Why Our Editorial Director Shaved Her Head—and What It Taught Her About Haircare

When I was in junior high, I covered my hair for religious reasons, proudly tying my hijab each morning. In university, I dyed it fire-engine red—an unmistakable marker of rebellion and reinvention. And this past December, I shaved it all off.  

I didn’t do it for a trend. I did it because I needed to come home to myself. 

At the same time, I was balancing one of the most intense seasons of my life: helping lead Ethique’s full brand renovation, while training nights and weekends to become a certified meditation teacher. Ten weeks, 200 hours, and more late-night editing sessions than I can count.

Cutting my hair wasn’t just a style choice—it was a ritual of release, a shedding. A way to stop hiding behind what was easy or familiar and to ask myself: Who am I when I let everything else fall away? 

That’s why haircare matters to me so much. It’s never just been about strands or shine—it’s about identity, resilience, and the quiet ways we care for ourselves through change.

And for someone like me—someone with Lupus, ultra-sensitive skin, and allergies longer than a CVS receipt—care has to be simple, solid, and clean. Fragrance-free products aren’t a nice-to-have; they’re non-negotiable. 

Enter: Gentle Duo

For years, the unscented range has been my lifeline: eco-friendly, plastic-free, high-performing—and truly fragrance-free. Which, if you’ve ever tried to find real fragrance-free haircare, you’ll know is almost impossible. Even “unscented” products sneak in masking agents or essential oils that can be just as irritating. It’s one of the reasons I even wanted to work at Ethique in the first place—to be part of something that actually walked the talk. 

And now, with the brand refresh, these bars feel better than ever. 
Solid bars, simple showers, soft, healthy hair—no flare-ups, no compromises. 

Once upon a time, my vanity was cluttered with hundreds of products. Today? My entire routine fits into the palm of my hand. Two bars. That’s it. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Every time you see an email from Ethique, know this: behind every word is a real human (hi, it’s me) who genuinely cares. And it’s not just me—it’s a team of people who care deeply about every little detail, from the way a sentence flows to how a bar feels in your hand. I helped write every word you’ll find on our packs—each one placed with care, revised, and reworked—because you deserve a brand that truly sees you. 

We believe in progress, not perfection—one of our brand values—and we show up every day to build something better, brick by brick. Not just clean beauty or strong ethics, but an experience that helps you feel good in your own skin, and in your own story. 

Because hair isn’t just hair. 
It’s a memory, a mirror, a map of where you’ve been—and where you’re brave enough to go next. 

Shaving my head was never about chasing a look. It was about learning not to depend on my hair to feel pretty—about being able to really see myself. 

In that way, hair is everything... and it’s also just hair. 

Pixie, mermaid, or somewhere in between—what matters most is how your hair makes you feel. 

P.S. Need a little reset of your own? Take a minute for our new Shower Meditation — a pocket-sized reset waiting for you on Instagram. 

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