The Best Natural Alternatives

Kavella® founder, Ashley Feinberg, has spent years seeking out the best natural alternatives to use in her high-quality, effective hair care formulations, and she continues that search on every single product she develops. None of our natural ingredients were added as an afterthought. Our key oils, extracts, proteins, vitamins, powders and natural fragrances are used at effective concentrations in our formulas. They are Kavella’s heroes.

NATURAL OILS AND BUTTERS

Key Ingredient Products Used In Purpose
Abyssinian Oil Moisturizing Conditioner, Moisture Mist

This unique oil has the ability to reduce dry combing friction by up to 98%! Abyssinian Oil also provides strengthening and anti-breakage benefits, as well as increasing shine by up to 400%. (1)

Organic Argan Kernel Oil Balanced Conditioner Argan Oil adds luminous shine and softness to the hair while also reducing frizz. This oil is often referred to as “liquid gold!”
Organic Avocado Oil Primer, Defining Cream This high heat-tolerant oil is the perfect addition for thermal protectors. Avocado oil is also high in monounsaturated fatty acids which absorbs easily into the hair cuticle, providing moisture and protection.
Organic Camellia (Tea Seed) Oil Primer, Defining Cream Camellia seed oil is another high heat-tolerant oil that is high in oleic acid and linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid from the omega-3 group. It is high in antioxidants and is easily absorbed into the hair.
Organic Cocoa Butter Medium Hold Cream Wax, Flexible Hold Styling Cream We use Cocoa Butter to help thicken these two styling products while also lending to their delicious scent! Cocoa Butter is hydrating, frizz-fighting and shine-promoting.
Organic Coconut Oil Balanced Conditioner, Flexible Hold Styling Cream

Everyone’s favorite oil! Coconut oil has a high affinity for hair proteins and is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft, unlike most other oils. This oil protects hair healthy by reducing protein loss remarkably for both undamaged and damaged hair. (2)

Organic Grape Seed Oil Recovery Mask, Scalp & Hair Oil Grape Seed Oil lightweight and high in antioxidants. It is also high in linoleic acid, around 72.2% (3), which is indicative of ceramides (4) that glue down the hair cuticle to the hair shaft. When The hair cuticle lays flat, hair is shinier and more manageable, porosity and elasticity are improved, and the hair is more damage resistant.
Organic Jojoba Oil Moisturizing Conditioner, Scalp & Hair Oil Jojoba is technically not an oil, it is a liquid wax – or wax ester – with a molecular structure that is comparable to human skin and scalp oil. Unlike a penetrating oil, jojoba oil coats the hair to add shine and decrease friction.
Organic Rosehip Fruit Oil Balanced Conditioner Rosehip oil is classified as a dry oil because it is lightweight and absorbs easily. About 97% of the lipids in rosehip oil are small enough to seep under the hair cuticle. (5) Used in conjunction with Coconut Oil, which penetrates the hair shaft, and agan oil, which coats the hair shaft, our Balanced Conditioner treats your hair strands from the inside out!
Organic Safflower Seed Oil Recovery Mask, Scalp & Hair Oil Safflower Oil is high linoleic acid, about 78% (6), which is indicative of the oil including ceramides (4) that glue down the hair cuticle to the hair shaft. When The hair cuticle lays flat, hair is shinier and more manageable, porosity and elasticity are improved, and the hair is more damage resistant.
Organic Shea Butter Medium Hold Cream Wax Shea Butter has some ability to soak under the hair cuticle (5). We use the butter form in our Medium Hold Cream Wax to thicken it, and the Oil version in our Moisturizing Conditioner and Moisture Oil Treatment.
Organic Shea Oil Moisturizing Conditioner, Scalp & Hair Oil Shea Oil is produced by lightly heating Shea Butter to separate the fractionated and non-fractionated make up of the material. The fractionated material is then fully refined, resulting in a transparent oil with a pale yellow appearance. Using the Oil of Shea helps increase penetration into the hair shaft over the Butter.
Organic Sunflower Seed Oil Recovery Mask, Scalp & Hair Oil, Medium Hold Cream Wax, Flexible Hold Styling Cream

Sunflower Oil is high linoleic acid, about 68% (6), which is indicative of ceramides (4) that glue down the hair cuticle to the hair shaft. When The hair cuticle lays flat, hair is shinier and more manageable, porosity and elasticity are improved, and the hair is more damage resistant. Sunflower oil also has a really high smoke point at 440°F, so it assists the hair in staying moisturized during heat styling.

