Hair loss is fast becoming a common health issue among the Chinese youth. One of the main reasons for early hair loss is lifestyle changes caused by irregular sleep cycles, anxiety issues, and unhealthy food habits. Environmental factors such as pollution, prolonged exposure to the sun, and harsh weather are also triggering hair loss cases. Furthermore, with consumers shifting away from synthetic ingredients towards natural and organic ones, the demand for natural formulations that offer a healthy hair routine is growing in China, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Naveed Khan, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Increasing cases of baldness and rising hair loss concerns have highlighted the importance and the need for scalp care targeted solutions in the country. Moreover, skinification of hair is also a growing trend in the industry, which concentrates on applying skincare solutions or ingredients for scalp health. The concept of the scalp being an extended part of the body’s skin has enabled manufacturers to use vitamins and active ingredients formulated in skincare applications to improve the efficiency of scalp care products while promoting scalp health.”

Elyn Gao, Business Development Director of GlobalData China, adds: “Consumers are avoiding chemical-based hair care products as concerns over chemical usage on hair and scalp mounts, compelling them to opt for natural ingredient-based hair care products.”

GlobalData 2023 Q4 Consumer Survey* corroborates this trend where 87% of Chinese respondents stated that they find natural attributes in product purchases as either essential or nice to have.

Khan continues: “Manufacturers are capitalizing on this trend and introducing hair care solutions with natural ingredients that promote a healthy scalp. For instance, Korean cosmetics company ‘Ryo’ introduced a deep cleansing shampoo in China. The company claims that the product contains scalp-activating herbal ingredients such as medicinal herb ginseng, bamboo sap, and chameleon, which enhance the scalp environment.”

Gao concludes: “Consumer interest in scalp-focused products is gaining significant momentum in China and across the world. With consumers perceiving natural-ingredient-based products as being better than synthetic formulations, the demand for these products is expected to rise at a faster pace.”

*GlobalData 2023 Q4 Consumer Survey – China, published in December 2023, 500 respondents