, excluding manufacturers that fail to fulfill the baseline from consideration altogether.
“Customers could not say sustainability is the explanation they purchase—but when it’s lacking, they gained’t purchase in any respect.”
– Patricia De Moraes
Concentrated, waterless and strong codecs proceed to realize traction, although adoption stays gradual because of entrenched client habits and perceptions of worth. Schooling, fairly than innovation alone, is now the important thing barrier to scale.
5. Regulation and Claims Scrutiny Intensify
Regulatory stress is rising round ingredient security, salon-use chemical compounds and hair progress claims, significantly in Europe. Huron predicts tighter enforcement on advertising language as scalp care and progress classes develop.
O’Hara notes rising demand for alternate options to silicones, phenoxyethanol and sure quats, positioning suppliers that anticipated regulatory shifts forward of the curve.“Being forward of regulation protects each model fairness and pace to market.”
– Jennifer O’Hara
Trying Forward: Hair Care in 2026
The panel agrees that 2026 will probably be formed by:
- Wellness-integrated hair care mixing efficacy, emotion and ritual
- True multitasking merchandise that simplify routines with out compromising outcomes
- Decrease-impact codecs, together with concentrates and waterless options
- Rising alternatives in inside-out hair well being, together with dietary supplements and life-stage-specific innovation
“Hair care is not simply beauty—it’s preventative, emotional and more and more private.”
– Patricia De Moraes
Backside line: Hair care in 2026 will probably be outlined by smarter science, stronger safety and planet-positive progress, as manufacturers navigate rising client sophistication, regulatory complexity and sustainability expectations—with out dropping sight of efficiency.
