Anti-dandruff shampoo searches have grown fivefold, hair-oil searches have more than doubled and rosemary launches are crowding NPRA’s register. What Malaysian shoppers want from anti-hair-fall and scalp products in 2027 — and what a cosmetic may claim.
Disclosure: This article is published by ORIZI Group and may refer to our own manufacturing experience, services and capabilities. External factual claims are supported by cited sources.
Key takeaways
- Scalp problems lead demand. “Anti dandruff shampoo” grew 408% and “medicated dandruff shampoo” 2,011% year on year (Keyword Planner, Malaysia, July 2025–June 2026).
- Oils are rising faster than shampoos. “Hair growth oil” +125%, “rosemary oil for hair growth” +84% and “castor oil for hair growth” +133%.
- Men and mothers are named buyers. In Google Malaysia suggestions, “men” appears 44 times and “lelaki” 17; “selepas bersalin” 16 and “postpartum” 14.
- Launches are concentrating on rosemary. 73% of active rosemary hair notifications on NPRA’s register carry 2025–2026 numbers, against 57.5% for all cosmetics; dandruff-named products sit below average at 50%.
- “Anti-hair fall” is an accepted cosmetic claim in Malaysia; “stimulates hair growth” is not.
What does this report cover?
This report covers cosmetic hair-fall and scalp products: anti-hair-fall and anti-dandruff shampoos, scalp tonics and serums, hair and scalp oils, and men’s scalp care. It draws on Google Keyword Planner (Malaysia, 2,639 keywords, average monthly searches July 2025–June 2026), 1,433 Google Malaysia search suggestions and a Lazada listing review (both 9 October 2026), and active notifications on NPRA’s Quest3+ register captured 3–5 September 2026. Brands are not named.
Two definitions matter. Hair fall, in cosmetic terms, is shedding caused by physical factors such as breakage — the meaning NPRA attaches to an “anti-hair fall” claim. A scalp tonic is a light, leave-on liquid applied directly to the scalp by nozzle, dropper or spray.
Which hair-fall and scalp products are Malaysians searching for?
| Search term (Malaysia) | Average monthly searches | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| dandruff | 3,600 | −19% |
| anti dandruff shampoo | 2,900 | +408% |
| hair growth serum | 1,600 | +23% |
| medicated dandruff shampoo | 880 | +2,011% |
| shampoo for hair loss | 720 | 0% (three-month change +22%) |
| hair growth oil | 590 | +125% |
| rosemary oil for hair growth | 480 | +84% |
| anti hair fall shampoo | 390 | −18% |
| castor oil for hair growth | 210 | +133% |
| scalp oil | 210 | +24% (three-month change +86%) |
| anti dandruff shampoo for men | 170 | +320% |
| scalp serum | 170 | +21% |
| medicated shampoo for itchy scalp | 110 | +1,300% |
Itch and flakes are the hottest problem, oils for fuller hair are rising, and generic “hair loss shampoo” searches are flat. Across the whole hair-loss and scalp keyword cluster, searches in January–June 2026 were 16.5% higher than in July–December 2025.
Search suggestions show who is buying: men and new mothers are named directly, “watson” appears in 23 suggestions as the reference shelf, and shoppers ask for proof with phrases like “paling berkesan” and “does it work”.
Which formats and price points sell?
Malaysian shoppers buy herbal and affordable. Our review of Lazada Malaysia listings on 9 October 2026 gives this price ladder:
| Format | Mass and imported tier | Range for a new local brand | Winning pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-hair-fall or anti-dandruff shampoo | RM6–16 | RM24–39 | 500 ml pump, often sold as a 2-pack |
| Hair or scalp tonic | RM14–18 | RM25–35 for 100 ml | Nozzle or fine spray |
| Hair or scalp oil | RM4–7 | RM19–35 | 50–120 ml with dropper or roller-comb |
| Shampoo and tonic duo | — | RM59–69 (ORIZI estimate) | Gift-boxed set |
TikTok Shop confirms the direction. A ginseng and fleeceflower anti-hair-loss shampoo ranked 29th among TikTok Shop affiliate products in Malaysia in June 2026 (Involve Asia), and a hair-care essential-oil spray was one of Malaysia’s top five TikTok Shop products in March 2025 with 442,800 units sold (EchoTik).
The hero ingredients on Malaysian listings are ginger, rosemary, ginseng with fleeceflower, caffeine, local oils such as kemiri (candlenut) and castor, and panthenol. Patented premium hair actives did not appear in our Malaysian keyword set at all.
What is rising outside Malaysia?
