The journey from a liquid concept to a bottled product on a shelf usually takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months, depending on whether you are using a “ready-to-go” base or developing a custom formula from scratch.
Here is the typical roadmap for the shampoo OEM process:
Phase 1: Consultation & Concept
Everything starts with a “Product Brief.” You’ll meet with the manufacturer to define the soul of your product.
- Target Audience: Is this for professional salons, anti-dandruff needs, or a luxury “clean beauty” niche?
- Key Claims: Sulfate-free, vegan, color-protecting, or hair-growth focused?
- Budgeting: Establishing the target cost per unit, which dictates the quality of surfactants and active ingredients used.
Phase 2: R&D and Sampling
This is the “trial and error” phase where the chemistry happens.
- Formulation: Chemists create a prototype based on your brief.
- First Samples: The factory sends you small lab samples (usually 50ml–100ml).
- Feedback Loop: You test the scent, lather (foam density), and “slip” (how it feels on the hair). You might request a thicker consistency or a more subtle fragrance.
- Final Approval: Once you are happy, you sign off on the “Gold Standard” sample.
Phase 3: Testing & Compliance
Before mass production, the formula must be proven safe and stable.
- Stability Testing: The shampoo is placed in “ovens” to simulate 1–3 years of aging to ensure it doesn’t separate or change color.
- Preservative Efficacy Testing (PET): Ensuring the product won’t grow mold or bacteria once the consumer opens the bottle.
- Regulatory Filing: Gathering the INCI (ingredient list) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for legal sale in your region.
Phase 4: Packaging and Design
While the formula is being tested, you finalize the “outfit.”
- Sourcing: Selecting bottles, pumps, and caps.
- Artwork: Designing the labels or silk-screening.
- Compatibility: A crucial sub-step where the factory ensures your specific shampoo doesn’t “eat through” the label adhesive or cause the bottle to collapse (panelling).
Phase 5: Mass Production
Once the paperwork is done, the factory moves to the big tanks.
- Raw Material Procurement: Sourcing bulk ingredients.
- Compounding: Mixing ingredients in large high-shear tanks. For shampoo, the order of addition is vital to ensure a clear, viscous liquid.
- Filling & Capping: Automated lines fill the bottles, apply the pumps, and seal them.
- Coding: Batch numbers and expiration dates are laser-printed onto the containers.
Phase 6: Quality Control (QC) & Shipping
- Final Inspection: The QC team checks a random percentage of the finished goods for leaks, correct weight, and label alignment.
- Logistics: The goods are palletized and shipped to your warehouse or a fulfillment center.
Summary Timeline
| Stage | Estimated Duration |
| Consultation & Sampling | 2–4 Weeks |
| Stability & Micro Testing | 4–8 Weeks |
| Packaging Production | 3–5 Weeks |
| Mass Production & QC | 2–4 Weeks |
