Mekabu Seaweed in Haircare: Introducing MASAMI
Posted on January 31 2021
We at Cosme Hunt welcome our new brand affiliate MASAMI! With its motto “Hydration is life,” MASAMI brings to our storefront a wonderful selection of shampoos, conditioners, and more -- all of which have been crafted with a keen eye for health and well-being.
MASAMI emphasizes the concept of “clean beauty,” where beauty products strive to use ingredients that are as natural as possible. To this end, the brand says in their blog that they’ve committed themselves to the difficult process of eliminating “many of the chemicals we are all accustomed to” while still keeping its products “luxurious.”
The brand’s efforts have truly paid off. Now, MASAMI has emerged in the world of health-conscious beauty with four primary products, all of which proudly emphasize that they don’t use parabens, sulfates, nor phthalates — not to mention vegan and silicone free. In addition, these products include some potent natural ingredients like apricot and coconut oil, and most importantly: the Japanese botanical mekabu.
What is mekabu?
Mekabu is procured from a part of an edible seaweed native to Japan, Korea, and the two countries’ surrounding waters. The seaweed, named Undaria pinnatifida, or wakame, has long been considered a kind of “superfood.” It provides calcium, minerals (like iodine and potassium), and is also rich in a polysaccharide called fucoidan. In particular, fucoidan has been recently studied for its reportedly therapeutic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Researchers have also expressed interest in studying fucoidan’s potential benefits to the hair, like its possible ability to promote hair growth by “stimulating dermal papilla cells.” While such research is still in its early stages, fucoidan does show promise.
The science notwithstanding, mekabu has been ingrained in Japanese cuisine and herbal use for many years. In his blog post, MASAMI’s CIO, James Hammett, notes that mekabu plays a part in helping Japanese women maintain “shiny and soft hair that looks so thick, healthy and youthful until a very late age.” Above all, mekabu’s consistent place in Japanese culture demonstrates its safety and effectiveness as a natural product.
MASAMI’s dedication to mekabu
To obtain quality mekabu ingredients, MASAMI partners with a local Japanese family business operating in the Sanriku Coast of Northern Japan. The family boasts 71 years of experience in seaweed farming and manufacturing, and they harvest their mekabu crops straight from the mineral-rich waters once a year in limited, sustainable quantities.
MASAMI also gives back to the environment. With its MASAMI Institute, the brand “works with the local fishermen and coastline preservation groups to research, monitor, and document each season’s growth.” Such efforts will help maintain the ecosystem’s balance so that quality mekabu can continue to be procured for many years to come, and so that the fragile beauty and health of the planet can be preserved.
MASAMI’s products
The brand sells Mekabu Hydrating Shampoo, Mekabu Hydrating Conditioner, Mekabu Hydrating Shine Serum, and Mekabu Hydrating Styling Cream. These products come in full sizes and travel kit sizes.
Mekabu Hydrating Shampoo available on Cosme Hunt
Mekabu Hydrating Shampoo is a low foaming shampoo that’ll hydrate the hair and nourish the scalp with its blend of apricot oil, coconut oil, kombu, and of course, mekabu. It uses water and aloe vera leaf juice as a base and is scented by a “naturally derived and phthalate-free” fragrance.
Mekabu Hydrating Conditioner available on Cosme Hunt
Mekabu Hydrating Conditioner features a proprietary blend of mekabu, kombu, other seaweeds, aloe vera, blueberry extract, and various antioxidants like Vitamin B. Like the shampoo, the conditioner hydrates and soothes the hair and scalp, especially if used daily.
Mekabu Hydrating Shine Serum available on Cosme Hunt
For one’s hair after showering, Mekabu Hydrating Shine Serum polishes and softens the hair while adding vibrancy to the hair’s color. MASAMI states that the serum can also protect the hair from heat styling, and that it infuses the follicles with “nutrients necessary for long term nourishment and care.”
Mekabu Hydrating Styling Cream available on Cosme Hunt
To shape and style the hair, MASAMI sells Mekabu Hydrating Styling Cream. MASAMI says that the non-greasy and non-sticky formula can hold the hair all day long. And at the same time, the cream further nourishes with its hydrating mix of mekabu, aloe vera, Vitamin E, grapeseed oil, and sweet almond oil.
The team behind MASAMI
MASAMI is headed by a group of positive-minded people seeking to improve and innovate in the beauty industry. CEO Lynn Power brings years of experience working with the likes of Gillette, Clinique, and L’Oreal. In an interview with Authority Magazine, Lynn talks about how she developed her expertise at creative ad agencies. She doesn’t model her leadership style after archetypical “male bosses,” but rather works with her own style that’s “more open, more vulnerable,” and exudes “more empathy.” Together with her co-founder James Hammett, Lynn launched MASAMI with the intent of supporting the concept of clean beauty.
The CIO, James, and his husband — and MASAMI Institute Chairman — Masahiro (Masa) Sasaki, have also been committed to a vision of making beauty more sustainable and health-conscious. James brings over 25 years of experience in the beauty industry and 10 years of working on MASAMI’s formulations, along with his fascination of Japanese culture and botanicals. And Masahiro firmly believes that Japanese beauty is about finding “real beauty and real nutrition from nature and our own ingredients.” James’s and Masahiro’s partnership, both in life and in business, bring a personal touch to MASAMI’s operations.
Why should you be interested in clean beauty?
While “clean beauty” may be a bit vague as a term, MASAMI believes that it revolves around taking good care of oneself. While anyone can strive to enhance their outward appearances, clean beauty requests that they don’t do so at the cost of their own health; why pump your hair full of problematic chemicals only for it to look good for a few hours and for it to become damaged in the long term?
Beauty consumers and gurus are already moving away from toxins and carcinogens, and brands are in the process of making their products healthier. However, MASAMI jumps into the industry with a fully-formed commitment to clean beauty. The brand wants its consumers to feel and look good both on the outside and on the inside. For that reason and more, we invite you to take a look at MASAMI’s wares on Cosme Hunt today!
To find out more, visit our website!
Viet Tran
As a geek who graduated from San Francisco State University, Viet spends his (very limited) free time reading, drawing, and writing. He holds a lot of interest in bodily health, and has successfully implemented a keto and fasting regimen over the past year -- an effort that changed his life for the better.
