How to Start a Hair Relaxer Business

There are lots of profitable beauty hair care products to consider as an investor. They offer small entrepreneurs a good source of income if properly established.

The hair product industry is huge and there are many players. To venture into this industry you will compete with multinational companies with huge budgets for research, promotions and marketing.

Such companies have established brand names popular with shoppers. To break into this industry you need lots of innovation, quality products, networking and marketing.

Before you start your business you need to focus on a niche market. Beauty products business has many niche markets so narrowing the field provides opportunity for specialization.

You don’t have to dominate the industry only your chosen niche. A highly profitable niche in the beauty product industry is hair relaxer business.

You can become very successful and rich manufacturing your own hair relaxers or selling established brands. Hair relaxers are specially formulated creams/shampoos made to soften hair.

The function of a relaxer is to allow easy styling or plating of hair. The hair relaxer softens tough nuts and lumpy hair making it easy to manage.

 Although Caucasians have their own brand of hair relaxers, women of color use more of the product. Manufacturing the product is more capital intensive than operating a wholesale or retail venture.

To launch the enterprise you need startup capital, factory, storefront, machinery and labor. Other things involve company incorporation, registration, brand awareness and marketing.

Types of Beauty Hair Care Products

Beauty hair care products business is very popular worldwide. The trillion dollar industry is very competitive and there is a whole range of products.

Top on the list are hair shampoos, hair styling gels, hair conditioners, hair treatment lotions. You have bar soaps, hair dyes, hair growth solutions and hair relaxer.

• Hair shampoo
• Hair styling gel
• Hair conditioners
• Hair treatment lotion
• Bar soaps
• Hair creams
• Hair dyes
• Hair growth solution
• Hair relaxer.

Write a Hair Relaxer Business Plan

Before establishing your business, write a hair relaxer business plan. The plan should focus on the business model, type of product, management team and funding.

Other requirements are sourcing raw materials, equipment, marketing, profit/loss accounting. 

Production of wigs, weaves and hair extensions

Carry out a Feasibility Study

The feasibility study should focus on competitors, product development, best location and pricing. The price of your product should be competitive to attract patronage. Find a good location for the business close to raw materials or customers.

Choose the Hair Care Business

You could decide to start the business as a wholesaler or retailer. If you are interested in the manufacturing end of the business then learn how to produce hair care products.

Your products should be high quality and well researched. You need a national drug administration number and approval to sell the product. Certification and extensive testing is mandatory.

Registration and Licensing

As a manufacturer your hair care product needs proper packaging and labeling. Labeling requirements are date of manufacture, ingredients, best before and expiring date.

The product name and company name/address should be included in the print. You need a NAFDAC number and license.

Other licenses are manufacturing certification, trade license and company incorporation. Register the business as a limited liability company and get insurance cover.

You need a tax identification number and your product is subject to value added tax. You should put in place a good waste management system. There are also safety provisions to guide the enterprise.

Wholesale and Retail Hair Care Products

If you decide to sell hair care products wholesale or retail you need a store. Lease a store in a popular area with heavy human and vehicular traffic.

Good locations are shopping malls, supermarkets and shopping centers. Choose to stock only quality products with high reputation and brand names.

You need to have a beautiful display for the products including proper inventory management. Wholesalers require very little marketing because the top manufacturers provide lots of marketing tools. You only need to promote your store as a brand to customers.

Formulation Chemicals in Hair Relaxers

It is best locating your factory close to source of raw materials. This effectively reduces transportation costs, labor and handling.

There are many chemicals that go into the formulation of hair relaxers. The formulation depends on the manufacturer.

Common chemicals include caustic soda, lanolin, Acetyl alcohol and Petroleum jelly. Others are De-ionized water, Butyl Paraben, Dehydrated wax, Stearic acid and Mineral oil.

• Caustic soda
• Lanolin
• Acetyl alcohol
• Petroleum jelly
• De-ionized water
• Butyl Paraben
• Dehydrated wax
• Stearic acid
• Mineral oil.

Purchase Equipment

You need equipment for your store, office or factory. Purchase the necessary manufacturing equipment and hire experienced machine operators.

The production line could be manual, semi-automated or fully- automated. You could use locally fabricated equipment or buy branded equipment. You should buy a truck to transport both raw materials and finished products.