Innovation & Artistry
The Journey of a Product Artist
Back when I started developing my own product formulas thirty years ago, I was the first in the hair care industry to use ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, zinc and yeast derivatives, calcium and zinc proteins, grape seed extract, sage, blueberry and blackberry. Until then, these ingredients were relatively new and mostly used for skin care.
There was not much available at the time, so I experimented blending all kinds of concoctions of moisture and protein such as yogurt, avocado, celery, and bananas - just to name a few. One of the first things I discovered was that the molecular structures of the ingredients I was using would not penetrate beyond the first layer of the hair. The effect was only topical and could not reach the cortex.
As time progressed, I engaged with herbalists as well as chemists. It seemed important to get all sides of the science + nature equation. Plus, I wanted to begin something that could exist beyond a trend. Something beyond a temporary solution that was cosmetic, appearance, and surface based. And then as time continued to progress, the nucleus of a growing team was formed. Together we explored, experimented, and worked on one product at a time until we got it right.
So this is how it all started and how I began to get involved with organics. It was also during this time that I developed a sensitivity to more fully understand what I experienced with the products I used before I entered product making and why they allowed me to go so far, when I wanted to see something else.
I really wanted to see how certain ingredients could perform and be effective to help improve the health of the hair and scalp region from the inside out so that hair could become a better canvas for my design. I really wanted to liberate and create couture quality hair, and for me, this will always mean allowing for hair to breath on its own whether in the salon or while on set.
It was a huge breakthrough when I realized that I could transform and synthesize a product into what I wanted to see and feel. So I continued to create products myself in hopes to fulfill my need for high design quality and performance. Also, to compliment my Volumetrics hair cutting system that I had already developed and that organically coincided alongside this process. It only seemed natural to incorporate the performance based results I had already begun to achieve in the area of product development to ultimately benefit and support my holistic organic approach to hair cutting.
My need for great design in relationship to hair, from a cutting, styling, and product developer perspective is how I began to relate and connect with hair as fabric. I discovered early on that the better the fabric, the better the design. I needed to create products to support this need and to combine health and beauty in this way.
Tela Beauty Organics is my quest for this passion – an ongoing journey – for a delicate balance and integrity of ingredients in order to create great design for healthy fabric and healthy scalp environment.
- Philip Pelusi
Back when I started developing my own product formulas thirty years ago, I was the first in the hair care industry to use ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, zinc and yeast derivatives, calcium and zinc proteins, grape seed extract, sage, blueberry and blackberry. Until then, these ingredients were relatively new and mostly used for skin care.
There was not much available at the time, so I experimented blending all kinds of concoctions of moisture and protein such as yogurt, avocado, celery, and bananas - just to name a few. One of the first things I discovered was that the molecular structures of the ingredients I was using would not penetrate beyond the first layer of the hair. The effect was only topical and could not reach the cortex.
As time progressed, I engaged with herbalists as well as chemists. It seemed important to get all sides of the science + nature equation. Plus, I wanted to begin something that could exist beyond a trend. Something beyond a temporary solution that was cosmetic, appearance, and surface based. And then as time continued to progress, the nucleus of a growing team was formed. Together we explored, experimented, and worked on one product at a time until we got it right.
So this is how it all started and how I began to get involved with organics. It was also during this time that I developed a sensitivity to more fully understand what I experienced with the products I used before I entered product making and why they allowed me to go so far, when I wanted to see something else.
I really wanted to see how certain ingredients could perform and be effective to help improve the health of the hair and scalp region from the inside out so that hair could become a better canvas for my design. I really wanted to liberate and create couture quality hair, and for me, this will always mean allowing for hair to breath on its own whether in the salon or while on set.
It was a huge breakthrough when I realized that I could transform and synthesize a product into what I wanted to see and feel. So I continued to create products myself in hopes to fulfill my need for high design quality and performance. Also, to compliment my Volumetrics hair cutting system that I had already developed and that organically coincided alongside this process. It only seemed natural to incorporate the performance based results I had already begun to achieve in the area of product development to ultimately benefit and support my holistic organic approach to hair cutting.
My need for great design in relationship to hair, from a cutting, styling, and product developer perspective is how I began to relate and connect with hair as fabric. I discovered early on that the better the fabric, the better the design. I needed to create products to support this need and to combine health and beauty in this way.
Tela Beauty Organics is my quest for this passion – an ongoing journey – for a delicate balance and integrity of ingredients in order to create great design for healthy fabric and healthy scalp environment.
- Philip Pelusi
