Masami

Ultra-hydrating haircare made out of sustainably sourced Mekabu seaweed.

About Masami

Masami is a clean, luxury haircare brand that uses nutrient-packed Mekabu seaweed and other all-natural ingredients to hydrate, strengthen, and nourish hair. Their formula leaves all types of hair hydrated, shiny, and lightweight after every wash, something that not many shampoo brands can boast.

Why We Love Them

Because they are Masami also works directly with local Japanese farmers to source Mekabu. They give-back to the region by creating The Masami Institute, which partners with local Japanese organizations and farmers to research, monitor, and reinvest in the local ecosystem while educating the public about ocean preservation.

Origin Story

Masami was started by James Hammett and Lynn Power, two beauty industry veterans who believe in the power of Mekabu seaweed. Hammett, a product manager who had worked with big beauty brands like L’Oreal and Revlon, spent time formulating the ultimate hydrating haircare line with Mekabu seaweed as the main ingredient. When he gave a sample to Power to try, after one wash she knew it was the real deal. She joined him as his partner to create and launch the brand. Masami, which means “truly beautiful” in Japanese, is named after Hammett’s husband Masa, who first introduced Hammett to Mekabu and helped Hammett create the formulations since day one. Even though they launched one month before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US hard, they have been able to quickly grow with new and repeat customers who fell in love with the hydrating and strengthening power of seaweed the first time they used Masami.

The TL;DR

  • Hydrating haircare including shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, and shine serum, for all hair types and all genders
  • Uses Mekabu seaweed, a nutrient-packed all-natural botanical from Japan
  • Created the Masami Institute to work with local farmers to research and study ocean preservation and ensure they are following sustainable practices
  • Works with local Japanese family-owned farmers to source the ingredients

The Science & The Soul

The Science

Masami’s haircare line is built around one magical ingredient, Mekabu. Mekabu is a nutrient-rich ocean seaweed sourced from Wakame seaweed, which grows off the Sanriku Coast in Northern Japan. Mekabu has been harvested for centuries by Japanese farmers to use for their skincare and haircare products. The Masami team works directly with local Japanese farmers who source and supply the seaweed in responsible, sustainable ways. Mekabu is packed with nutrients that work to promote hydration, growth and strength. It is an excellent source of vitamin A, C, E and K, delivering your hair the nutrients it needs. It is lightweight and doesn’t way hair down, making it great for all hair types.

In addition to Mekabu, Masami features other naturally-derived ingredients like aponica laminaria, blueberry extract, aloe & grapeseed oil. There are no phthalates, sulfates or parabens in their products. In fact, their formulas are so clean that they follow EU product compliance due to the stricter product standards. All of their products are also vegan & cruelty free.

The Soul

Masami created The Masami Institute in Northeast Japan to give back to the ocean and the environment. They work directly with the local fishermen and coastline preservation groups to research and study the Mekabu seaweed and coastlines. The Northeast region of Japan is still feeling the effects of the devastation caused by the 2011 tsunami. Masami gives back to the local organizations and helps them rebalance the ecosystem. They monitor the Mekabu growth each season to ensure they are not over-farming and that the ecosystem has everything it needs to thrive, and they teach consumers about ocean preservation.