The direction is global. Circana reports that hair was the fastest-growing US prestige category in 2025 and that scalp care posted its third consecutive year of double-digit growth. Spate’s 2026 predictions give onion shampoo +43.5% and hair growth +37.2% predicted growth, and note a shift of attention to the scalp. In China, online sales of men’s scalp care rose 258.5% in 2025 and men’s shampoo 202.4%, according to third-party data reported by TMTPost.
What can a cosmetic hair-fall product claim in Malaysia?
NPRA’s Guideline for Cosmetic Claims gives the working vocabulary:
| Acceptable for a cosmetic | Not acceptable for a cosmetic |
|---|---|
| Control, reduce or prevent dandruff | Permanently eliminates dandruff |
| Anti-hair loss or anti-hair fall (due to physical factors such as breakage) | Hair loss can be arrested or reversed |
| Helps strengthen or nourish the hair root and follicle | Restores hair cells; stimulates or promotes hair growth |
| Increases hair volume (physical effect) | Hereditary or hormonal hair loss, alopecia, prevents grey hair |
Product names follow the same line: “Hair Growth” and “Alopecia” are listed as non-permissible names for cosmetics in NPRA’s product-name annex. For anti-dandruff formulas, the ASEAN annexes published by NPRA allow zinc pyrithione at up to 1.0% in rinse-off hair products and 0.1% in leave-on hair products (Annex III, release 2026-1).
Registration category: anti-hair-fall shampoos, tonics, serums and scalp oils are notified cosmetics in Malaysia. A product built around hair-growth or alopecia claims is assessed outside cosmetic notification, as a registered product.
Which hair-fall and scalp products should a brand launch in 2027?
Retail prices are ORIZI estimates.
| Concept | Format | Suggested retail | Hero ingredients | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger + rosemary anti-hair-fall and anti-dandruff shampoo | 500 ml pump, 2-pack option | RM24.90 (2 for RM45) | Ginger root, rosemary, caffeine, piroctone olamine, panthenol | “anti dandruff shampoo” +408%; ginger leads Lazada listings |
| Rosemary-kemiri scalp oil | 60 ml dropper or roller-comb | RM29.90 | Rosemary, kemiri, castor, peppermint | “hair growth oil” +125%; rosemary launches well above register average |
| Men’s scalp duo | 300 ml oil-control shampoo + 100 ml caffeine scalp tonic | RM59–69 | Caffeine, menthol, niacinamide, zinc PCA | “anti dandruff shampoo for men” +320%; men’s scalp care growth in China |
| Hijab scalp-care set | Low-residue scalp-refresh shampoo + 50 ml cooling scalp and hijab mist | RM35–45 | Tea tree, menthol, zinc PCA, ginseng, black seed | Scalp freshness under a headscarf; halal-focused channels |
| Mama hair-fall care | Sulfate-free 300 ml shampoo + 50 ml root serum | RM39–49 per set | Ginseng, fleeceflower, rice water, panthenol | “rambut gugur selepas bersalin” and “postpartum” suggestions |
For the men’s duo, our overview of men’s grooming products in Malaysia covers the wider category; for the hijab set, our guide to halal cosmetics certification explains what halal-focused retailers check. For the mama range, the American Academy of Dermatology describes post-pregnancy shedding as temporary telogen effluvium, with most women back to normal fullness by their child’s first birthday — so the product’s job is gentle care and fuller-looking hair during that period.
How do ORIZI’s service routes fit a scalp range?
| Route | What it means | Fits which plan |
|---|---|---|
| Private label: Ready2Brand (R2B) | Ready products under your brand, such as 300 ml shampoos, 100 ml tonics and a 50 ml root serum; pilots from 50 units for eligible formats, packages from about RM3,000, around 1–2 weeks | Testing a shampoo-and-tonic duo |
| ODM: Ready Formulas | 48 hair-care formulas listed in October 2026, including 18 shampoos and 17 hair serums and oils, among them ginger anti-hair-fall and piroctone olamine anti-dandruff shampoos | A full scalp range on proven bases |
| Custom OEM: OEM2YOU | A formula developed around your hero ingredient and claim | A differentiated active story |
| Contract filling | You supply the formula; we fill and pack | Brands with their own formula |
Oils, tonics and serums are covered on our hair serum and oil manufacturing page.
How should a brand build a 2027 scalp range?
- Choose one problem pair. Dandruff with hair fall is a pairing shoppers already type, as in “anti dandruff and hair fall shampoo”.
- Decide rinse-off or leave-on first. It changes formula, claims and packaging; see why a scalp serum brief often becomes two products.
