The global hair care industry is undergoing a drastic change spurred by advancements in technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), ingredient innovation, and evolving customer needs. Central to this evolution is the ‘skinification’ of hair care, which highlights the increasing focus on dermatological research in scalp health. Further, as customers seek benefits beyond cleaning and conditioning, solutions that target specific hair and scalp concerns are in the limelight. As a result, hair care companies and FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) giants feel the pressure to develop advanced scalp analysis tools, regenerative therapies, and personalized solutions, making room for more precise and effective treatments.
Frost & Sullivan’s recent R&D/Technology/IP webinar delved into the realm of Growth Opportunities in R&D and Technology: How to fast-track growth leveraging innovation in hair care?. This engaging discussion highlighted innovative technology strategies, best practices, R&D initiatives, and growth opportunities to help hair care companies remain competitive and maximize brand loyalty.
Here, the following growth experts collaborated to share their views on innovations transforming the future of haircare: Benoit Butruille, Growth Expert and Principal Consultant, TechVision at Frost & Sullivan and Typhanie Esmiol, Growth Expert and Strategy Consultant at Frost & Sullivan.
Gain valuable perspectives from these experts by clicking here to access the recorded session of this webinar.
- Megatrends Revolutionizing Product Development: The ‘skinification’ of hair care refers to the initiative of applying principles and practices from skincare to scalp treatments and hair management. This approach treats the scalp as an extension of facial skin, emphasizing the importance of scalp health in achieving overall hair health. This megatrend is pushing providers to intensify their focus on dermatological research, regenerative therapies, and clinically proven ingredients – Which growth strategies will help hair care companies adapt their product portfolios to address evolving hair care routines of different customer personas?
- Focusing on Functional Ingredients: Hair care companies are being pushed to incorporate new functional ingredients backed by scientific research and biotechnology into their products. This is especially true for hair masks, conditioners, and scrubs, which aim to reconnect broken keratin chains and improve elasticity. This is casting the limelight on ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide, biotin, and probiotics which are more commonly found in skincare – Are your teams equipped with the analytical tools to identify and evaluate new ingredients and chemicals with the potential to revolutionize hair care?
- Companies Prioritizing Scalp Health: A healthy scalp has its own microbiome, providing the optimal environment for hair growth and delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles. This implies that common scalp conditions, such as dandruff, dryness, inflammation, and dermatitis can contribute to hair loss if left untreated. This positions scalp care as a crucial area of focus for hair care companies – Which growth processes and strategies will help your teams develop innovative and sustainable scalp care solutions?
- Integrating Next-Generation Technologies: With companies focusing on a range of advancements to improve product effectiveness, sustainability, and personalization, new technologies are helping customers better understand their hair and make informed decisions about hair care routines. Now providers are striving to accelerate the use of AI algorithms, scalp analysis tools, imaging technology, Internet of Things (IoT) enabled grooming devices, and nanotechnology to analyze customer data and develop personalized product recommendations – How will you accelerate innovation in emerging hair care technologies to maximize your growth potential?
- Embracing Sustainability: Today, sustainability initiatives are driving change in conventional product formulations, packaging, sourcing, and manufacturing practices across the hair and scalp care ecosystem. Companies are focusing on reducing their environmental footprint by developing waterless products, switching to recyclable/biodegradable/refillable packaging materials, and minimizing the use of harmful chemicals – Which growth processes and best practices will help your organization maximize sustainability across phases like product development, manufacturing, and distribution?
“Hair and scalp care is booming and it is of great interest to understand the innovations and strategies driving this growth. Technologies such as AI are being used to develop smart hair care devices. Additionally, sustainable practices are becoming increasingly important as more customers seek products made with ethically sourced, eco-friendly ingredients.” – Benoit Butruille, Growth Expert and Principal Consultant, TechVision at Frost & Sullivan.
“Hair and scalp care is booming and it is of great interest to understand the innovations and strategies driving this growth. Technologies such as AI are being used to develop smart hair care devices. Additionally, sustainable practices are becoming increasingly important as more customers seek products made with ethically sourced, eco-friendly ingredients.” – Benoit Butruille, Growth Expert and Principal Consultant, TechVision at Frost & Sullivan.
