🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Revolutionizing the Haircare Industry + Community Building with Kate Assaraf
A Personal Problem Became a Global Mission
For Dip founder Kate Assaraf, the journey into sustainable haircare didn’t start in a lab or a boardroom.. it started at home. As a new mom, Kate noticed just how much plastic surrounded her children, from toys to teething rings to clothes. That realization hit hard.
"There’s just so much crazy stuff where it’s like a horror movie once you realize it," she recalls. "So I decided — I’m going to solve this problem."
By 2018, Kate had made peace with her mission: to create a plastic free haircare solution that actually worked.
Why Hair Has to Come First
Kate knew sustainability wouldn’t stick if people had to sacrifice results. Hair is deeply personal and emotional — and no one wants to compromise a good hair day for eco-friendly packaging.
"Hair is very emotional," Kate explains. "The first thing that would get people tied into realizing the plastic crisis was without wagging a finger — it was through having great hair."
That insight shaped Dip’s philosophy: serious haircare first, sustainability always.
Breaking Away from the Shame Game
Many sustainability movements rely on shame, telling people they’re not doing enough. Kate rejected that.
"I have a problem with the sustainability movement because it’s so full of shame. You can never be sustainable enough for the trolls. No matter what you do, someone will always say it’s wrong."
Instead, Dip built a positive, inclusive path forward. The products are designed for all hair types, from fine straight strands to type 4 textures often ignored by the industry.
Performance That Keeps Up With Real Life
Whether trail running, surfing, or just living daily life, Kate designed Dip bars to perform.
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Shampoo Bars: Gentle enough for daily use, strong enough to keep hair fresh without compromise.
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Conditioner Bars: Instantly detangle post ocean, pool, or workout.. leaving hair smooth and ready to air dry.
"I didn’t want to make people choose between their workout and a good hair day," Kate shares.
Growth Without the Gimmicks
When Dip launched in 2021, the market was flooded with sustainable products. Many failed because they prioritized buzzwords over results. Kate took a different route: no influencers, no ad-heavy campaigns.
"If you want to light your money on fire, toss it into social ads," Kate says. "Consumers are smarter than that. They crave genuine reviews, genuine trust."
Dip grew through refill shops, small business partnerships, and authentic word of mouth... within the first 14 months, hit seven figures.
Building for the Future
Dip’s success wasn’t without challenges. When manufacturing partners collapsed, Kate built her own factory to protect quality and control formulas. That decision allowed Dip to double production in 2024 while staying true to its roots.
"It wasn’t easy," Kate admits. "It was so much hustle and so much work. But now I have a team, and I consider them family."
dip Is More Than a Brand, It's A Movement
For Kate, Dip is about more than haircare. It’s about building a future where plastic free doesn’t feel like a punishment, where serious haircare meets serious sustainability, and where community comes before clicks.
*"We have to pull together," Kate says. "Everyone has to move in one direction — consumers, businesses, and legislation. That’s how real change happens."
Final Thoughts
Dip isn’t just another “clean beauty” brand. It’s a company rewriting the rules of haircare by proving that sustainability and high performance can, and must, coexist.
"At the end of the day, we’re not just selling shampoo bars," Kate reflects. "We’re creating serious haircare without compromise."
