GRATIUM is a certified organic vegan hair and skin care brand that ethically produces natural hair and skin care products! Based in the UK, this incredible brand proudly advocates for healthy hair and skin care products without the use of toxic ingredients that prevent all hair types from flourishing. Dedicated to creating organic products that use natural ingredients, GRATIUM has been nominated this year for ‘the best emerging brand’! From their best seller’s Clay Shampoo to their new GRATIUM Conditioner, there are numerous products you will want to try. To learn more about GRATIUM, and their devotion to successfully creating organic hair and skincare products, please read our exclusive interview with the CEO of GRATIUM below.

Where are you based?
We are based in the UK.

What led to the creation of GRATIUM?
A number of things lead to the creation of GRATIUM. The brand was birthed out of a need for safer products for women and men. The initial purpose was to meet the needs of family and close friends suffering from asthma, eczema, hair loss and dry scalp. There wasn’t a plan to start a brand. The Healthy Scalp Growth was formulated for a close friend and her daughters who suffered from dry flaky scalp. Needless to say, she became a walking advert for the product, as a result of the hair growth she had gained from the use of the product. It was due to the demand of products that it was decided to launch the brand. GRATIUM has expanded its reach and now provides products to customers from different ethnicities.

Where does the name GRATIUM come from?
It derives from a Latin word meaning thankful and grace.

As a brand that values organic products, can you tell us about the mission to advocate for healthy hair and skin care products without the use of toxic ingredients?
Yes, as a brand that champions organic, sustainable, vegan products, we feel it is important to eliminate dangerous substances which are linked to adverse health issues by sourcing alternatives to the toxic substances, that are so often found in cosmetic products. We formulate using organic, sustainable and vegan ingredients to protect the health of our customers and the environment.

As a certified vegan and ethically produced hair and skin care brand, can you tell us about the organic ingredients you use in your products?
We use a broad range of organic, vegan friendly ingredients in our skin and hair products, some are listed below:

Organic Avocado oil, great for improving strength and sealing moisture in hair. Full of nutrients, such as fatty acids, amino acids and vitamins A B D and E, which are beneficial to hair. Studies suggest fatty acids improve the density of hair and can help to reduce hair loss. This is a great ingredient which is included in our products.
Organic Castor Oil has antibacterial and anti-fungicidal properties. Known to have healing benefits and aides hair growth. Another essential ingredient in our Healthy Scalp Growth and Strength Hair Loss oils.
Organic Coconut Oil, is a good ingredient to help detangle hair while providing a protective seal to maintain moisture. Our Coconut Pomade is a winner for styling and maintenance.
Organic Jojoba Oil is biocompatible with the skin, our preferred oil of choice to help reduce dandruff and dry scalp issues. You will find this supper ingredient in our Healthy Scalp Growth and Strength Hair Loss.
Organic Shea Butter is produced from the seed of the Shea tree, which can be found in East and West Africa. Shea butter is not only a wonderful protector and sealant but also helps to smooth dry skin.

Why are clean vegan ingredients important to you?
Within the cosmetic industry we are free to use toxic ingredients to formulate products. For example, some substances are used to keep the products safe such as Antimicrobials, antifungals and preservatives. It’s important for GRATIUM to offer consumers a safer natural organic option, that is cruelty free. The cosmetic industry has evolved to the extend there are other options to testing on animals and formulating products that do not contain animal derived substances. GRATIUM actively source non-toxic ingredients because studies have shown toxic substances cause harm to our body and organs. For example, cosmetics may contain triclosan and parabens which are known endocrine disruptors (these imitate the body’s hormones, such as estrogen) which can cause changes to the body’s system and may lead to health problems, such as cancer. We may be exposed to these in other ways such as through pesticides and food we consume.

A new product in stock is a conditioner that is amazing for individuals that struggle with coarse hair. What led to the creation of this conditioner? What organic ingredients are incorporated for this product?
Hair comes in different textures and require different products to manage and maintain it. We wanted consumers to experience soft manageable hair without the need of applying chemicals. Formulating a conditioner which could do this was a must for our customers. We sourced some incredible ingredients to achieve this. The Cupuaçu Conditioner contains super ingredients such as cupuaçu, marshallow and shea, all of which help with the manageability of the hair. An independent review carried out by 4curly championed this as a winner amongst their subscribers link: https://www.4curlyhair.co.uk/frosandcons/2021/11/3/gratium-official-review

What are some of your most popular hair and skincare products? What products are some of your favorites?
Popular: The top five are Amber and Spice Body Butter, Healthy Scalp Growth, Strength Hair Loss, Coconut Pomade, Plant Oil and Clay Shampoo (in no particular order).

My Favs: Plant Oil, which encourages hair growth, density and helps to keep the hair dark. I love this oil and use it as a pre poo on wash days (not recommended for customers with light coloured hair). The Clay Shampoo is a gentle detoxifying shampoo; part of the super soft range, I use this twice a month as part of my wash day routine and alternate with the Plant Shampoo. The Strength Hair Loss oil, my staple for daily and weekly scalp maintenance, great for dry scalp, hair growth and hair loss recovery (hair loss recovery — this is dependent on the type of hair loss a person may suffer from).

What advice do you have for people struggling with their hair?
Get to know your hair. Know what your hair likes and dislikes. You may need to trial products for three to six months. However, if you begin to experience adverse effects, you must stop using the product immediately. Select products for your hair type, base your selection on what your hair responds well to. Build a hair routine and keep a hair journey diary. This could mean the difference between a successful healthy hair journey and failure. If you are wanting to retain length, then growth aides, moisture and sealants are going to be your best friends. Finally, healthy hair starts from the inside and your hair regime helps to maintain your tresses on the outside.

The pandemic was crazy for small businesses. How were you impacted? How did you stay positive during shelter in place? Are you back to normal now?
We completed the COVID 19 certification and implemented processes to ensure we were compliant. Overall, the pandemic had a positive affect on GRATIUM. There was an increase in purchases of organic care products. We provided more content on line as consumers we unable to go out and try products. We increased our engagement with customers via newsletters, social media and website. We are now back to normal.

What is your motto in life?
I have more than one, but here’s one for you:
Visualize your greatest self, now start turning up as her.

To learn more about GRATIUM, please follow them via the links below:
www.gratium.co.uk
Instagram: @gratiumofficial
Facebook: Gratium

Image credits: GRATIUM Official.

Making Waves with Ethical Vegan Hair and Skincare Brand GRATIUM