The cosmetic and hair care industry has long relied on traditional formulations and chemical-based solutions to address a variety of hair and skin concerns.
Conventional products often contain sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, which can cause issues such as scalp irritation, dryness, and long-term damage to hair and skin health.
Furthermore, the one-size-fits-all approach of many existing products fails to cater to the diverse needs of different hair types and textures, leaving many consumers dissatisfied.
Recent advancements in cosmetic science and technology have paved the way for innovative solutions that better meet consumer demands for efficacy, safety, and sustainability. These new solutions incorporate natural ingredients and personalized formulations using biotechnology and artificial intelligence.
This article highlights ten promising growth-stage hair care startups revolutionizing the cosmetic industry with innovative approaches. These startups have the potential to grow rapidly, are in a good market position, or can introduce game-changing traffic control tech to the market in the next 2-3 years.
This makes them a great option to partner, collaborate, or acquire.
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1. Dae Hair Using Dessert Sourced Natural Ingredients for Different Hair Textures and Types
| Founding Year | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Phoenix, Arizona, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $10.6 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Series A/$8 Million |
| Website | https://daehair.com/ |
In the hair care industry, products often contain harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients, which can lead to long-term damage to consumer hair and scalp. Additionally, the one-size-fits-all approach of many hair care products does not account for the varied needs of different hair types and textures, leaving many individuals with ineffective solutions.
The environmental impact of traditional hair care production and packaging methods contributes to ongoing sustainability concerns.
Dae Hair has developed a range of hair care products to address these issues, leveraging natural ingredients sourced from the desert, such as prickly pear oil, moringa leaf, and hibiscus flower extracts.
Its products, such as the Signature Shampoo, Signature Conditioner, and Prickly Pear Hair Oil, are formulated to nourish the hair while being gentle on the scalp.
These products are free from sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, making them suitable for all hair types and safer for the environment.
The Arizona-based startup also has Leaping Bunny Certification, which ensures it is cruelty-free. Its product packaging is designed to minimize waste.
CEO and founder Amber Fillerup is a social media influencer and founder of another hair care startup, BFB HAIR.
Dae’s latest funding of $8M came from a Series A round on Dec 7, 2022. There were total 6 investors, and Verity Venture Partners led the round
2. Hally Color Cloud is The First Ammonia Free Hair Foam Dye
| Founding Year | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Connecticut, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $7 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Venture – Series Unknown/$4.7 Million |
| Website | https://hallyhair.com/ |
Many consumers face challenges with traditional hair coloring products, which often include harsh chemicals such as ammonia. These chemicals can damage hair and cause discomfort due to strong odors. Moreover, the hair dye process can be messy and complicated, leading to uneven color application and dissatisfactory results.
Conventional hair dyes also lack versatility and gentle formulations suitable for varied consumer needs, including those with sensitive skin or allergies.
Hally has innovated with “Color Cloud,” the first ammonia-free foam hair dye. This product represents a significant shift in hair coloring technology by using a foam application method that simplifies the dyeing process, making it less messy and more user-friendly. The foam spreads easily through hair, ensuring even coverage and vibrant color.
The formulation is gentle and designed to be less damaging. It is enriched with natural nourishing extracts that help maintain hair health.
The startup offers other state-of-the-art hair care solutions, including ammonia-free bleach options, Fluffy-G, Hair Lightening Mist, and Shade Stix.
Fluffy-G is an in-shower hair treatment available in three shades. Lightening Mist (also called Lighten Up) is a formula/Spray that activates in sunlight for natural-looking highlights in 4 minutes. It makes the hair 2-3 shades lighter and shiny.
German Chamomile Extract, Pineapple Fruit Juice, Lavender Flower Extract, Passion Fruit Extract, and Sunflower Seed Oil are among a few natural ingredients in Lighten Up sprays.
Hally’s foam hair dye technology offers a no-drip, mess-free application experience without ammonia. It makes the dyeing process more pleasant. It reduces the potential for scalp and hair damage, making it suitable for users with sensitive skin or those seeking a gentler hair coloring solution.
Kathryn Winokur is the founder and CEO of this hair care startup. Before founding Hally Hair, she was a marketing expert for brands like Pepsico, Unilever, Blink Health, and Walmart eCommerce. Her roles include Head of Marketing and Communications, Director of Marketing, Associate Brand Manager, and Marketing Analyst.
With Her experience and expertise in FMGC Marketing, Winokur has the strategic vision and capabilities to direct Hally toward rapid growth and success.
Hally raised its latest venture (series unknown) funding round on Oct 28, 2022, for $4.7M.
