R&D Hair Product Development Intern – Summer 2027

Henkel; Darien (CT); On-site; USD 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Online learning platform

Networking events

Intern social events

Job summary

Henkel in the United States is offering an internship in the Consumer Brands division, focused on hair care product development for brands like Sexy Hair, Joico, Kenra, Pravana or got2b. You will gain hands-on experience from formulation to performance testing and learn how formulas are evaluated.

You will create Henkel formulas, monitor stability, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to support testing protocols and real-world performance assessments.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Cosmetic Science/Personal Care.
• Availability for May 24th – August 13th internship.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with scientists to develop and refine hair care products for brands like Sexy Hair, Joico, Kenra, Pravana, or got2b.
• Gain hands-on experience from formulation to performance testing.
• Create batches of Henkel formulas for evaluation and learn ingredient functionality.
• Monitor stability of lab formulas over time for quality.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to submit formulas for testing.
• Participate in salon-based performance testing to evaluate real-world outcomes.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Attention to detail

Education

Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Cosmetic Science

Job description

About this Position

At Henkel, you’ll be part of an organization that’s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persil®, ‘all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and our cutting-edge technologies, you’ll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow.

This position is with our Consumer Brands business unit – where we empower our employees to bring the best Laundry & Home Care and Hair products to people around the world.

Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel.

What you’ll do

• Collaborate with a team of innovative scientists to develop and refine cutting-edge hair care products for our brands Sexy Hair, Joico, Kenra, Pravana or got2b
  
• Gain hands‑on experience in the full product development process, from formulation to performance testing
  
• Create batches of Henkel formulas for evaluation, while learning the functionality of individual ingredients
  
• Monitor the stability of lab‑prepared formulas over time to ensure product consistency and quality
  
• Coordinate with cross‑functional teams to submit formulas for various testing protocols
  
• Participate in salon‑based performance testing to evaluate real‑world product effectiveness

What makes you a good fit

• An undergraduate student graduating in 2028 or 2029 or a graduate student pursuing a degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Cosmetic Science/Personal Care.
  
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
  
• Well‑organized with attention to detail and time management
  
• Open and adaptable to collaborative teamwork in a dynamic environment

Some perks of joining Henkel as an intern

• Exciting projects that allow you to make real impact and collaborate with Henkel colleagues worldwide
  
• Countless learning opportunities available through Henkel’s online learning platform with over 9,000 professional courses
  
• Networking events with Henkel business leaders, experts and sustainability ambassadors
  
• Ongoing feedback discussions throughout the internship that allow you to accomplish concrete goals
  
• In‑person and virtual social events to connect with other Henkel interns across the country

Following your internship, you may be invited to join Henkel as a returning intern or full‑time employee.

Additional information

• This internship is not eligible for a housing stipend or relocation support.
• This internship has a duration of May 24th – August 13th
• Recruitment for our 2027 internships starts in September 2026 and runs through early March 2027 or until all our positions are filled
• If selected to move forward in our recruitment process, you will receive an email from our talent acquisition team.
  
• If a position you applied to is filled by another candidate, you will receive an email from our team alerting you that the position is closed.

The salary for this role is $22-$27/hour. This is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.

Henkel is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualifiedapplicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.