Frequently Asked Questions

 Have any other questions? Please contact us at hello@kavella.com! 

Can I use Kavella on my hair if I have a straightening or smoothing treatment? Are your products color-safe?

Yes! All of our shampoos are sulfate and sodium chloride free, and they all fall into an acidic pH range to keep the hair cuticle from lifting and losing color molecules.

Are your products silicone-free?

While most Kavella products are silicone-free, we do use silicones in some of our products where it is the best option for performance. Kavella does not use silicones in ratios that build up on the hair. In fact, the primary silicone we use is amodimethicone, which adheres to damage and creates a repairing and smoothing film on the hair that seals in moisture, but it chemically cannot build up on itself. We also have a special silicone called silica silylate in our Teasing Powder which gives it grit. This ingredient is the highest performing for this application and does not currently have a non-silicone alternative that would perform anywhere near the same. Also, our Moisturizing Conditioner contains a very small percentage of dimethicone, which gives a weightless boost to the moisture sealing nature of this conditioner. Anytime an oil or other emollient can give an equivalent benefit to the hair, we opt for those ingredients. Therefore, you will see silicones in a few of our products. If you prefer, you can shop silicone-free only products from our Product Type submenu.

Are all your products Vegan? Do you test on animals?

All Kavella products are 100% vegan and are tested on and by hairstylists, never on animals! Our products have been certified Cruelty-Free by Leaping Bunny since 2016, which is a program that requires re-certification every year!

What is the shelf life of my Kavella product?

Most Kavella products have optimal shelf lives of 3 years, with a recommendation to use within 12 months of opening for peak freshness. Although products can be used longer than these recommended "shelf life," there may be changes in the product’s consistency, color or fragrance after 2 years. Some products separate upon standing for long periods of time. This is because we do not use certain stabilizing ingredients in our products, like PEGs. Simply shake to remix the product!

Why are you switching your products to aluminum?

Aluminum is an infinitely recyclable resource and is much more likely to get recycled than plastic. Plastic has an unfortunately recycling rate of only around 5%. Recycled aluminum saves 95% of the energy needed to make new aluminum! We are also choosing to put our travel sizes into aluminum jars instead of tubes, because aluminum tubes are not as easily recyclable and are not accepted by all municipalities to be recycled. We want to make the greatest impact with our packaging choices. We are also actively switching our labels from plastic to Earthfirst PLA, a compostable material.

My pump isn't popping up / My spraying isn't spraying / Foamer isn't foaming.

Usually when a pump will not open, it is due to the pump unscrewing and becoming loose. Screw the base of the pump back onto the bottle tightly and then try opening the pump again. For sprayers, there may be a clog, or the product may not have been shaken enough prior to spraying. You may run warm water over the sprayer and wipe off to remove any clogs. Our trigger sprayers have a locking button on the spray head, so be sure this is set to the unlock position. If your foamer once foamed and as stopped, it is likely clogged with dried product. You can unscrew the foam cap and put into a glass of warm distilled water and pump the water through the foam head to help unclog. If you are experiencing an issue with your packaging, please let us know at hello@kavella.com! We may replace the product or send you a new pump or sprayer, depending on the issue.

What gives your products that almond scent? Do you have any unscented/hypoallergenic options?

Apricot Kernel Essential Oil, which is imported from France, is used in most of our products to give them their light almond scent. Some of our products also have secondary scents, such as vanilla or tonka bean. Our Clarifying Shampoo and Scalp and Hair Oil Treatment have a mix of herbal essential oils, which you can find on ingredient lists on the product pages. If you prefer unscented, check out our Healing Tea Shampoo and Conditioner!

Are your products hypoallergenic?

As a plant-based haircare brand, allergic reactions to some ingredients are possible. It is important for those with allergies to look at the ingredient list before purchasing the product. Our dedicated hypoallergenic set is our Healing Tea Shampoo and Conditioner, which are free of nuts, soy, aloe, and fragrances. They do contain coconut-derived ingredients. Always perform a patch test if you have had topical allergic reactions to products in the past. If you are not sure about a product suitable for your allergy, please drop us an inquiry so we can help!