3. Bread Beauty Supply Offers Dedicated Hair Care Products for Curly, Wavy Hairs
| Founding Year | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, US |
| Total Funding Amount | Undisclosed |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Undisclosed |
| Website | https://breadbeautysupply.com/ |
The hair care industry often overlooks the unique needs of individuals with textured and curly hair, leading to a scarcity of products that effectively cater to this demographic. Most available hair care products contain harsh chemicals that can strip natural oils from hair, exacerbating dryness and damage.
The market is also saturated with products lacking natural ingredients, a growing concern for health-conscious consumers seeking toxin-free hair care solutions.
In response, Bread Beauty Supply has developed a line of hair care products specifically formulated for wavy, curly, and coily hair types.
The startup offerings include products like Hair-Wash, which cleanses hair without stripping its natural oils, and Hair-Oils, which provides hydration and gloss using natural ingredients like Kakadu plum and safflower oil. Its hair cream is designed to enhance curl elasticity without harsh chemicals.
Unlike conventional hair care products, Bread Beauty products are free from silicones, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Its packaging is made from recyclable materials.
Maeva Heim, founder and CEO of Bread Beauty, has founded and led multiple women-empowering startups in the past, like Lady Maple, Mumtaza, and Lady Brains. She was also part of the beauty industry-leading brand L’Oréal as Assistant Brand Manager for Paris Cosmetics, Lips & Nails.
Heim also managed the League of Extraordinary Women as Manager of Marketing & Brand and Hey Influencers as Head Of Brands. Her combination of entrepreneurship, marketing, and brand management makes her a suitable leader for Bread Beauty Supply.
The latest funding raised by Bread Beauty was on Jul 14, 2023, from a Seed round.
4. Bloom Beauty Brand/Florae’s Proprietary SANA Bioactive Complex Smoothen And Nourish the Scalp for Healthy Hairs
| Founding Year | 2019 |
| Headquarters | St Louis, Missouri, US |
| Total Funding Amount | 60K |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Grant/50K |
| Website | https://floraebeauty.com/ |
In the beauty and hair care industry, particularly among diverse populations, a significant challenge exists in finding products that effectively cater to the unique needs of multi-textured and curly hair types. Many available products contain harsh chemicals that can strip hair of its natural oils and damage the hair shaft, leading to dryness, breakage, and other hair health issues.
There is often a lack of emphasis on personalized care tailored to individual hair needs and preferences, making it difficult for consumers with unique hair textures to find suitable products.
To address these concerns, Florae Beauty has developed a range of hair care products specifically formulated for Afro-Latina and other multi-textured hair types. Its hair care products contain a proprietary blend called SANA Bioactive Complex.
The SANA Bioactive Complex, a potent mix of natural oils, plant extracts, and antioxidants, is the secret behind Florae Beauty’s effective hair care. This complex is designed to soothe the scalp and repair the hair shaft, leading to healthier, glossier, and fuller locks.
Key ingredients like avocado extract, banana extract, sweet potato, and hemp oil work in harmony to promote hair growth and vitality.
Florae offers products to boost hair growth, strength, and hydration. Its products are clean, vegan, and cruelty-free formulations without parabens, phthalates, and silicones.
The startup was founded by Neuroscientist Dr. Natalie King (Ph.D), with experimentation started in her kitchen for a new deep conditioner. She attended the Harvard Business School Online for HBS Core in Management. It gave her essential management knowledge, skills, and active learning in business analytics, economics for managers, and financial accounting.
She is also working for Novartis as a Medical Science Liaison in Neurology. Her strong academic background and experience in science means that Florae will never miss the mark for new, useful, science-backed products for its customers.
Florae/Bloom Beauty Brand received its latest grant of 50k from Arch Grants on Oct 28, 2020.
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5. Young King Hair Care is The New Stop for Men of Color Hair Maintenance
| Founding Year | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| Total Funding Amount | Not Publicly Known |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed/Not Publicly Known |
| Website | https://youngkinghaircare.com/ |
Young men of color historically have had limited color and styling options tailored to their unique hair types. Many hair care products on the market contain harsh chemicals that can damage delicate hair and are often not designed for the texture and maintenance needs of curly-haired young men.
This oversight can lead to inadequate care solutions that neither nourish the hair effectively nor encourage young men to embrace their natural hair texture.
In response to this challenge, Young King Hair Care has developed a line of grooming products that include shampoos, conditioners, curling creams, and essential oils crafted from natural ingredients such as shea butter, grapeseed oil, and marshmallow roots. These products are specifically designed to nourish and maintain the health of curly and textured hair without the use of sulfates, parabens, or mineral oils.