Organic Sweet Almond Oil Volumizing Conditioner Sweet Almond Oil is a lightweight oil that is easily absorbed into hair strands. We use it in our Volumizing Conditioner so that it will not weigh fine hair down. About 99% of the fatty acids in this oil are able to seep under the hair cuticle (5).
Olive Squalane Scalp & Hair Oil This popular skin care oil is also an amazing hair care ingredient! Unlike squalene, which is derived from sharks, our squalane is derived from olives. Squalane is also a natural occurring component of human sebum therefore squalane oil is known to be a highly effective emollient and moisturizer. (7)
Olive Wax Recovery Mask, Medium Hold Cream Wax Olive Wax is our vegan replacement for Beeswax. This emollient wax contains Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Olive Oil and Olive Oil Unsaponifiables. Not only does it thicken the formula for our mask and wax products, it also provides body, hair cuticle protection and moisture. Olive Oil is able to penetrate the hair shaft (5).

 

PLANT EXTRACTS

Key Ingredient Products Used In Purpose
Organic Aloe Vera Extract Used in everything except our Scalp & Hair Oil and our Healing Tea Shampoo and Conditioner

Aloe vera contains enzymes which repairs dead skin cells on the scalp. It also acts as a pH adjustor to make our formulas slightly more acidic. It acts as a conditioner, promotes hair growth and soothes the scalp. (8) Aloe reinforces strands with powerful nutrients that result in more elasticity and less breakage.

Bamboo Extract Flexible Hold Cream, Styling Gel, Volumizing Shampoo

Bamboo Extract is becoming increasingly more popular in hair care and is a natural source of silica. It strengthens the hair while naturally restoring hair body and shine.

Beet Sugar Extract Salty Sugar Texture Spray This ingredient is the “Sugar” in our Salty Sugar Texture Spray. It’s full name is Glycine Betaine (Beta Vulgaris (Beet)) Sugar Extract). (10) Glycine Betaine improves hair strength, making it less prone to fracture, increases hair elasticity, and protects the hair against humidity fluctuations. These protective qualities make it the perfect ingredient to use in conjunction with Sea Salt and Epsom Salt which cause a gritty texture.
Cationic Guar Gum Healing Tea Shampoo and Conditioner, Balanced Shampoo, Moisturizing Shampoo, Purple/Blue/Red Shampoos This ingredient, written Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, is one of the most widely used cationic polymers in personal care (12) and is naturally derived from a legume. This ingredient is positively charged (chloride), and the positively charged ions are attracted to the negative charge of damaged hair. This is how the conditioning mechanism works. Cationic guar is also a thickening agent. Although it has a long chemical-y sounding name, it is used in many natural and organic formulations and is given a very safe grade of 1 by EWG Skin Deep.
Organic Vegetable Glycerin Most Shampoos and Conditioners, Recovery Mask This ingredient is a nontoxic, water-soluble humectant that draws in water from its surroundings and holds it, keeping hair soft and hydrated longer.

 

PLANT PROTEINS

Key Ingredient Products Used In Purpose
Hydrolyzed Baobab Seed Protein Recovery Mask, Recovery Lotion

Hydrolyzed Baobab Protein is one of the most powerful repairing hair proteins derived from plants which is why we use it in our Recovery products. It contains hair-loving amino acids Cysteine, Methionine, and Phenylalanine. Combined, these amino acids provide exceptional damage recovery, nourishment and conditioning.

Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein Moisturizing Conditioner, Moisturizing Shampoo, Moisture Mist, Intensive Protein Treatment, Purple/Blue/Red Shampoos

Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein forms a light film around the hair that helps it retain moisture, which is why we use it in our Moisture products. It adds shine and luster while conditioning.

Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein Balanced Shampoo, Balanced Conditioner, Intensive Protein Treatment Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein is a great example of the power of plant based proteins. Clinical studies show that after 5 uses, hair experiences a 79% reduction in stress during wet combing, 83% reduction of stress during dry combing and 51% increase in hair gloss!
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein Salty Sugar Texture Spray, Volumizing Shampoo, Volumizing Conditioner, Volumizing Mousse, Flexible Hold Styling Cream We use Hydrolyzed Rice Protein in so many products because it adds moisture and shine, but even more fascinting, it has the ability to increase hair volume. In a study after 1 wash, hair volume was increased by 12.3%. After 5 washes, volume increased by 13.1% (13). How? This ingredient naturally contains both positively and negatively charged amino acids. Hair is negatively charged. The positively charged amino acids in this ingredient bond with the negatively charged hair structure and the additional negatively charged amino acids repel each other via electrostatic forces to create a volumizing effect. This is why we love green chemistry!

