Inside the Factory · OEM & ODM
How to Build Your Own Hair Color Brand with a Factory Partner
17 years of hair color manufacturing, thousands of formulas shipped. Here's the real process behind OEM & ODM — from the first brief to the first container.
01 — Terminology
OEM vs. ODM — Clearing Up the Confusion
These two acronyms come up in every factory conversation, and they're worth getting right before you go any further.
OEM
You bring the formula and design. The factory manufactures to your exact specifications. Best for brands that already have a product roadmap and want a production partner — not a product designer.
ODM
The factory provides the formula and packaging framework. You apply your brand, tweak what you need, and launch fast. Ideal if you're entering the hair color market without an in-house R&D team.
In practice, most partnerships are a mix. A brand might pick an existing formula from the factory's library (ODM side) but bring fully custom packaging artwork (OEM side). Mingli handles all three models — pure OEM, pure ODM, and the hybrid that most clients actually need.
02 — The factory
What's Behind the Production
Guangdong Mingli Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. has spent 17 years doing one thing well: manufacturing hair color and hair care products for other people's brands.
5,100 m²
Production floor with automated emulsification, filling, labeling, and packaging lines
3,000+ m²
Finished goods warehouse with full order management
10,000+
Units per day on a single filling line — scalable for large-volume orders
200+ m²
R&D center, team with 10+ years of formulation experience
Certifications & Documentation
The facility holds ISO 22716 and GMPC certification. For export, the team prepares FDA registration documents, GPSR reports, MSDS, COA, certificates of origin, and the rest of the paperwork different markets require. If your target market has specific compliance needs, bring them up early — this is routine, not a special request.
R&D and Formula Library
The formula library covers hair color shampoo, permanent and semi-permanent dye cream, beard color, and functional hair care. Shade range, fragrance, texture, active ingredients — all adjustable. The R&D team also tracks global market trends and regularly shares new product directions with existing partners, which matters if you want to stay ahead of what's selling in your region.
03 — How it works
From Brief to Shipment: The 6-Phase Process
Every custom hair color project moves through these six phases. Phases 2 and 3 run in parallel, so total lead time is shorter than the numbers suggest if you add them up sequentially.
Requirements & Brief
~ 1–3 days
Reach out via website, email, or WhatsApp. A dedicated account manager aligns product type, target market, shades, volume, and timeline into a written brief.
Formula Sampling
~ 3–10 days
R&D develops or matches a formula, ships samples. You test and give feedback; adjustments repeat until sign-off. The locked formula becomes the production reference.
↔ parallel with phase 3Packaging Design
~ 10–20 days
Supply your own artwork or have Mingli's team design it. Digital proof confirmed before plate-making. Starting this alongside sampling saves weeks.
↔ parallel with phase 2Material Prep & Production
~ 15–45 days
Raw materials and packaging printing proceed simultaneously. Then the line runs: emulsification, filling, labeling, packaging. Progress updates at every milestone.
QC & Pre-Shipment
~ 3–5 days
Outgoing QC checks appearance, labels, packaging integrity, quantity. Export documents prepared. You confirm shipping method and address.
Delivery & After-Sales
Ongoing
Tracking info sent immediately. Any post-receipt issues go through your account manager within 24 hours. Formulas and files archived for faster reorders.
04 — Best fit
Who This Works Best For
Custom hair color manufacturing isn't only for large brands with deep pockets. The entry point is more accessible than most people expect, and the model adapts to very different business types.
New brands & entrepreneurs
No formula, no packaging, no problem. Use the factory's existing formulations and packaging resources to get a branded product to market quickly without building an R&D department.
Wholesalers & distributors
Serving the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, or other high-volume markets? Branded production at scale, with packaging and compliance tailored to your distribution channels.
Existing beauty brands
Already selling skincare or cosmetics and want to add hair color to the line? The factory matches your existing brand style so the new products feel native, not bolted on.
Salon chains & cross-border sellers
Professional-grade formulas with private label packaging for salon distribution, or custom-branded products for Amazon, Shopify, and independent e-commerce stores.
05 — Common questions
Pricing, MOQ & Other Things People Ask
What's the minimum order quantity?
It varies by product type and packaging complexity. There's no single number — the most accurate way is to submit an inquiry describing what you need and get a quote from the business team.
Can I get samples before committing to a bulk order?
Yes. Sample shipments can be arranged before any bulk commitment. Contact the business team for specific sample fees and conditions — it's a standard part of the process.
How long does a typical custom order take?
Roughly 3 days for samples, 7–10 days for wholesale reorders, and 15–45 days for full OEM/ODM custom orders. The range depends on order volume, the degree of customization, and whether packaging design needs to be created from scratch.
What if I don't have a formula or packaging design?
That's exactly what the ODM model covers. The factory provides an existing formulation and a packaging framework. You bring the brand name and any preferences, and the team builds from there.
Which markets can you export to?
Mingli ships globally and prepares the compliance documentation most major markets require — FDA, GPSR, MSDS, COA, certificates of origin. If your target market has specific regulatory requirements, flag them in your initial inquiry.
The more specific your initial message, the more useful the factory's response will be. Try to include: product type (dye cream, hair color shampoo, or beard product), target shades (gray coverage, fashion color, or natural tones), target market, estimated order volume, and launch timeline. A vague "I want to make hair dye" gets a vague reply. A specific brief gets a specific quote.
06 — Get started
Start the Conversation
Whether you're still weighing the idea or you've got a product brief ready to go, the fastest path forward is a short message describing what you need. The business team typically responds within one business day and assigns a dedicated account manager to take it from there.
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