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Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, Dip founder Kate Assaraf built her brand on integrity, grit, and respect. From pulling all nighters with her husband to starting her own factory after a major setback, Kate’s story is a reminder that there are no shortcuts in business — just honesty, hard work, and the courage to take the harder path.

What started as one mom’s mission to cut plastic out of her life turned into Dip, a salon-quality sustainable haircare brand redefining the beauty industry.

Some brands sell out. We don’t. Discover why buying haircare from your stylist protects their craft, supports small business, and keeps your hair in expert hands.. not in an online cart.  There was a time when salon brands that once sold only through salons — brands stylists championed, demonstrated, and recommended with confidence — that are now on Amazon, in big-box stores, or selling direct online at discount prices.  

Surfers know the ocean is more than just a playground — it’s a home worth protecting. In this episode of the Confessions of a Surf Lady podcast, Kate Assaraf, founder of Dip, shares how sustainable beauty products like Dip’s eco-friendly body and hair oil are changing the way we care for ourselves and the planet. From shifting our mindset from “consumer” to “protector,” to creating what she calls a “perfume with benefits” that replaces four products in one, Kate reminds us that small eco-conscious choices can create big impact. If you love the ocean, surfing, and clean beauty, this conversation will inspire you to rethink your routine and join the movement for ocean-friendly living.

Guster has always led with heart—and with action. Through REVERB, Adam Gardner has helped make touring greener and more impactful for countless artists. From reusable water bottles and waste-free venues to carbon-neutral events, they’ve changed the industry standard not only for their own concerts but their mission is catching on among artists from Billie Eilish to Dave Matthews Band. This collaboration is our shared way of saying: sustainability can be joyful, artful, and worth showing up for. Oh, and as a combined effort, Dip & Reverb are excited to use these bars to drive awareness to the refill movement beyond the music venue. If you have ever read our page Refill is the New Record Store, you will understand why that is so important to us here at Dip.

Kate Assaraf, CEO of Dip, is redefining what it means to build a brand with integrity. From supporting refill shops to celebrating small wins in entrepreneurship, Kate shares how honesty, sustainability, and community can transform both business and life.

Sustainable beauty shouldn’t mean sacrifice. Dip Haircare founder, Kate Assaraf, shares how she built a movement around performance-first shampoo and conditioner bars, the power of community, and why solving real problems is the key to lasting change.

When Dip founder Kate Assaraf set out to create haircare, she wasn’t chasing trends—she was solving real problems. From gentle shampoo bars designed for daily runners to conditioner bars that detangle surf hair and kids’ curls alike, Dip is changing how we care for our hair while reshaping the way we shop for it.

That’s why we’ve made a conscious decision not to sell on Amazon. Instead, we partner with salons, surf shops, refill stores, and independent retailers across the country who are committed to the same mission we are: delivering zero waste, non-toxic, sustainable hair care that actually works and giving back to their local communities.

Kate Assaraf, founder of Dip, shares how she built a seven-figure plastic-free haircare brand without Amazon or influencer gimmicks. From exposing the dishonesty of beauty marketing to creating salon-quality shampoo and conditioner bars that actually perform.