Spring 2024 | 11 Based in Georgia, Meraki Hair Care is a non-toxic holistic hair care brand that offers a wide range of vegan and cruelty-free products, formulated with nutrient-rich, organic, fairtrade, and Ayurvedic ingredients. Here, we dive into the motivations and career of Founder and CEO Amber Makupson, who established Meraki in 2019. Best Plant-Based Vegan Hair Care Brand 2023 - USA chemicals linked to various health concerns, verified by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC), Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP), and an advisory committee of leading scientists and NGOs working to improve women’s health and address the health concerns that disproportionately impact black women. Furthermore, Meraki believes that it is important for beauty and hair care companies to switch to plant-based ingredients since they are ultimately more environmentally sustainable, better for human health, and produce superior beauty results. To further demonstrate its commitment to people and the environment, the business supports fairtrade, champions organic farming, minimises its carbon footprint, and uses recyclable packaging. Amber, herself, currently sits on the board for Better Black Beauty, a non-profit organisation based in California that focuses on advocacy and education about toxic beauty products. Additionally, Amber has founded her own non-profit organisation, Clean Beauty Coalition, a think tank for BIPOC beauty industry leaders dedicated to reducing the exposure of toxic ingredients in personal care and beauty products, and the racial disparities these harmful chemicals inflict on black and brown women through education, advocacy, and policy reform. Meraki’s award-winning multicultural hair care products can be purchased through its website and at Anthropologie, a popular American retailer that sells clothing, jewellery, furniture, decorations, beauty products, and more. The brand is proud to have been featured in over 40 national publications, with its products receiving high praise from titles like Oprah Magazine, Oprah Daily, Harper's Bazaar, Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, ELLE, W, Yahoo News, and many more. For its outstanding product range, Meraki Hair Care has been awarded Best Plant-Based Vegan Hair Care Brand, USA, in the Global Vegan Awards 2023. Considering its success thus far, there is no doubt that the business will continue to thrive under the leadership of Amber Makupson, and we look forward to seeing what its future holds. Contact: Amber Makupson Company: Meraki Hair Care Web Address: bio.site/MerakiHairCare ith a longstanding passion for all things related to beauty, skin care, and hair care, Amber Makupson began her successful career as a licenced aesthetician, specialising in botanical treatments. When she fell pregnant with her first daughter, she took on a healthy and holistic lifestyle, making her own natural remedies and beauty products. However, shortly after giving birth, Amber returned to using over-the-counter products, one of which would soon cause her to suffer second degree chemical burns on her face. This distressing experience led Amber to begin extensively researching the ingredients used in different types of beauty products. She found that those marketed towards black women often contained the most toxic ingredients used in the cosmetics industry, including chemicals linked to breast and ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, reproductive harm, early puberty in young girls, and much more. Additionally, she learned that, due to the lack of regulation in the US cosmetics industry, 70% of toxic ingredients are not disclosed on product labels. Having made these troubling discoveries, Amber felt driven to utilise the knowledge and skills she had gained as a trained aesthetician and herbalist to design a line of award-winning, non-toxic, and holistic hair care products, formulated with Ayurvedic ingredients that are packed with nutrients and vitamins. These products are suitable for all hair types and textures, nourishing the scalp and stimulating hair growth. Pouring boundless selflove, passion, and fearlessness into this new venture, Amber named the brand ‘Meraki’, a Greek word defined as ‘to do something with love, soul, and creativity; to put the essence of yourself into your work’. With a strong belief in the power of holistic healing, she incorporates crystals and gemstones into Meraki’s offerings. Inspired by ancient Egyptian healing rituals, the stones are matched with a product based on their energetic healing properties to create highly vibrational remedies that not only nourish the hair and scalp but also the mind, body, and soul. Since its establishment in 2019, Meraki has maintained an unwavering commitment to health and safety in its products, exceeding the legal standard in the US by far. Its entire range is completely free of the toxic W
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