Overview

The China Hair Perming Products Market was valued at USD 220 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 314 million by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period (2026–2034). The market is driven by rising beauty consciousness, growing salon services, and increasing demand for at-home hair styling products. The market is shifting from traditional cold wave (alkaline) formulations toward digital and thermal perm systems that use heat-assisted styling tools alongside lower-ammonia or ammonia-free lotions, a trend reinforced by rising consumer awareness of scalp and hair-fiber safety and by growing salon adoption of Korean and Japanese-influenced digital perm techniques. Government initiatives have directly reshaped this category more than most adjacent cosmetics segments: China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) have used hair perming products as an early pilot category for both animal-testing-reduction reform and, the country's first dedicated technical and quality-control guidelines specific to hair perming cosmetics, formalizing a regulatory pathway that previously relied on general special-cosmetics rules. East China is the dominating region, reflecting the concentration of salon density and beauty-conscious consumer spending across Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. South China is the fastest-growing region, anchored by Guangdong province's position as China's principal manufacturing base for hair perming chemical formulations.

Market Size & Share

Market Dynamics

KEY MARKET TREND:

Shift Toward Digital and Thermal Perm Systems Emerging as a Transformational Trend

• Salons across major Chinese cities are increasingly offering digital and thermal perm services, which use heated rods or clips alongside specialized lotions to create more precise, longer-lasting curl patterns than traditional cold wave methods.
• Consumer preference is shifting toward temporary or reversible texture changes rather than permanent alteration, with social media platforms amplifying demand for frequently-changed hairstyles over a single long-term look.
• Manufacturers are reformulating perm lotions around lower-ammonia and plant-derived conditioning actives in response to rising consumer scrutiny of chemical ingredient safety in salon treatments.
• Guangdong-based manufacturers, which supply a large share of China's cold wave and digital perm lotion production, are increasingly offering triple-action formulations that combine curling agents with amino-acid and protein-based repair actives to differentiate on hair-condition outcomes rather than curl strength alone.

KEY MARKET DRIVER

Rising Salon Culture and Beauty Consumption Among Younger Chinese Consumers is the Key Driver

• Growing disposable income and urbanization continue to expand the base of consumers who visit professional salons regularly, directly increasing the volume of professional-channel perm services and the perm lotions and fixatives that support them.
• Rising influence of Korean and Japanese beauty trends on Chinese consumers has normalized more frequent hairstyle changes, including digital perms, among younger urban demographics.
• Growth of livestream and short-video beauty content has accelerated awareness and adoption of new perm styles and at-home perm kits among consumers who previously relied solely on salon visits.
• China’s per-capita consumption expenditure rose 5.3% to approximately USD 3,965, while spending on miscellaneous goods and services increased 10.8%, supporting rising consumer spending on personal-care and hair-beauty products, including hair perming products.

KEY MARKET OPPORTUNITY

Regulatory Modernization Creating Significant Market Opportunity for Compliant Manufacturers

• China's continuing modernization of its cosmetics registration pathway is gradually reducing compliance friction for manufacturers with strong existing quality-management-system credentials, favoring established, properly-registered perm product manufacturers over informal or unregistered competitors.
• China's continued classification of hair perming products as a special cosmetic requiring registration, even as several adjacent categories were reclassified toward lighter-touch general-cosmetics status, preserves a defined, less-crowded regulatory lane for established, properly-registered perm product manufacturers relative to more loosely regulated adjacent categories.
• Growing home-use and DIY perm kit demand, evidenced by the proliferation of small and mid-sized manufacturers marketing direct-to-consumer perm lotion kits through cross-border e-commerce platforms, creates an opening for brands able to simplify professional-grade formulations for safe home application.
• The proliferation of small and mid-sized Guangdong-based manufacturers marketing direct-to-consumer perm lotion kits through cross-border and domestic e-commerce platforms illustrates the low barrier to entry for new formulators able to meet NMPA registration requirements and reach consumers directly, creating an opening for both new domestic entrants and multinational challenger brands.

