One of the perks of working at Happi is the range of products that make it to our desks. Over the years, I’ve tried all manners of skin and hair care products, but with little or no reaction from my loved ones or co-workers; maybe I’m not using the stuff enough or not applying it correctly or maybe nobody cares—it’s probably a bit of all three. But when I bemoaned the look and health of my gray hair to Mary Pergoda of JF Lazartigue, she immediately shipped me a bottle of  Reflecting Hair Conditioner. And the reactions were immediate. My wide-eyed daughters asked, “What did you do to your hair?” A long-time friend said he couldn’t put his finger on it, but somehow I looked 10 years younger. And at last month’s NYSCC Suppliers’ Day, one industry wiseguy cheered my new look from two aisles away! But hair color, even when it’s temporary, comes in all shades.

According to a recent article in The Telegraph, gray hair dye is more popular than ever.

On Amazon alone, sales of gray dye have risen 80%. One of the more popular options, Renbow Hair Color Cream, is up over 200%.
“No longer something to hide, grey hair has emerged as the latest beauty trend,” Amazon’s vice president of retail Garambois told Telegraph.

The “George Clooney” look is just the latest development in the unisex “granny hair” trend, which has cropped up on all forms of social media and spotted on all manners of celebrities. Still, when it comes to hair color most folks prefer to do away with gray rather than enhance it. I may be giving away a company secret or three, but now nearly every member of the Happi staff does something to improve their hair color. Keeping curls au courant and clientele happy is the primary job of salon stylists. Our coverage of the professional hair care market begins on p. 67.

Also this month, we introduce a new column, the Monitor by Ian Bell (p. 42). His insights add a new dimension to our coverage of the global household and personal care industry.

Tom Branna
Editorial Director
[email protected]