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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Key issues in this Report
- Overview
- The outlook for hair colourants in India
- Unlocking growth in hair colour: move beyond just ‘satisfied’ to exceeding expectations
- Graph 1: overall satisfaction level for hair colourants, 2026
- Stand out in the hair colour space by focusing on scalp comfort and hair health after colouring
- Leverage the strengths of high-performing and high-importance factors to attract and retain customers
- Achieve growth by shifting hair colourants from performance-led to care- and trust-led solutions
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ENTER HAIR COLOURING’S WELLNESS ERA
- Hair colourant users have pre-existing vulnerabilities
- Graph 2: hair issues experienced by hair colourant users, 2026
- Graph 3: scalp issues experienced, by hair colourant users, 2026
- Stand out in the hair colour space by focusing on scalp comfort and hair health post-colouring
- Graph 4: % of hair product launches mentioning scalp health, by selected sub-category, 2023-26
- Scalp comfort and hair health will become key differentiators in upper-tier Indian cities
- Emerging D2C brands are innovating care-first colour products
- Now: build reassurance through low-irritation and hair-health-led colouring
- Now: move beyond colour payoff towards nourishment and hydration
- Graph 5: % of selected beauty-enhancing claims in hair colourants, 2023-26
- Now: repair past damage during application
- Now: root touch-ups can become an entry point for healthier colouring
- Now: hairloss concerns create opportunities for functional hair colouring
- Next: tap into longevity by positioning colouring as maintenance, not damage
- Next: move hair colouring closer to hair- and skincare
- Next: premiumise through scalp-specific colour systems
- Graph 6: features willing to pay more for in hair colourant products at home by hair colourant users, by city tier, 2026
- Next: personalised, hair-type-specific colour is the next growth engine
- Future: AI will drive revenue growth through smarter, more inclusive hair colouring experiences
- Future: advanced tools can redefine at-home colouring around precision and hair health
- Future: incorporate biotech ingredients into hair colourants
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FORMAT INNOVATION CAN UNLOCK EASIER HAIR COLOURING
- While interest in newer formats is high, innovation remains rooted in traditional hair colouring formats
- Graph 7: interest in hair colourant formats by hair colourant users, 2026
- Graph 8: format landscape for hair colourants, 2026
- Current formats are functional, but they’re not fully meeting rising convenience expectations
- Graph 9: top claims in the convenience claim category, 2023-26
- Now: look to APAC for faster, easier and more portable colouring formats
- Now: double down on convenience with newer formats to increase usage among male hair colourant users
- Streax positions speed and convenience as the hook for male users
- Now: make hair colouring easier for men through faster and lower-effort formats
- Now: build men’s confidence with instant-colour beard innovation
- Next: make at-home colouring easier for women through built-in application tools
- Graph 10: features willing to pay more for in hair colourants used at home by hair colourant users, by gender and age, 2026
- Next: focused combs and brushes can make colouring more precise and intuitive
- Next: use refillable formats to make hair colouring more convenient and repeatable
- Future: skincare-inspired formats can modernise hair colouring
- Graph 11: features willing to pay more for in hair colourants used at home, by hair colourant usage, 2026
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PRE- AND POST-COLOUR RITUALS CAN PREMIUMISE HAIR COLOURING BEYOND THE DYE ITSELF
- Hair colouring is moving beyond a one-note process
- Who are the Pre-/Post-colour Protection Seekers?
- High-involvement colour users are driving demand for more complete colour-care systems
- Graph 12: repertoire of hair colour formats used, by Pre-/Post-colour Protection Seekers, 2026
- Graph 13: repertoire of haircare products used, by Pre-/Post-colour Protection Seekers, 2026
- Pre- and post-colour protection-led routines can premiumise hair colouring beyond the dye
- Now: expand hair colouring into multi-step protection systems
- Now: haircare brands can extend into colour preparation and recovery
- Now: maintain healthier-looking colour through long-term hair protection
- Next: reposition hair colouring as a more intentional care ritual
- Graph 14: agreement with statement around hair colouring, by Pre-/Post-colour Protection Seekers, 2026
- Next: create sensorial pre- and post-colour rituals around scalp comfort
- Next: ritualise hair colouring through structured colour-care regimes
- Next: blur the lines between skincare and hair colouring through ingredient-led care
- Graph 15: features willing to pay more for in hair colourant products used at home, by Pre-/Post-colour Protection Seekers, 2026
- Next: take inspiration from South Korea’s skincare-ingredient-led scalp care evolution
- Future: neurocosmetics can transform hair colouring into a wellbeing-led ritual
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APPENDIX
- Report definition
- Consumer survey methodology
- Key driver analysis – correlation
- Repertoire analysis
India’s hair colourant market is evolving beyond basic colour performance as consumers increasingly seek healthier hair outcomes, scalp comfort and more convenient colouring experiences. Younger consumers and highly involved users are driving demand for formats and routines that feel easier, gentler and more care-led.
While traditional formats such as powders and creams continue to dominate, interest is growing in newer application formats, precision tools and pre- and post-colour rituals that simplify colouring while supporting hair and scalp health. This creates opportunities for brands to modernise at-home colouring through more intuitive and protection-focused systems.
Hair colouring habits in India remain relatively established, but expectations around convenience, wellness and hair condition are rising. Hence, brands should upgrade existing routines through format innovation, skincare-inspired ingredients and more complete colour-care experiences.
Transform hair colouring through scalp-first haircare, protection-led rituals and next-gen formats built for healthier, easier and more personalised experiences.
Sainethra Hariharan, Research Analyst – Beauty, Personal Care and Household – India
Market Definitions
For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definition.
- Hair colourants refer to all products that are used to colour the hair at home or a salon, ie permanent or semi-permanent hair colours, temporary hair colours, colour-enhancing shampoos and hair cosmetics (eg hair mascara).
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