China Hair Perming Products Market Size, 2025-2034 (USD Million)

Segmentation Analysis

Analysis by Product Type

Alkaline perm lotion held the largest market share in 2025, supported by its established use in professional perming, faster processing, strong performance on normal-to-resistant hair, and broad availability among Chinese suppliers. Its cost efficiency and compatibility with conventional cold-wave applications further reinforce its position as the leading product category, while continued demand for salon-based hair styling supports its volume and revenue leadership.

Digital and thermal perm solutions are projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by rising salon adoption of heat-assisted perming techniques that produce more precise, longer-lasting curl definition than traditional cold wave methods. Growing consumer willingness to pay a premium for digital perm services in higher-tier Chinese cities, combined with the format's association with Korean- and Japanese-influenced styling trends, is lifting this segment's growth rate above the broader market.

Product Type categories include

              ·           Alkaline Perm Lotion (Dominating Segment)

              ·           Digital & Thermal Perm Solutions (Highest CAGR Segment)

              ·           Neutralizers & Fixatives

              ·           Acid Perm Solutions

              ·           Others

Analysis by Formulation

Cream and lotion formulations held the largest market share in 2025, supported by their convenient application, suitability for professional salon use, and compatibility with established hair-perming techniques. Their widespread use across conventional perming procedures and broad availability through beauty-product distribution channels reinforce their position as the leading formulation format in China. The continued scale of China’s cosmetics industry also supports demand for established, easy-to-use product formats.

Ammonia-free and low-chemical formulations are projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by increasing attention to cosmetic safety and tighter regulatory oversight of hair-perming products. China’s NMPA classifies hair-perming products as special cosmetics and places specific restrictions on commonly used perming ingredients, encouraging manufacturers to strengthen formulation safety and compliance. The NMPA is also promoting innovation in cosmetic ingredients and safety-assessment technologies, which can support the development of newer, lower-impact formulations.

Formulation categories include

              ·           Cream & Lotion (Dominating Segment)

              ·           Ammonia-Free & Low-Chemical Formulations (Highest CAGR Segment)

              ·           Gel

              ·           Others

Analysis by Distribution Channel

Professional Channel held the largest market share in 2025, supported by the continued role of trained stylists in applying hair-perming treatments, particularly procedures requiring controlled chemical application and specialized techniques. China’s NMPA classifies hair-perming cosmetics as special cosmetics subject to registration and requires beauty and hair salons to follow specific obligations when using or providing cosmetics, reinforcing the importance of professional channels in the market.

E-commerce channels are projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, supported by the increasing digitalization of cosmetics distribution and the expanding availability of beauty products through online platforms. China’s NMPA has strengthened oversight of online cosmetics distribution and placed greater responsibility on e-commerce platforms for product and seller management. These measures support a more structured digital retail environment for hair-perming and other beauty products.

Distribution Channel categories include

              ·           Professional Salon (Dominating Segment)

              ·           E-Commerce (Highest CAGR Segment)

              ·           Supermarkets & Hypermarkets

              ·           Specialist Retailers

Analysis by End User

Salon-professional use held the largest market share in 2025, supported by the continued role of trained stylists in applying chemical perming treatments and performing techniques that require controlled application and specialized equipment. China’s NMPA specifically places obligations on beauty and hair salons when they use or provide cosmetics during services, reinforcing the established role of professional salons in the hair-perming ecosystem.

Home use is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the rapid expansion of China’s online retail ecosystem and the increasing accessibility of beauty products through digital channels. The National Bureau of Statistics reported continued growth in online retail, while NMPA has introduced measures to strengthen the regulation and digital management of online cosmetics distribution, supporting a more structured environment for consumers purchasing beauty products for home use.

