Standing Tall in Business: How Dip Founder Kate Assaraf is Redefining Sustainable Haircare

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Tall Poppy Talk x Kate Assaraf

You know those podcast episodes that stick with you long after you’ve hit pause? That was me after listening to Kate Assaraf on Tall Poppy Talk. Kate is our founder of Dip, a sustainable haircare brand with a personality as bold as its performance. She doesn’t just sell shampoo bars—she’s rewriting the playbook for how eco-friendly businesses can thrive without losing their spark.

This episode wasn’t just about haircare—it was about resilience, creativity, and what it takes to stand tall in a world that sometimes wants to cut you down.

From Beach Pollution to Bold Innovation 

Kate’s story starts with heartbreak: walking on Sri Lankan beaches covered in plastic nurdles. Instead of shrugging it off, she turned frustration into fuel. That moment became the seed for Dip—a brand proving that performance and sustainability can coexist beautifully.

Her mission is simple but powerful:

• Create products people actually want to use.

• Cut down plastic waste while elevating daily routines.

• Build community by supporting small retailers instead of big-box giants.

Performance First, Eco Second 

Kate doesn’t shy away from saying what most “eco” brands avoid: if it doesn’t perform, people won’t use it.

Dip is designed to work better than bottled shampoo and conditioner—so customers stick around for the results, not just the sustainability badge. This is how you make “green” products irresistible, not guilt-driven.

“Sustainability only works if people love what they’re using.” — Kate Assaraf

Fighting Tall Poppy Syndrome 

The whole point of Tall Poppy Talk is about women daring to grow tall—even when critics try to cut them down. Kate’s journey fits this perfectly.

She’s faced skepticism: from people doubting bars could compete with salon haircare, to naysayers who questioned why she wouldn’t just play the Amazon/influencer game. Instead of folding, she doubled down on authenticity and community.

Her secret weapon? Humor. Kate doesn’t take herself too seriously, and that balance of boldness and humility makes her brand stand out even more.

Creative Collabs and Making Noise 

One of my favorite stories from the episode? Dip partnered with the band Guster to merge music and sustainability. It’s proof that branding doesn’t have to be boring—it can be playful, unexpected, and still rooted in purpose.

This creativity is exactly why Dip cuts through the noise: it’s not just another “eco brand,” it’s a lifestyle movement.

Feedback as a Superpower 

Kate doesn’t just listen to customers—she builds with them. She treats feedback like a growth engine, not a nuisance.

That collaborative energy shows up in:

• New product development

• How Dip partners with refill shops

• The way the brand educates without shaming

It’s not top-down—it’s community-driven.

Lessons for Anyone Chasing a Big Dream 

Kate’s story is bigger than shampoo bars. It’s about what happens when you stand tall in your vision, even when the world doubts you. Some of the lessons I took away from this episode:

• Don’t apologize for being bold. If you have a vision, own it.

• Play the long game. Growth built on values lasts longer than hype.

• Make it fun. People want to join movements that feel good, not guilt-driven.

• Use failure as fuel. Kate’s earlier ventures gave her the grit to build Dip with more clarity.

Final Thoughts 

Listening to Kate on Tall Poppy Talk reminded me that building something meaningful isn’t about playing by the rules—it’s about writing your own. She’s living proof that you can blend passion with purpose, humor with hustle, and sustainability with performance.

If you’re chasing a dream—or even just trying to figure out how to live with more integrity—this episode is worth every minute.