Afterworld Organics is a non-toxic hair care line blending style and performance with plant-based formulas that nourish the hair, scalp, and skin.

Sophisticated yet simple, and scented with oils from cold-pressed and steam distilled plants, our formulas are free of parabens, PEGs, petrochemicals, phthalates, silicones, synthetic polymers, sulfates, dyes, and chemical fragrance. *Our scents are custom mixed by hand for each batch using only organic essential oils,

We are: A queer-woman-owned haircare line focusing on non-gendered chemical-free scents and non-toxic formulas that deliver high performance with low environmental impact. We are located in Santa Fe, NM and ship world wide.

We believe:

The toxic ingredients used in the hair products of most conventional brands aren’t necessary for healthy, shiny hair and styling performance.
Less is more. We use as few ingredients as possible, which include the highest quality carrier and essential oils in every product.
Hair is an important part of identity and self-expression. Our products are never gender specific and can be used by everyone.
WE WILL NEVER SELL ON AMAZON - We vow to keep the integrity of “chemical-free” and “eco-friendly” by remaining small-batch and community-orientated even as we grow.

Our use of alcohols as an ingredient

Not all alcohols are bad for your hair. Afterworld Organics avoids short-chain alcohols, which are damaging to the hair and skin - they create dry, brittle, and frizzy hair and a flaky scalp. We use long-chain alcohols, or fatty alcohols, in certain products for their moisturizing properties. Cetyl alcohol, cetyl esters, and cetearyl alcohol are all fatty alcohols derived from natural plant oils - they are healthy for the hair, and condition the exterior of the hair shaft to eliminate frizz.

How Hair Glow works and the benefits of its use

Hair Glow is a non-foaming, color preserving hair cleanser that employs the concept of oil cleansing - our formula of sunflower seed oil combined with fatty acids, cetyl esters, and lavender hydrosol (water extracted from lavender) creates a rich cream that binds to dirt, lifts it off the hair and scalp, and washes away when rinsed. The harsh foaming detergents used in most commercial shampoos aren’t necessary - they strip the hair of its natural oils and coat it with silicones that often leave a moisture-blocking, dehydrating, and weakening residue.

Our Founder - Deirdre Novella

Afterworld Organics was created by hair stylist and salon owner Deirdre Novella in 2016. After developing allergic reactions to chemicals in the conventional hair cleansing and styling products she was using daily at work, Deirdre was motivated to create chemical-free, superior quality product alternatives that she and her fellow stylists and clients could use without sacrificing their health and wellbeing.
Deirdre is the owner of Badlands Salon & Barber, a proud member of the Green Circle community that recycles salon waste in a zero-landfill program. Prior to opening her salon in Brooklyn, she trained in presision cutting at Sassoon and then was a New York City-based editorial hair stylist. Deirdre was a team member of renowned hair stylist Guido Palau, and styled hair for top runway shows during New York Fashion Week, including Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren - an experience that provided a solid foundation of working with a diverse range of styles and textures. Having lived in the Southwest in the 90s, Deirdre returned to New Mexico in 2019; permanently re-locating and establishing Afterworld in Santa Fe.