Beauty Bosses: Lilly Ghalichi & Leyla Milani-Khoshbin, Co-Founders of HAIRtamin
Lilly Ghalichi and Leyla Milani-Khoshbin.
This week’s Beauty Bosses are Lilly Ghalichi and Leyla Milani-Khoshbin, the duo behind HAIRtamin—a line of innovative and vegan haircare products that are formulated with natural ingredients to support thicker, stronger hair. Their cruelty-free, gluten-free line includes supplements, gummy vitamins, as well as a shampoo and conditioner that are formulated with biotin and botanicals to promote healthy growth, volume, and luster.
We chatted with Ghalichi and Milani-Khoshbin, who shared beauty and wellness tips, best advice, success secrets, and more.
When was HAIRtamin founded and what inspired the creation of the brand?
In 2016, after a conversation between Co-Founders Leyla Milani-Khoshbin and Lilly Ghalichi about post-partum hair loss, damage from over-processing, extensions use, and hormone and stress-related issues they were experiencing, the best friends and beauty influencers teamed up to create a clean and effective once-daily hair-wellness supplement.
Does HAIRtamin have a hero product?
HAIRtamin Advanced Formula is our #1 best-selling formula. It’s what the brand was founded on, with millions of bottles sold to date. It’s a one capsule a day, vegan, gluten and cruelty-free formula packed with clinically proven ingredients that promote stronger, longer, thicker, and overall healthier hair. It contains 23 bioavailable ingredients including clinical-strength 5000 mcg of biotin as well as antioxidants turmeric, black pepper seed, aloe vera, vitamins C and D3 to help nourish the body from the inside out, reduce oxidative stress on scalp and promote healthy growth. On average, customers see noticeable results within 60 to 90 days.
Our HAIRtamin Gummy Stars are the delicious way to take your hair vitamins. Developed with many of the same hair-beautifying ingredients as our Advanced Formula, but formulated into a delicious, super-fruit medley vegan gummy form. Just two stars a day!
What are your favorite products from the line?
Leyla: t’s so hard for me to pick a favorite because every single product is so special and beneficial in its own way. But if I had to pick just a few, it would be our Advanced Formula capsules and our Biotin Shampoo & Conditioner. My hair has completely transformed thanks to these products.
Lilly: Our HAIRtamin Gummy Stars! This product has truly transformed my hair and my life as a result. Best of all, they are an incredibly delicious, sweet treat I look forward to every day. Unlike other gummies, which usually only contain one or two vitamins and are loaded with sugar and unnecessary fillers/colors, our HAIRtamin Gummy Stars are jam-packed with over 14 bioavailable vitamins, minerals, and super antioxidants. This product is truly effective and a delicious way to treat yourself towards healthy hair.
Where are your products sold?
HAIRtamin products are currently sold on our website, in all ULTA stores, and on ulta.com.
Future plans for the brand?
Our customers mean everything to us, so the future of our brand is continuing to develop healthy, effective products targeting exactly what our community wants and needs. Right now, we are in the lab with our formulators developing a super exciting scalp serum. It will be a game-changer with results like you’ve never seen.
HAIRtamin’s Gummy Stars ($30) promote stronger, longer, thicker hair with 5000mcg of biotin, vitamins C, D3, B12, folate, zinc, turmeric, and superfruits.
Who inspires you?
Leyla: For me, it’s two people: my mom, and my best friend and business partner, Lilly. Both are true powerhouse women who have paved their own way to success while being dedicated mothers. I learn so much from them every day and they have shaped who I am today.
Lilly: My mom has been the single most influential woman in my life. She came to this country all alone at 17 without having much money to her name or knowing a word of English. Despite so many hurdles, she managed to teach herself English while attending college, and worked nights and weekends to support herself and eventually became an educated and successful woman. Whenever I feel discouraged, I think about her. She had it infinitely harder than I ever have, so if she was able to do it against all odds, I have no excuse. She inspires me not only as a woman, but now as a mother myself the way she managed to do it all while raising three kids.
Secret to success?
Leyla: Work hard, believe in yourself, stay away from toxic people, and always pay it forward.
Lilly: Stay focused and try to ignore all the noise. It's so easy to get distracted and discouraged in life, especially when you feel like you have "failed." Failures are not the end of the road and they don't define your success, they are merely a bump in your path that you should learn and grow from. No matter what happens, stay focused and never stop believing in yourself and working towards your dreams.
Beauty secrets?
Leyla: Everything HAIRtamin of course! Silk pillowcases, wash your hair once or twice a week at most, and dry shampoo is your best friend.
Lilly: Happy girls are the prettiest! True beauty starts from within; when you start every day with a reminder that you are worthy, you are grateful, you are blessed, and you will naturally be a kinder, happier person. On the physical side, wear SPF to protect your skin and don't forget to put it on your neck and hands. A woman's true age can be revealed by her hands if she doesn't protect them!
Wellness tips?
Leyla: Eat clean, whole foods including Wild Alaskan salmon at least once a week, whole eggs, lots of avocados, tea > coffee, smile often, take time to be still, and stay away from anything or anyone that makes you feel less than.
Lilly: Get enough sleep! It's amazing what sleep can do for your mind, body, and soul. As a toddler parent, it's hard to get a good night's rest, but finding time to rest your body and allow it to repair and rejuvenate is so important. You can instantly wake up looking younger and feeling mentally refreshed with a good night's sleep.
Best advice?
Leyla: Every expert was once a beginner.
Lilly: Success is a marathon, not a race. Take small steps every single day towards your life goals. No one gets there overnight so stop comparing yourself to others and feeling behind. Instead, focus on your goals, take a few meaningful steps working for them every single day, and most importantly, never give up.
Favorite ways to relax?
Leyla: I love watching true crime shows, especially “Dateline” and “20/20,” a cup of tea, bubble bath, online shopping and vacations.
Lilly: Believe it or not, with a major sweat session of exercise. I feel most at peace after an intense spin class or hot yoga session. There's something about sweating a lot that is extremely detoxifying for me, I feel like I almost purge all my stress and toxins. I am most relaxed after an incredible hot workout.
For more information, visit their website and follow them on Instagram: @hairtamin
[Images courtesy of HAIRtamin]
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