Preliminary Evaluation of the Appropriateness of the Label on Haircare Cosmetic Products in Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Background: Haircare products have gained immense significance, transcending mere aesthetics into essential components of holistic self-care routines in today's beauty-conscious world. The importance of these products lies not only in enhancing hair's appearance but also in promoting overall scalp health and addressing specific concerns such as dandruff, dryness, and damage. Hence, choosing the greatest hair cosmetics is crucial, and one of the key factors influencing a customer's decision to purchase such goods is the cosmetic label. Objective: To evaluate the comprehensiveness of the information provided on the labels of haircare cosmetic products in Sri Lanka Methods: In this preliminary study, hundred haircare cosmetic products: hair oil, shampoo, hair conditioner, hair gel, hair cream, hair spray, hair colour and hair serum were randomly selected as test samples from the supermarkets in the Western province according to the convenient sampling method, from January to April 2024. The product's name, brand name, manufacturer details, country, manufactured and expired dates, shelf life, volume or weight, price, directions, contact information, hair types, pH value, ingredients, storage conditions, precaution details and presence of symbols were recorded. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016. Results: All the analysed product labels contained details of product name, brand name, price, manufacture and expired dates. Although, different hair types often require different hair cosmetics to address their specific needs effectively, only 41% of products mention the hair type in their label. Also, 57% of products’ labels contain special precautions such as external use only and avoiding contact with eyes, in case of irritation or allergy discontinuing use etc. However, only 43% of products contained those in three languages. Conclusions: Although all tested haircare cosmetic products contained details about product name, brand name, price, manufacture and expired dates, not all selected products showed details on special precautions, warning statements, and instructions on the use. Hence, it is recommended that the label contents of haircare cosmetics be improved to ensure that consumers have access to comprehensive information.