 

VITAMINS

Key Ingredient Products Used In Purpose
Panthenol (provitamin b5) Recovery Mask and Lotion, Styling Gel, Volumizing Shampoo, Volumizing Mousse This humectant and emollient adds shine and strength to the hair. The smooth film it forms aids in detangling. Panthenol is capable of providing volume by penetrating the cuticle and entering the hair shaft.

 

POWDERS, SALTS AND SUGARS

Key Ingredient Products Used In Purpose
Organic Arrowroot Powder Dry Shampoo Arrowroot is a natural ingredient that absorbs excess oil from the hair without leaving it dry, which is why we love it as an ingredient in our dry shampoos! It helps leave refreshed hair bouncy and soft.
Organic Tapioca Starch Dry Shampoo, Flexible Hold Styling Cream, Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner Tapioca Starch is another gentle oil-absorbing powder that we love in our dry shampoos. We also added it to our Flexible Hold Styling Cream to keep your style set longer.
Kaolin Clay Dry Shampoo, Teasing Powder

Kaolin Clay, used in skincare as well, is another agent to absorb excess oil.

Organic Cocoa Powder Dry Shampoo We use a little bit of Organic Cocoa Powder in our Dry Shampoo to make it off white and to add a sweet scent!
Sea Salt and Epsom Salt Salty Sugar Texture Spray

Sea Salt and Magnesium Sulfate (aka Epson Salt) are natural minerals found in the ocean that create the beachy, gritty texture that the beach gives your hair! We bottled the beach for you to take anywhere.

Tapioca Maltodextrin Volumizing Shampoo, Volumizing Conditioner, Volumizing Mousse, Medium Hold Cream Wax, Styling Gel Our Maltodextrin is derived from Tapioca Starch. This common food additive has the ability to coat the hair and make fine hair appear thicker and fuller.

 

NATURAL FRAGRANCES

Key Ingredient Products Used In Purpose
Prunus Armeniaca L (Apricot Kernel)
Essential Oil with Organic Vanilla
Extract or Tonka Bean Absolute
Used in everything except our Scalp & Hair Oil, Clarifying Shampoo, Healing Tea Shampoo and Conditioner, and Salty Sugar Texture Spray Kavella imports this rare essential oil from France. Surprisingly, apricot kernels are the source of the almond-cherry scent that our customers love! Usually when you find products with this aroma, it is a synthetic fragrance. We use organic vanilla extract in conjunction our apricot kernel essential oil to create the signature dessert scent found in most of our products. Yum!
Organic Lime and Orange Hydrosols Salty Sugar Texture Spray Hydrosols, also known as distillates, are produced by steam distillation. The hydrosols we use were created by distilling organic blood oranges and organic limes. Using these water-soluble fragrances in the Salty Sugar Texture Spray eliminates the need for PEGs and Polysorbate in this product, making it healthier for you!
Organic Tonka Bean Butter and Organic
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Dry Shampoo Tonka Bean Butter has a beautiful almond, powdery scent. When combined with the bright notes of Grapefruit Essential Oil, we get a deliciously refreshing scent for our dry shampoo!

 

SOURCES

1 http://www.essentialingredients.com/pdf/AbyssinianOilforHairCare.pdf
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12715094
3 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02541750
4 http://www.dermaviduals.de/english/publications/ingredients/ceramides-lipids-with-multiple-assignments.html
5 http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/oils-which-ones-soak-in-vs-coat-hair.html
6 http://www.news-medical.net/health/Oils-Rich-in-Linoleic-Acid.aspx
7 https://bulknaturaloils.com/squalane-oil-olive.html
8 https://food.ndtv.com/beauty/6-amazing-benefits-aloe-vera-hair-skin-weight-loss-1221869
9 http://www.smartskincare.com/treatments/topical/greentea.html
10 https://www.personalcaremagazine.com/story/7496/betaine-trimethyl-glycine-a-review
11 https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/the-benefits-of-coconut-oil-for-hair-si/
12 http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulating/function/feelenhancer/premium-Guar-Hydroxypropyltrimonium-Chloride-199604791.htm
13 https://www.ulprospector.com/documents/1406303.pdf?bs=611&b=77530&st=1&sl=48926377&crit=a2V5d2