End User categories include

              ·           Salon-Professional Use (Dominating Segment)

              ·           Home Use (Highest CAGR Segment)

By Region

China Hair Perming Products Market Regional Analysis

China Hair Perming Products Market Share 2025, (CAGR)

North America

XX%

South America

XX%

Europe

XX%

Middle East Africa

XX%

Asia Pacific

XX%

Regional Analysis

East China held the largest market share in 2025, supported by the region’s concentration of urban consumers, established beauty-service infrastructure, and strong presence of professional salons across Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. The region’s developed cosmetics and personal-care ecosystem, combined with the presence of domestic and international beauty brands and sophisticated distribution networks, supports sustained demand for hair-perming products. A broad base of professional salons and beauty-service providers also enables greater adoption of both conventional and advanced perming techniques, reinforcing East China’s position as a major center of category activity.

South China is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by its large consumer base, expanding beauty-service industry, and well-developed cosmetics manufacturing and distribution ecosystem, particularly in Guangdong. The region benefits from strong commercial activity, extensive retail and e-commerce networks, and close integration with major domestic and international consumer markets. Growing consumer interest in personal grooming and evolving hair-styling preferences are expected to encourage wider adoption of hair-perming products, while the region’s established manufacturing capabilities can facilitate product availability and faster market expansion.

Regions Covered

              ·           East China

              ·           South China

              ·           North China

              ·           Central China

              ·           Western China 

Market Share

The China Hair Perming Products Market is fragmented, with global personal care conglomerates L'Oréal, Kao, Shiseido, Henkel, Unilever, and Coty competing alongside professional-salon-focused specialists Milbon and Wella, and a large base of small and mid-sized domestic manufacturers, many concentrated in Guangdong province, that supply both branded and private-label cold wave and digital perm lotions. Key success factors include NMPA special-cosmetics registration compliance, salon-channel distribution relationships, and, increasingly, the ability to formulate around lower-ammonia and novel approved actives as consumer safety scrutiny rises. Domestic conglomerates including Shanghai Jahwa and Proya are directing growing investment toward hair care as a category viewed as underdeveloped relative to skincare, while specialty ingredient suppliers such as Croda continue to support formulation innovation across both multinational and domestic manufacturer customers. China's dense, Guangdong-centered manufacturing base gives domestic suppliers a structural cost advantage in commodity-tier cold wave lotion, while multinational and professional-salon-specialist brands compete more heavily on premium digital and thermal perm formulations distributed through higher-tier salon networks.

Key Players

              ·           L'Oréal S.A. (France)

              ·           Kao Corporation (Japan)

              ·           Shiseido Company, Limited (Japan)

              ·           Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany)

              ·           Milbon Co., Ltd. (Japan)

              ·           Wella Company (Germany)

              ·           Guangzhou Chaoba Hair Care Goods Co., Ltd. (China)

              ·           Zhaoqing Kaijoe Technology Co., Ltd. (China)

              ·           Guangdong Yuemeidi Cosmetics Co., Ltd. (China)

              ·           Guangdong Boda Cosmetics Co., Ltd. (China)

              ·           Guangzhou Mingkou Cosmetic Co., Ltd. (China)

              ·           Guangzhou SLUJ Special Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)

              ·           Foshan Gewei Cosmetics Co., Ltd (China)

              ·           Guangzhou Kingzunrong Cosmetics Co., Ltd (China)

              ·           Famo Kemei Innovation (Guangdong) Cosmetics Co., Ltd (China)

Recent Market Developments

• May 2025: Kao China launched the new Liese Foam Hair Color range specifically for mainland China, expanding its localized hair-treatment portfolio and strengthening its position in China's professional and consumer hair-care market, which supports broader demand for chemical hair-treatment products, including hair perming.
• March 2025: Henkel launched its new Consumer Brands China factory in Taicang, expanding local production capacity for hair-care brands such as Schwarzkopf and strengthening its manufacturing and supply-chain presence in China. This supports the company's ability to serve China's growing professional hair-care and hair-perming market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Questions Answered

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