- Write the claims sheet before the formula. Use NPRA’s acceptable wording from day one.
- Pick one hero ingredient that shoppers already search for: ginger, rosemary, ginseng or caffeine.
- Plan substantiation. A breakage or combing test, or a consumer in-use study, answers “does it work?”
- Notify every variant on Quest3+ before sale; the fee is RM50 per product or variant (NPRA).
- Launch as a duo to lift order value.
ORIZI perspective: where the gap is
Comparing search with the register is revealing. Of 583 active cosmetic notifications with “dandruff” or “kelemumur” in the name, 50% carry 2025–2026 numbers — below the 57.5% average for all cosmetics — while dandruff searches rose fastest. Rosemary hair products show the opposite: 121 active notifications, 73% of them recent. On the evidence, a well-made anti-dandruff and anti-hair-fall shampoo is the less crowded launch for 2027.
In the scalp briefs we handle, the decision that costs most when it moves late is the claim wording, so we settle the exact pack sentences against NPRA’s guideline while the formula is still open. Dr Orizi (M) Sdn. Bhd. is listed as manufacturer on 19 active hair and scalp notifications for client brands, including scalp tonics, scalp serums, shampoos and hair oils, made under NPRA cosmetic GMP (since 2024) and ISO 22716 (since 2022) in a JAKIM-certified facility (Halal since 2015). The register comparison counts product names only; it does not measure sales.
Risks, limitations and common mistakes
- Growth claims and medicinal actives. “Stimulates hair growth”, a “Hair Growth” product name or a medicinal hair-loss active takes a product out of cosmetics. Use “anti-hair fall”, “strengthens hair roots” and “fuller-looking hair”.
- Competing on price. Imported 500 ml ginger shampoos sell at RM6–16; a notified, JAKIM-facility product competes on trust and proof at RM24–39.
- Data limits. Lazada “sold” counts are cumulative; Keyword Planner under-measures Malay and Chinese demand; register counts rely on product names. Refresh after three months.
FAQ
Which ingredients are trending in anti-hair-fall products in Malaysia?
Ginger, rosemary, ginseng with fleeceflower, caffeine and local oils such as kemiri and castor. Rosemary has the strongest momentum: “rosemary oil for hair growth” searches rose 84% year on year, and most rosemary hair notifications on NPRA’s register date from 2025–2026.
Can a shampoo claim to grow hair in Malaysia?
Not as a cosmetic. NPRA lists “stimulates or promotes hair growth” as unacceptable for cosmetics, while “anti-hair fall” (from breakage), “strengthens the hair root” and “increases hair volume” are acceptable.
When does postpartum hair loss stop?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, postpartum shedding is temporary, and most women regain normal fullness by their child’s first birthday. Gentle, volumising care helps hair look fuller in the meantime.
Is anti-dandruff shampoo a cosmetic in Malaysia?
Yes, when it claims to control, reduce or prevent dandruff. Zinc pyrithione is permitted at up to 1.0% in rinse-off hair products under the ASEAN annexes, and dermatologists list it among standard dandruff-shampoo ingredients (AAD).
What is the minimum order for a private-label anti-hair-fall shampoo?
Under ORIZI’s Ready2Brand programme, eligible shampoos, tonics and serums pilot from 50 units with packages from about RM3,000. Custom formulas are quoted per project.
Sources & references
- NPRA — Guideline for Cosmetic Claims (2022) — hair claims
- NPRA — Non-permissible product names — “Hair Growth” and “Alopecia”
- NPRA — ASEAN Cosmetic Directive Annex III (release 2026-1) — zinc pyrithione limits
- NPRA — Cosmetic notification — RM50 per product or variant
- NPRA — Quest3+ product search — active-notification counts
- American Academy of Dermatology — Hair loss in new moms — postpartum shedding
- American Academy of Dermatology — How to treat dandruff — dandruff-shampoo ingredients
- Circana — US beauty, full year 2025 — scalp care growth
- Spate — 2026 Predictions (via CEW) — hair trends
- TMTPost — China 2025 online beauty sub-categories — men’s scalp care +258.5%
- Involve Asia — TikTok Shop affiliate ranking, Malaysia (June 2026)
- EchoTik — TikTok Shop Q1 2025 report — Malaysia hair-oil spray units
- Google Ads Help — Use Keyword Planner
- ORIZI Group Market Research, October 2026 — Keyword Planner export, search-suggestion harvest, Lazada listing review and category scoring (internal data sets)
Update history: October 2026 — first published.
Building an anti-hair-fall or scalp range for 2027? Start from our OEM shampoo manufacturing page or send a short brief with your target problem, format and price point.
