[Takungpao] Hair Dye Industry Consumer Structure Transformation: 'Makeup and Care Combined' Drives the Leap from 'Chemical Coloring' to 'Biological Nourishing Dye'

In recent years, China's hair dye market has been undergoing a profound value reconstruction. Consumers' demand for hair dye products has expanded from a single focus on color coverage to a comprehensive consideration of safe formulations, hair care effects, and user experience. The concept of "integration of makeup and care" in the hair dye segment is driving the industry from traditional "chemical coloring" toward a structural leap to "bio-nourishing coloring."  

1. Market Scale Continues to Expand, Consumer Demand Upgrades Multidimensionally  

According to the "2025-2026 China Hair Dye Industry Consumption Trend Report" released by iiMedia Research, the Chinese home hair dye market has exceeded 38 billion yuan, with an annual growth rate stable at over 12%; the Chinese hair dye product market has surpassed 18 billion yuan. Among them, the proportion of consumers who "dye hair at home by themselves" is projected to climb from 47% in 2020 to 68% in 2026. The market share of domestic brands has grown for three consecutive years, reaching 62.3% in 2025, surpassing foreign brands for the first time.  

Changes in consumer behavior reflect a deeper demand upgrade. The "2025 China Hair Dye Cream Market Insight Report" by Sense Consulting shows that 31% of consumers are "ingredient-safety focused" while 27% prioritize cost-performance, with both groups together accounting for over half, reaching 56%. Among the formulation elements that consumers care about most are ammonia-free/low-ammonia (29%), plant extracts (24%), and hair care ingredients (22%). According to industry research, over 78% of hair dye consumers list "safe and non-irritating" and "integrated hair dye and care" as the primary selection criteria, and more than 60% of users are willing to pay a premium for products with both "gentle and hair-nourishing" properties. Hair dyes labeled as "plant-based" now account for 63% of sales, with home hair dye penetration rising to 62.7%. The market penetration of plant-extract hair care products has increased from 18.2% in 2021 to 47.9% in 2025.  

2. Stricter Regulations Promote Industry Standardization  

In August 2025, the China National Institute for Food and Drug Control released the "Technical Guidance Principles for Hair Dye Cosmetics (Trial) (Draft for Comments)"; on April 15, 2026, this guidance principle was officially issued for trial implementation. The document clearly stipulates that hair dye products must not use misleading claims such as "plant hair dye" or "one-wash black" and recommends avoiding promotional terms such as "gentle" or "safe." The introduction of this regulatory document is seen as an important indicator for the upgrade of the hair dye industry. Under the framework of the "Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulations," hair dye products are classified as special-use cosmetics and must be registered with the national drug regulatory authorities before they can be produced or imported.  

3. Brand Case: Nature Bud's Practice of "Nourishing Coloring"  

Against the backdrop of this industry transformation, the high-end artistic lifestyle brand Nature Bud from Italy (Chinese trademark: 綠情蓓) launched a collagen organic plant hair dye cream, becoming one of the practical cases for the "integration of makeup and care" trend in the hair dye segment.

（nature bud VCITY HK Store）

The core formula of this product uses organic Marula kernel oil from the brand's own African organic farm, blended with plant hair care ingredients such as chamomile and aloe vera, and includes plant collagen. During the hair dyeing process, plant collagen can penetrate the hair strands, filling in the gaps caused by cuticle damage and reconstructing the hair core structure, working together with various plant extracts to achieve a synergistic effect of dyeing and care.

In terms of safety standards, this product does not contain harmful chemical ingredients such as ammonia, resorcinol, or p-phenylenediamine. The product has passed third-party testing and European standard inspections, and has obtained GMP certification and FDA filing in the United States. As Italy's first product to pass all parameters in dermatological and trichological clinical testing, it has received certification as a special-purpose cosmetic from the National Medical Products Administration (Approval No. Guozhuang Tejinzi 20230281).

In hair dye technology, the brand adopts the principle of tri-color technology color science — the synergistic effect of plant pigments, the hair’s base color, and natural sunlight; when plant ingredients undergo oxidation reactions and interact with the hair cell's pH balance, a long-lasting color-locking and fixing effect can be achieved. 

4. Trend Outlook: 'Nourishing Dye' Moving from Concept to Industry Consensus

Looking ahead, 'integrating makeup and care' is evolving from a consumer trend into an industry consensus. The hair dye industry is transitioning from traditional petroleum chemical derivatives toward the intersection of biotechnology and precision hair care, showing prominent features of 'integrated dye and care, covering all ages.' In the wave of the global beauty industry’s green transformation, organic plant extracts, dye-care synergy, and regulatory compliance are becoming core competitive elements of hair dye products. As hair dye moves from 'chemical coloring' to 'biological nourishing dye,' hair styling is no longer merely a surface color change but becomes a comprehensive expression of health, beauty, and lifestyle attitude.

Original link ：染髮行業消費結構轉型：「妝養合一」驅動從「化學著色」向「生物養染」躍遷 (takungpao.cn)