Our latest Beauty Boss is Eric Delapenha, Founder of The Hair Lab—a personalized hair care brand that provides individual product recommendations specific to each person’s needs. After completing a quick online or in-store hair analysis test, personalized results are available within two minutes to pinpoint your needs and the appropriate solutions. The test measures various factors including scalp moisture level, hair texture, and environmental impacts prior to creating a custom-recommended routine for each customer.

The Hair Lab believes that no two strands are alike which is why they start with an in-depth hair analysis. Once they know the unique biology of a person’s hair, they formulate personalized hair care products with ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, squalene, aloe vera, and moringa seed oil, among others. View their complete list of ingredients here.

All of their formulas are free from harmful ingredients, are cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and mineral oil-free. Their personalized product line includes several different types of shampoos, conditioners, leave-in conditioners, and doses that target various hair concerns.

We chatted with Delapenha who shared his favorite wellness tips, secrets for success, best advice, and much more.

When was The Hair Lab founded? What’s the meaning behind the name?

The Hair Lab was founded in 2022. The meaning behind the brand is to co-create the perfect customized formula with our shoppers. By bringing them along the journey of formula creation, they become a chemist like in a lab, hence The Hair Lab.  

What inspired the creation of the brand?

Our team of scientists realized that hair care is a guessing game. We realized that the average consumer struggles to understand what their hair scientifically needs and is unable to customize products that address their unique hair concerns. So our team created The Hair Lab to introduce the first hair testing and product customization experience that finally takes the guesswork out of hair care.The Hair Lab doesn’t have to guess what your hair needs to be its best, we use science to know. And with this knowledge we create your perfect products from over 1,000 possible combinations.

Does The Hair Lab have a hero product?

Our best sellers are our Clarifying Shampoo, Anti-Frizz Dose, and Scalp Reset Dose. However, each shopper is assigned a personalized routine based on their hair biology and environmental factors, so our top sellers are a function of the people completing our online diagnostic and the formulas recommended to them.  

What are your favorite products from the brand?

I personally suffer from an oily scalp and breakage while spending most of the year in a hot climate so my personalized routine is made up of our Clarifying Shampoo, Well-Balanced Conditioner, Scalp Reset Dose, Anti-Breakage Dose, and UV Shield Dose.  

Where are your products sold?

They are sold on our website, on Walmart.com, and in over 2,000 Walmart stores nationwide in the U.S. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements on new products and distribution later this year! 

Future plans for the brand?

To expand our personalized haircare product line-up and points of distribution. We recently launched an amazing line of personalized Leave-In Conditioners alongside our new Volume Boost Dose and UV Shield Dose. We’re gearing up for some first-to-market innovation in the hair care space launching nationwide this summer as well.  

Who inspires you?

I’m very fortunate to have an amazing group of mentors that I’ve known since I was in grade school. They’ve watched me grow and helped me avoid numerous pitfalls. Outside of my mentors, my family inspires me everyday. 

Secret to success?

Stay focused and ignore all of the noise that constantly seeks to distract you from the path you want to pursue.

Beauty secrets?

Get plenty of sleep! It’s hard to look and feel our best when we’re running on fumes. 

Wellness tips?

Try to exercise and get your body moving everyday. Pretty basic stuff. It helps me feel great and get focused before long days at work. 

Best advice?

Trust your gut. 

Favorite way to relax?

Catch up with friends and don’t talk about work. I always try to stay away from becoming a person whose personality and life centers around work. 

For more information about The Hair Lab, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @theofficialhairlab

[Images courtesy of The Hair Lab]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk