Private Label Hair Care Manufacturer. Treatment-First, Chemist-Led.
Hair oils, scalp serums, scrubs, conditioners, and styling products — formulated and produced in Chicago by a degreed cosmetic chemist with 10+ years across retail and indie beauty.
Treatment chemistry, not commodity shampoo.
Hair and scalp is where the category is moving — away from commodity rinse-and-repeat toward treatment-grade scalp serums, bond repair systems, and active-loaded oils. The formulation work behind those products is closer to skincare chemistry than traditional hair care manufacturing. That is where Formula 117 sits.
As a private label hair care manufacturer with a degreed cosmetic chemist running the bench, the focus is on the treatment side of the category: scalp serums that deliver actives to follicle-level targets, oil blends with controlled absorption profiles, conditioners engineered around specific damage repair mechanisms. Not bulk shampoo and generic conditioner.
Whether you are developing a custom formula development scalp treatment line, bringing your own hair oil formula for production, or launching from a private label starting point, every SKU runs through the same chemist-led process: formulation, stability, pilot validation, production.
Five hair and scalp categories, treatment-first.
Anhydrous oil blends — lightweight scalp oils, pre-wash treatments, finishing oils. Blend ratios tuned for absorption rate, weight, and finish. Oxidative stability protocols for shelf life without preservatives.
Water-based and hybrid serums targeting scalp health — follicle stimulation, sebum regulation, exfoliation actives. Lightweight textures engineered for application at the root without residue.
Physical and chemical scalp exfoliants. Particle size selection, suspension stability, and surfactant balance. Designed to clear buildup without stripping the scalp's moisture barrier.
Rinse-out conditioners, deep conditioning masks, leave-in treatments. Cationic systems matched to damage profile — heat, chemical, mechanical. Bond-repair and protein-reconstruction approaches.
What we can build.
Common questions.
What types of hair care products can Formula 117 manufacture?+
Five categories: oils, scalp serums, scrubs, conditioners, and styling products. Within those, the formulation range covers anhydrous oil blends, water-based scalp treatments, cationic conditioner systems, physical and chemical exfoliants, and styling products from lightweight creams to strong-hold gels. Each formulation is built against a brand brief.
How is hair care contract manufacturing different from skincare?+
Overlapping chemistry, different application targets. Hair and scalp formulation deals with cationic deposition (how conditioners bind to damaged hair), surfactant mildness (how cleansers interact with the scalp), and delivery to follicle-level targets (how scalp serums penetrate). The emulsion and active-integration skills transfer from skincare, but the performance targets and testing protocols are hair-specific.
What is the MOQ for private label hair care manufacturing?+
500 units per SKU across all hair and scalp categories. Per-unit manufacturing pricing settles at $2–$3+ once volumes reach 2,500–5,000 units. Custom formulation is project-quoted. Private label and BYOF paths price per unit because the formulation is already settled.
Can I develop a scalp treatment line as a custom formula?+
Yes. Custom formula development for scalp treatments follows the standard 19–30 week timeline: concept, formulation, 12-week stability protocol, and production. Scalp-specific considerations — pH targeting, active penetration, sensorial weight on the scalp, fragrance restrictions — are addressed during the formulation phase by the chemist.
Do you manufacture sulfate-free and silicone-free hair products?+
Yes. Surfactant and conditioning system selection is part of the formulation brief. Sulfate-free cleansers use mild surfactant blends (glucosides, amino acid-based, betaine systems). Silicone-free conditioners use alternative slip and detangling agents. Clean-standard compliance (EWG, Credo, retailer-specific lists) is handled during ingredient sourcing.
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