OEMの裏側。 色調整・品質テスト・研究工程で、実際に行われていること
When people hear "OEM",
they often have an image of "mass production in a factory and just sticking a label on it."
However, the actual OEM現場 is much quieter, much more painstaking,
and a continuous process of "overly meticulous adjustments."
Today, I'd like to honestly talk about the lesser-known
behind-the-scenes of color adjustment, quality testing, and the research process.
1. Color creation is between "feel" and "numbers"
Adjusting the color of nail gel
is not simply a matter of "adding red" or "subtracting white."
Even the same color,
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angle of light
-
type of lighting
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skin tone
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base color
can make it look completely different.
In the lab,
we make several sample patterns simultaneously
while adjusting pigments in 0.1g increments.
From those samples, we eliminate subtle differences one by one, such as
"looks good in photos but appears dull in real life," or
"looks beautiful with one coat but becomes heavy with two coats."
What's important here is how the research side understands the nail technician's "intuitive words."
"A softer feel,"
"beige that isn't too dull"—
it's the OEM's job to translate such ambiguous expressions into formulations.
2. Magnet gels are particularly difficult
Magnet gel is a difficult product even within OEM.
The reason is simple:
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particle size
-
particle specific gravity
-
dispersion stability
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viscosity of base gel
Even a slight imbalance in these factors
can change the movement of light.
In the research process,
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Do the particles settle?
-
Does it move the same way over time?
-
Is the magnet reaction uniform?
are checked repeatedly.
"It looked beautiful at first, but after a few weeks, the movement deteriorated."
To prevent this problem,
quite rigorous tests are actually conducted.
3. Quality tests are conducted to "break" things
When it comes to quality testing,
you might imagine handling finished products carefully.
But in reality, it's the opposite;
quality testing means "deliberately subjecting it to harsh conditions."
For example:
-
Leaving it in a high-temperature environment for several days
-
Returning it suddenly from a low-temperature environment to room temperature
-
Repeating stirring and settling multiple times
-
Continuous use in actual salon work
Through these tests,
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Does it separate?
-
Does the viscosity change?
-
Does the color fade?
-
Does the smell change?
we check.
Products that show problems in testing will inevitably cause problems somewhere.
That's why this is a process where compromise is not an option.
4. Ingredient adjustment is a balance of "safety" and "ease of use"
Recently, I often receive inquiries about ingredient specifications such as
HEMA-free and TPO-free.
However, it's also true that the safer it becomes,
the more the texture and adhesion change.
In the research process,
-
how much can ingredients be replaced?
-
Can alternative raw materials achieve the same operability?
-
Is there no impact on curing speed?
we verify repeatedly.
It's honestly difficult to achieve "exactly the same feeling of use."
However, we will make adjustments as many times as necessary to "get as close as possible."
This is where the technical prowess of OEM is most tested.
5. Reasons why samples are remade repeatedly
Nail technicians sometimes ask,
"Is it okay to remake samples multiple times?"
The answer is,
it's actually more normal to remake them.
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Color
-
Viscosity
-
Particle feel
-
Finish after curing
These cannot be decided
with a single sample.
OEM is
"a collaborative search for the right answer."
Brands that value this process
have higher satisfaction when completed and last longer.
6. What is most important in the research process?
Equipment and technology are certainly important, but I believe the most important thing in the research process
is "to listen carefully."
-
Why do you like that color?
-
What kind of customers do you want to use it for?
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What problems do you face in salon work?
Gel made without understanding these points,
no matter how perfect the numbers,
cannot be called "easy to use."
OEM is a manufacturing business, yet
it is a very human job.
Conclusion
Before a single nail gel is completed,
there are many prototypes, failures, and revisions.
All of these lead to a single bottle that nail technicians can use with confidence.
If you are considering creating a brand with OEM,
knowing "what processes it goes through"
will surely change your approach to your brand.
The true value of a brand resides
in its unseen parts.