Fab Find of The Week: Arkive headcare (by Adam Reed)
The world is changing. And we couldn’t be happier. We welcome ranges which perhaps describe themselves as ‘genderful’ – not his, or hers, but ‘theirs’ – and we salute founders who are open about their mental health challenges.
We also completely adore products that smell fantastic, don’t cost an arm and a leg, and are widely available.
Which means: Arkive couldn’t tick more boxes if it tried. This new range is created by superstar hairstylist Adam Reed (below), a truly lovely man who also does as more to give back to the industry as any hairdresser we know.
It’s uncomplicated, too – everything is for all hair types. As Adam explains, ‘I wanted people to create rituals out of washing their hair, and switch a mundane chore into a rewarding self-care treat… Elevating everyday tasks, such as washing your hair, with a product that smells uplifting can help make a big difference to how you feel mentally and physically.’ (Adam has been refreshingly open about his own mental health challenges, and we personally know several people who’ve felt empowered to discuss their own ups and downs, because of his honesty.)
But now… that haircare. A capsule collection of 11 products, with two different signature scents; Adam is also VERY big on fragrance, and has a huge personal scent collection. Future Bloom is a ‘grounding hug’ of mandarin, rhubarb, white musk and vanilla, while No One Elsie (our favourite) is honeysuckle, rhubarb, tomato leaf, redcurrant and the woodiness of vetiver and palo santo wood.
All Together Now Go Cleanse/£13 for 300ml. A novel way to cleanse, 98.97% naturally-derived, this doesn’t lather as much as some shampoos and needs to be rinsed for longer, but it leaves hair beautifully clean, without stripping it. Unfragranced, this one, and great for curls and coils, which generally don’t get on well with strong detergents. (There’s also a more ‘conventionally’ sudsing shampoo, The All Day Everyday Shampoo/£12 for 250ml.)
The Future Youth Treatment Mask/£14 for 180ml. Every hair needs a great mask, every week – and this is a GREAT mask, weightless despite the richness of coconut and baobab oils, plus shea butter. Work from mid-lengths, for best results.
The New Form Blow Dry Spray/£13 for 200ml. Great on Jo’s hair, which normally prefers the oomph of a mousse, delivering a lasting style without weighing it down, and scented with No One Elsie.
The Good Habit Hybrid Oil/£14 for 50ml. This is worked through wet hair, delivering extra nourishment and shine. Featuring the Future Bloom scent, this is a must-pack for summer holidays, to counter the ravages of swimming, sun, salt, etc. (You can find them all at Adam’s own website, arkiveheadcare.com, or at Boots, here).
And why ARKIVE…? To quote Adam, again: ‘The name ARKIVE is meaningful to me, and embodies our key beliefs and values. Each letter in ARK stands for a member of our family, while the concept of the ark reflects the open and supportive community I draw my strength from. By putting ARK at the core of the ARKIVE brand name, it signifies that family and community are at the core of the ARKIVE brand, too.’
He continues: ‘ARKIVE is also a reflection of the role our head plays in how we feel about ourselves. Our head acts as the archive of the body: the place where all our memories and stories are held.’
We couldn’t love all of that more, either. Or the fact it’s called ‘Headcare’, not ‘haircare’!
£10-14 – buy here
