🎧 Listen to the full episode here: How Kate Assaraf Created Luxury Salon-Quality Hair Care Without the Plastic Waste
When it comes to sustainable beauty, most brands talk the talk—but very few actually walk the walk. Kate Assaraf, founder of Dip Sustainable Hair Care, turned personal frustration into a full blown movement. What started as one mom’s mission to cut plastic out of her life became a salon-quality brand redefining what sustainable beauty can be.
A Personal Wake-Up Call
Kate’s journey began a decade ago when she was pregnant with her first son. A book about raising boys opened her eyes to the hidden dangers of plastics, everything from endocrine disruptors to environmental damage. As she looked around her home and routine, she realized plastics were everywhere, especially in beauty.
Determined to make a change, she swapped out Ziplocs for reusable bags and eliminated single-use plastics wherever possible. But there was one problem she couldn’t solve: shampoo and conditioner bars.
Despite her best efforts, none of the bars she tried delivered the performance of luxury bottled products. That frustration became the spark that lit Dip’s fire: if the solution didn’t exist, she’d create it.
Building Something Different
Kate wasn’t an outsider to beauty. With almost two decades in the industry, she had worked across marketing, sales, and product development. That experience gave her the tools, and the grit, to turn an idea into reality.
She partnered with a chemist who had never created bars before but had 40 years of experience making high-performance salon formulas. Together, they spent years perfecting Dip. After 40 iterations and 400 tests across every hair type, the bars were ready.
But Kate’s goal wasn’t to make just another “eco swap.” She wanted Dip bars to compete with prestige salon brands like Oribe, Kerastase, and Pureology. The result? Salon-quality performance in a sustainable format.
Redefining Haircare
Dip isn’t about convincing eco-warriors to “make do.” It’s about proving you don’t have to sacrifice performance to live sustainably. In fact, Dip can save loyal salon users hundreds of dollars a year, all while cutting plastic out of the equation.
Kate also had another vision: helping consumers rethink sustainability itself. For her, it’s not about guilt or perfection. It’s about making better choices where you can.. whether that’s switching your conditioner, supporting small shops, or simply buying less.
Hair as Joy
For Kate, hair is joy. Over the years, she’s had every style imaginable—purple beehives, platinum blonde, braids, extensions, and everything in between. That love for hair fuels Dip’s playful, bold approach.
Hair isn’t just about looking good, it’s about expressing who you are. Dip bars give people the performance they crave with the sustainability the planet deserves.
The Entrepreneurial Leap
Of course, building Dip hasn’t been without challenges. Educating consumers who assume bars can’t perform has been one of the biggest hurdles. But Kate leans into it, knowing her audience isn’t everyone. Dip is designed for people who care about performance first but want their dollars to align with their values.
Kate is candid about the realities of entrepreneurship: the imposter syndrome, the constant learning curve, the need to boldly step into the unknown. But her story is proof that passion plus persistence can transform an industry.
Conclusion
From swapping out plastic wrap in her kitchen to formulating one of the most innovative sustainable haircare lines on the market, Kate Assaraf’s journey shows what’s possible when frustration meets determination. Dip isn’t just about shampoo bars, it’s about rewriting the rules of beauty.
Because at the end of the day, as Kate proves, sustainability doesn’t have to mean compromise. It can mean salon-quality hair, less waste, and a whole lot more joy.
