Hair care has changed fast. Shampoo now comes as bars, hair oils are going viral for "growth", and dry shampoo has become a daily essential. Each of these trends brings regulatory questions of its own, from banned anti-dandruff ingredients to aerosol contamination and hair growth claims. Your Product Information File (PIF) is where you show all of it has been properly checked.
Our PIF for Hair Products covers solid shampoo bars, soap shampoos, liquid shampoos, conditioners and conditioner bars, hair masks, hair oils, scalp serums, leave-in treatments and dry shampoo. We prepare a complete, inspection-ready file that meets UK and EU cosmetic law, so your hair care range is ready for retailers, marketplaces and the authorities.
Why Hair Products Need a Specialist PIF
Every cosmetic sold in Great Britain or the EU needs a PIF under Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its UK equivalent. Hair products raise some very specific issues:
- Hair growth and hair loss claims. Rosemary oil, onion oil and other "growth" blends are hugely popular, but claims that a product grows hair or stops hair loss can make it a medicine. We help you find wording that's both compliant and persuasive.
- Banned anti-dandruff ingredients. Zinc pyrithione has been banned in cosmetics in the EU since March 2022. Other anti-dandruff actives like piroctone olamine and climbazole have strict limits. Older formulas often need updating.
- Dry shampoo and aerosols. Aerosol dry shampoos must meet aerosol dispenser rules, and propellants need to be checked for contaminants such as benzene, which has triggered major recalls. Inhaled powders also need assessing.
- Shampoo bars and soap shampoos. Solid formats use concentrated surfactants or high-pH soap, so eye irritation, scalp irritation and directions for use need careful review.
- Leave-on vs rinse-off. Conditioning agents and preservatives have different limits depending on whether a product is rinsed off or left in, so your file must be clear about how each product is used.
We cover all of this in one clear, organised file.
What's Included in Your Hair Products PIF
- Product description: product name, format (bar, liquid, oil, spray or powder), rinse-off or leave-on use, hair type and variants, clearly linked to each SKU.
- Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR): Parts A and B, cross-referenced from your safety assessment, including scalp, eye-contact and inhalation considerations.
- Restricted ingredient review: anti-dandruff actives, conditioning agents, preservatives and other Annex II, III and V substances checked against current limits.
- Essential oil and fragrance review: IFRA certificate, allergen breakdown and assessment of essential oils used in hair and scalp oils.
- Aerosol documentation: propellant purity, flammability and pressure information for dry shampoos and sprays.
- Microbiological and stability evidence: challenge test results for water-based shampoos and conditioners, or a justified rationale for anhydrous bars and oils.
- Manufacturing method and GMP statement: mixing, emulsifying, extruding, pressing and filling processes documented in line with ISO 22716.
- Claims substantiation: evidence behind wording like "strengthens hair", "reduces breakage", "anti-dandruff", "sulphate-free", "volumising", "frizz control" or "zero waste".
- Animal testing declaration: confirming testing status of the product and its ingredients under Article 18.
- One inspection-ready file held at your Responsible Person's address and easy to present on request.
Products Covered
- Solid shampoo bars and syndet shampoo bars
- Soap shampoos and cold-process shampoo bars
- Liquid shampoos, including anti-dandruff and children's shampoos
- Conditioners, conditioner bars and hair masks
- Hair oils, scalp oils and traditional herbal hair oils
- Scalp serums and leave-in treatments
- Dry shampoo (aerosol, powder and foam)
Selling styling products, hair colour or perms? Those have their own services: PIF for Hair Styling & Perms and PIF for Hair Colour & Bleach. Not sure where your product fits? Send us a message.
Who This Service Is For
Hair care brands launching shampoo and conditioner ranges. Zero-waste and plastic-free brands selling bars. Hair oil and scalp care brands, including traditional South Asian and herbal hair oil brands entering the UK or EU. Curly and textured hair brands. Private-label sellers, contract manufacturers and online sellers on Amazon, Etsy or TikTok Shop who need a PIF to list their products. If your hair product is sold in Great Britain or Europe, this file is a legal requirement, and we make it straightforward.
How It Works
- Place your order and choose your speed: Standard (5 business days), Fast (3 business days) or Express (48 hours).
- Share your documents. Your formulation, CPSR, raw material specs, fragrance and essential oil documentation, aerosol details if relevant and label artwork. If we prepared your CPSR, most of this is already with us.
- We review your product. We check restricted ingredients, growth and dandruff claims, aerosol safety, irritation and microbiology, and flag anything that needs fixing.
- We build your file. Manufacturing, GMP, claims and animal testing records come together in one consistent format.
- You receive your PIF. Complete and ready to hold at your Responsible Person's address for inspection.
Why Brands Trust Cosmetic Compliance Nest
- On top of hair care trends. From rosemary oil to shampoo bars, we understand what's new and what regulators think of it.
- Claims that sell and comply. We help you talk about stronger, healthier-looking hair without crossing into medicinal claims.
- Consistent with your CPSR. Your PIF is built directly from your safety data, so everything matches.
- Fast turnaround. Delivery in as little as 48 hours to keep your launch on track.
- Trusted by 500+ cosmetic brands across the UK, EU and beyond.
- 100% confidential. Your formulas stay protected.
Legal Framework
- Article 11, Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (EU Cosmetics Regulation)
- Schedule 34, The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (UK)
- Annexes II, III and V (prohibited and restricted substances and preservatives)
- Aerosol Dispensers Directive 75/324/EEC and UK Aerosol Dispensers Regulations 2009 (for aerosol dry shampoos)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 on fragrance allergen labelling (where relevant)
- ISO 22716 Good Manufacturing Practice for cosmetics
- Article 18, animal testing provisions
Complete Your Compliance
Your PIF works best alongside the rest of your compliance documents:
- CPSR Safety Assessment, the foundation of every PIF
- UK SCPN Product Notification
- EU CPNP Product Notification
- UK & EU Responsible Person
Want everything in one package? The Complete Compliance Pack includes CPSR, PIF, SDS and notification together. An SDS is often requested for aerosol dry shampoos.
Ready to get your hair care range market-ready? Add your PIF to the cart today, or chat with our compliance team if you have questions first.