Deirdre Novella
Our Story
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 well-being.
Deirdre is the owner of Badlands Salon & Barber, a member of the Green Circle community that recycles salon waste in a zero-landfill program. Prior to opening Badlands in Brooklyn, she trained in precision cutting at Sassoon and then was a New York City-based editorial hair stylist. Deirdre was a team member of renowned stylist Guido Palau and styled hair for top runway shows during New York Fashion Week, including Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren, experiences that provided a solid foundation of working with a diverse range of hair textures and styles. In 2019, Deirdre relocated to New Mexico and established Afterworld and Badlands in Santa Fe.
WE ARE
a queer-woman-owned haircare line focused on non-gendered chemical-free scents and nontoxic formulas that deliver high performance with low environmental impact.
We are located in Santa Fe, NM and ship worldwide!
Afterworld Organics is a nontoxic hair care line packaged in glass bottles and kraft paper refill pouches. Using plant-based formulas that nourish the hair, scalp, and skin, Afterworld is eco-sustainable and non-polluting of the earth and your body.
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 in batches using only organic essential oils. We focus on wood, vanilla, and amber scents with citrus accents.
WE BELIEVE
the toxic ingredients used in most conventional hair care 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 a vital 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” ethics by remaining small-batch and community-oriented even as we grow.
Bestseller: how Hair Glow works and its benefits
Hair Glow is a non-foaming, color-preserving hair cleanser based on 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 it 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 dehydrating “shellac” residue. Using only simple, wholesome ingredients, Hair Glow locks in moisture while smoothing the cuticle to create super-soft shine on both curls and straight hair.
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. These are healthy for the hair, and condition the exterior of the hair shaft to temper frizz.