Australia Hair Care Market Trends and Insights
Rising focus on scalp wellness and holistic hair care routines
The concept of "skinification" in hair care, applying the same level of care to the scalp as to facial skin, is transforming product formulations and consumer habits. Brands are increasingly emphasizing scalp serums, exfoliants, and microbiome-balancing treatments as essential components of hair care routines rather than optional extras. For example, in October 2025, Kadūra Beauty, a Sydney-based company, entered the Australian haircare market with a clean, botanical-focused product line aimed at health-conscious consumers. The vegan, pH-balanced formulations are free from silicones, sulphates, and microplastics, combining native botanicals such as Guarana, Kakadu Plum, and Lemon Peel Oil with proven active ingredients to deliver salon-quality results. The product range includes Shea Sanctuary Conditioner, Root Revival Shampoo, Deep Clean Scalp Scrub, Root Revival Scalp Serum, Hydra Bomb Hair Mask, and Botanical Hair Perfume Oil, all designed to balance performance with eco-responsibility. This trend is not limited to premium brands; mass-market players are also adopting scalp-focused messaging to justify higher price points and stand out in the competitive shampoo and conditioner market. Additionally, the shift is influencing hair styling products, as consumers increasingly prefer lightweight, non-comedogenic formulations that avoid clogging hair follicles.Ageing consumers driving demand for anti-hair-fall and coloring products
Australia's ageing population is increasingly influencing hair care purchasing patterns, driving demand for anti-hair-fall treatments and hair coloring products designed to support a youthful appearance. Older consumers often face issues such as thinning hair, greying, and reduced hair density, prompting the use of strengthening shampoos, scalp tonics, and gentle dyes tailored for sensitive scalps. In response, brands are focusing on mild, nourishing formulations that offer conditioning and coverage benefits, moving beyond purely cosmetic coloring. This demographic trend is notable: as per the World Bank Group, Australia had 4,821,999 individuals aged 65 and above in 2024, expanding the key consumer base for restorative and appearance-enhancing hair care products.Concerns about harmful effects of synthetic ingredients
Consumer concerns regarding formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, parabens, sulfates, and silicones limit formulation flexibility and compel brands to reformulate to remain competitive. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates cosmetics under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, while the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) evaluates chemical safety, creating a dual compliance requirement. Additionally, the Consumer Goods (Cosmetics) Information Standard 2020 mandates full ingredient disclosure, enabling consumers to closely examine formulations and increasing scrutiny of controversial ingredients. This regulatory and consumer-driven environment presents challenges for brands. Reformulating to exclude synthetic ingredients often raises costs and may compromise performance attributes such as lather, preservation, or sensory experience. On the other hand, retaining legacy formulations risks reputational harm and potential market share loss to clean-beauty competitors. These pressures are particularly significant for mass-market brands that rely on cost-effective synthetic ingredients, constraining their volume growth and driving defensive innovation strategies.Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
- Shift toward sustainable products and eco-friendly packaging
- Expansion of the men’s grooming category
- Strict safety standards and regulatory requirements
Segment Analysis
In 2025, conditioners accounted for 35.94% of the product-type market share, making it the largest segment. This dominance is attributed to growing consumer awareness of the importance of conditioning for hair health and manageability. Shampoos, while essential, face increasing competition from low-poo and no-poo trends that promote reduced wash frequency, thereby limiting their growth potential. Hair colorants benefit from dual demand, older consumers seeking gray coverage and younger consumers experimenting with fashion shades. However, the segment faces margin pressures due to advancements in at-home color products, which are narrowing the performance gap with salon services.Hair styling products, projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.01% through 2031, represent the fastest-growing segment. This growth is driven by the flexibility of work-from-home arrangements, which encourage styling experimentation, and the influence of social media on appearance standards. Additionally, styling products enjoy higher per-unit margins compared to shampoos and conditioners, as they are perceived as discretionary enhancements rather than essential commodities. This perception enables brands to charge premium prices for products such as texturizing sprays, heat protectants, and finishing serums.
Conventional products accounted for 83.74% of the market share in 2025, driven by established consumer preferences, price sensitivity, and the performance benefits of synthetic ingredients in areas such as lathering, preservation, and sensory attributes. In contrast, organic formulations are projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.64% through 2031, supported by the increasing popularity of clean-beauty trends and third-party certification programs like ACO and COSMOS. This growth is primarily concentrated in premium and specialty channels, where consumers are willing to pay higher prices for perceived health and environmental advantages.
Conventional brands are adopting strategies such as launching "clean" sub-brands or reformulating key products to exclude controversial ingredients, thereby blurring the lines between conventional and organic categories. This dual-brand approach enables established players to maintain market share across different price segments without cannibalizing their existing product lines. The organic category's growth is further supported by regulatory developments, such as Australia's alignment with international organic standards, which facilitates imports and exports and allows niche brands to expand regionally.
Complete Report Scope:
- By Product Type
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Hair Colorants
- Hair Styling Products
- Other Hair Care Products
- By Category
- Organic
- Conventional
- By Price Range
- Mass
- Luxury/Premium
- By Distribution Channel
- Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
- Convenience/Grocery Stores
- Health and Wellness Stores
- Online Retail Stores
- Other Distribution Channels
List of Companies Covered in this Report:
- The Procter & Gamble Company
- Unilever PLC
- Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
- L'Oreal SA
- L'Occitane SA
- Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.
- Kao Corporation
- Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Coty Inc.
- Revlon Inc.
- Amway Corp.
- Nak Hair
- Muk Haircare
- Kevin Murphy
- Shiseido Co., Ltd
- EVO Hair
- Jurlique International Pty Ltd
- Sukin Naturals
- OC Naturals
- Eleven Australia
Additional Benefits:
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support
Table of Contents
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- The Procter & Gamble Company
- Unilever PLC
- Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
- L'Oreal SA
- L'Occitane SA
- Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.
- Kao Corporation
- Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Coty Inc.
- Revlon Inc.
- Amway Corp.
- Nak Hair
- Muk Haircare
- Kevin Murphy
- Shiseido Co., Ltd
- EVO Hair
- Jurlique International Pty Ltd
- Sukin Naturals
- OC Naturals
- Eleven Australia