Young King Hair Care provides age-appropriate and health-conscious grooming products.
The startup was founded under the leadership of wife and husband Cora Miller (CEO) and Stefan Miller (CMO). This excellent duo has collaborated experience in corporate development, communication, marketing, and sales management roles.
Cora Miller worked with UnitedHealth Group in multiple roles, including social responsibility program manager, Director of Employee Engagement, and VP of External Affairs. She holds an MPA from Georgia State University and a BA in journalism (Public Affairs) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Stefan Miller has worked in marketing and branding roles for multiple international brands, including Red Bull, The Coca-Cola Company, General Mills, and IBM. He holds an MBA in Brand Management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Young King Hair Care raised its latest funding on April 1, 2021, from a seed round led by the New Voices Fund and three other investor participants.
6. Sunday2Sunday Created a Range of Hair Care Products for Active Women
| Founding Year | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $4.2 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Series A/$4.2 Million |
| Website | https://mysunday2sunday.com/ |
Active women, particularly those with textured hair, struggle to maintain their hair’s health through frequent workouts. This demographic often faces issues with products that don’t support the unique demands of textured hair, which can suffer from dryness and damage when washed too frequently, especially after exercise.
To combat these issues, Sunday II Sunday developed a range of hair care products specifically formulated for textured hair that requires frequent refreshes due to an active lifestyle.
Its key products include the Root Refresh Micellar Rinse, Revive Me Daily Moisturizing Spray, and Soothe Me Daily Scalp Serum.
These products are designed to cleanse, hydrate, and soothe the scalp and hair without the harsh effects of daily shampooing, making them ideal for maintaining hairstyles and scalp health between washes.
Sunday II Sunday offers hair care solutions and formulations specifically for women who exercise regularly. Their sulfate, silicone, vegan, and cruelty-free products address ethical and health-conscious consumer demands.
Keenan Beasley, Founder & CEO, is a founder of other 5 companies, including Supply Factory Holdings, Factory Media Group, Venture Noire, Supply Factory Brands, and BLK BOX. His vast experience includes working as an Advisory Board Member (Cannonball Projects, Inc.), Associate Marketing Director (Reckitt Benckiser), and Brand management for Procter & Gamble.
Sunday2Sunday’s latest funding of $4.2 million was from a Series A round on March 25, 2021. Johnson & Johnson Innovation—JJDC was the lead investor in participants.
7. Naturaz Moisture Burst System® Is The New Solution for Hair Dryness
| Founding Year | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Oaks, Pennsylvania, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $505K |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed/$505K |
| Website | https://www.naturaz.com |
People with curly and textured hair face difficulty finding products that deeply moisturize and nourish hair without using harsh chemicals, such as sulfates and parabens, which can strip natural oils and lead to dryness and breakage. Also, many existing products do not address the need for long-lasting hydration, which is crucial for maintaining the health and manageability of textured hair.
In response, Naturaz has developed a line of hair care products, including the 3-Minute Moisture Steam Treatment, Rehydrating Mist, and Detangler. These products are formulated to retain moisture and facilitate detangling.
The startup also promotes a Moisture Burst System® to address the persistent dryness issue in textured hair, particularly those with Type 4 curls. These curls are often susceptible to moisture loss, leading to breakage and lack of manageability.
The three-step regimen includes the Root Refresh Micellar Rinse, the Revive Me Daily Moisturizing Spray, and the Edge Flourish Daily Nourishing Serum.
The products feature key ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, and jojoba oil. The formulations are designed to penetrate deeply into the hair shaft to provide lasting hydration and to make the hair more manageable.
Naturaz’s products use natural, vegan ingredients that are gentle yet effective for maintaining the health of textured hair.
Mumbi Irene Dunjwa, founder and CEO of Naturaz Hair Care, led the ideation, development, launch, and establishment of the product line. She has also been a co-founder of the Sub-Saharan Africa Chamber of Commerce for the last 15 years.
Dunjwa has worked with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a leading pharmaceutical giant, as a Business Consultant & Change Management Lead and an experienced management and IT professional.
She holds a BS in Chemistry & Nuclear Medicine Technology from Worcester State University and has experience as a Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT). Her educational achievements also include a Masters in Information Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University.
Naturaz raised its latest funding of $505K from a Seed round on Feb 1, 2021.
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8. Susteau Waterless Hair Care is The New Sustainable Way to Nourish Hairs
| Founding Year | 2017 |
| Headquarters | New York, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $3.3 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | $2.8 Million |
| Website | https://susteau.com/ |
Traditional liquid shampoos and conditioners typically contain over 80% water, increasing the carbon footprint due to transportation and requiring larger plastic packaging that contributes to environmental pollution.
