Modern Hair Care Science: From Follicle to Formulation

Course Summary

Modern hair care requires a deeper understanding of both scalp biology and hair fiber science to create products that effectively cleanse, condition, and style hair across diverse hair types. This one-day continuing education program provides an overview of the biological and chemical principles that guide hair care product development.

The course begins with the fundamentals of hair fiber and scalp biology. Participants will explore how these biological features influence product performance and ingredient selection. An introduction to common clinical and instrumental methods used in haircare claims testing—including comb-ability, tensile strength, friction, and imaging techniques—will provide context for evaluating product efficacy.

The majority of the program focuses on formulation strategies for key product categories including shampoos, conditioners, styling products, and scalp treatments. Ingredient categories such as surfactants, conditioning polymers, cationic surfactants, silicones, film-forming polymers, humectants, and exfoliating agents will be discussed in the context of their functional roles in formulations.

Attendees will leave with a practical framework for designing effective hair care products and understanding the science that underpins their performance.

Course Pricing:

• SCC Member: $430 Early / $480 Regular
• Non-Member: $575 Early /  $625 Regular
• SCC Junior or Student Member: $270 Early / $295 Regular
   

Note: companies registering 5+ SCC members for this course receive $25 off per registration. Companies registering 10+ SCC members for this course receive $50 off per registration. Discounted group registrations need to occur during the same online transaction. If you would like to submit a group registration of 5+ or 10+, or have any other questions about this event, please contact SCC Headquarters Staff.

ATTENTION NON-MEMEBERS: you will save money by joining the SCC prior to registering for this course. If applying for SCC membership, application processing takes up to five business days. If you would like to request expedited application processing, in order to sign up for this course, please send your request to education@scconline.org. Member pricing will not be in effect for CEP registrations until after the membership application is approved. 
 

 View our CEP Course Pricing and Refund Policy.
 

Course Outline

1. Hair & Scalp Biology

● Hair fiber structure

● Hair properties

● Scalp biology

2. Hair care Claims Testing

● Consumer and clinical testing approaches

● When to choose instrumental, imaging or consumer perception

3. Hair Color 101 and Hair Damage

4. Shampoo Formulation

● Ingredient categories

● Techniques for formulating high performing shampoos

5. Conditioner Formulation

● Ingredient categories SCC: CEP Course Reference Sheet Page 2 of 2

● Formulating strategies for conditioning to various hair types

6. Hair Styling Formulation

● How hair styling products are classified

● Ingredient categories

● Regulatory landscape

7. Scalp Care Formulations

● Scalp health and targeted treatments

● Formulation strategies appropriate for scalp vs other skin

Instructors: Valerie George

Format: In-Person

Date: Monday, May 18, 2026 (9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET)

During NYSCC Suppliers' Day

Location:

Jacob Javits Center 
429 11th Ave
New York, NY 10001

REGISTER NOW

NOTE: This course will take place on May 18, 2026, the day before the NYSCC Suppliers' Day Exhibition Show (May 19-20, 2026). You can register for this course by selecting it as an add-on option during the regular registration process for NYSCC Suppliers' Day.

About the Instructor

Valerie George

Simply Formulas

An award-winning cosmetic chemist and speaker, science communicator, educator, leader, and avid proponent of transparency in the beauty industry, Valerie George formulates for and lends expertise to beauty brands as CEO and Chief Creator at Simply Beauty Group. Previously, she worked on the latest research in hair care and hair color formulations as Executive Vice President of R&D at a leading salon brand, where she simultaneously oversaw R&D, regulatory, quality, packaging and manufacturing. Valerie also co-founded the University of California Riverside Extension Cosmetic Science Certificate Program, where she serves as an instructor. She is also a national board member for the Society of Cosmetic Chemists and was the past chair for their Committee on Scientific Affairs, as well as additionally volunteers on the Governance and Regulatory Committees for the Independent Beauty Association. With more than 15 years of beauty industry experience as an ingredient expert, she is a contributing writer at Happi Magazine and is the co-host of The Beauty Brains podcast, recently listed as the top beauty podcast by the New York Times.