The large amounts of water contribute to unnecessary shipping weight and waste.
To address these issues, Susteau has developed innovative, waterless hair care products that transform from powder to liquid upon contact with water. Its flagship product, the Moondust Hair Wash, is a concentrated powder shampoo that expands into a rich, velvety lather when mixed with water.
Key ingredients include sodium cocoyl isethionate for gentle cleansing, rice protein for adding natural shine and fullness, and aloe vera for scalp hydration and conditioning.
Each bottle of Moondust Hair Wash is designed to replace up to four traditional liquid shampoo bottles, significantly reducing plastic waste and transportation emissions.
By eliminating water from its products, Susteau reduces the weight and volume of shipped goods and extends the product’s life, as one bottle can last for about 60 washes compared to the standard 15 washes from an 8-ounce liquid shampoo bottle.
Kailey Bradt, founder and CEO of Susteau, has been leading this startup since its inception. She also serves as an advisor and partner in other organizations, including Syndeo, Party Studio, Inc., and KR Consulting.
Her educational qualifications include a Master of Science in Product Development and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
The latest funding of $2.8 Million was raised by Susteau through a Venture Round on Jan 27, 2020.
9. Good Dye Young Give Hairs A New Color Everyday with Natural Ingredients Phyto-Pigment Blend
| Founding Year | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Nashville, Tennessee, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $3 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Venture – Series Unknown/Not Publicly Known |
| Website | https://gooddyeyoung.com/ |
Consumers often encounter dyes that damage hair, cause scalp irritation, and fade quickly, leading to dissatisfaction and frequent reapplication. The hair care startup Good Dye Young addresses these prevalent issues of harsh chemicals and lack of vibrant, long-lasting color in traditional hair dyes.
The startup has developed a range of semi-permanent hair dyes and hair care products that prioritize hair health and vibrant color. Its flagship products include the GDY Semi-Permanent Hair Color, which uses a unique Phyto-Pigment Blend enriched with natural oils, antioxidants, and sunflower seed extract.
These dyes are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from harsh chemicals such as ammonia, peroxide, parabens, and sulfates, ensuring a gentler coloring experience.
Additionally, the DYEposit Color Depositing Hair Mask combines color maintenance with deep conditioning, using ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, avocado oil, and Fiberhance™ technology to repair and nourish hair while refreshing its color.
Unlike traditional dyes that often require frequent touch-ups due to quick fading, GDY’s products boast an average color duration of 4-6 weeks. This extended longevity is due to their innovative formulation, which deposits vivid color and improves hair texture and shine.
According to user feedback, 92% of customers reported shinier, softer hair after using the dye, and 100% experienced no scalp irritation.
Brian O’Connor is the co-founder and CIO of this hair care startup. He was a longtime hairstylist and makeup artist for singer Hayley Williams, lead singer for Grammy Award-winning band Paramore.
With more than 21 years of experience cutting and styling stage-ready hair for celebrities and a passion and love for hair colors as a way to express feelings, Brian and Hayley created and led GDY.
Good Dye Young raised its latest venture (series unknown) funding round on Oct 1, 2023.
Related Read: 5 startups creating sustainable solutions with bio-based pigments
10. REVIV3 Procare Three-Step System Can Improve Hair Strength by 300%
| Founding Year | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $34.1 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed Round/$447.9K |
| Website | https://reviveprocare.com/ |
Many individuals face the persistent issue of thinning hair and scalp health, which can decrease hair density, volume, and overall health. Common hair care products often fail to address the root causes of these problems, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) buildup on the scalp, which can clog hair follicles and inhibit healthy hair growth.
REVIV3 Procare developed a clinically tested three-part hair care system to address these issues. This system includes the Prep Cleanser Shampoo, which removes product buildup and environmental residues, effectively clearing clogged pores and reducing DHT buildup.
The Prime Moisture+ Conditioner is formulated with a blend of 16 naturally derived extracts, keratin amino acids, and plant-based proteins to provide deep hydration and repair damaged follicles.
Lastly, the Treat Micro-Activ3 Treatment activates hair follicle stem cells, repairs damaged hair, and prevents hair shrinkage with a combination of peptides and plant-based extracts.
REVIV3’s system increases hair strength by up to 300% and reduces hair breakage by 75%. It also improves scalp health by over 80% within the first 60 days of use.
This hair care startup has raised its latest funding of $447.9K from a Seed round on Mar 8, 2023.
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Authored By: Naveen Kumar, Market Research
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