Devoted to clean beauty without sacrificing performance, ABBA delivers pure, unparalleled results for healthy hair through its 100% vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free formulas. With more than 30 years thriving in the industry, ABBA creates natural products that utilize plant-derived botanicals to give your hair the care it, and the world, deserves.
The History of ABBA
Jim Markham and Alan Benfield Bush founded ABBA with the goal to create the perfect shampoo: a product that cleans, lathers well, rinses effectively, detangles, is hypoallergenic, adds shine, has a pleasant smell, doesn’t irritate the scalp, and does not remove color treatments.
Markham and Bush were prominent hairdressers prior to starting ABBA. Markham’s star-studded clientele included Johnny Carson, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, and Robert Redford, while Bush trained stylists for Paul Mitchell Systems, Joyco Laboratories, and Redkin Products. Markham also later founded ColorProof Color Care Authority and Pureology.
In the early ‘90s, ABBA—an acronym for Achieve Balance of Business and Art—emerged as one of the fastest-growing hair product lines. It stands today with the same commitment to clean haircare for consumers who want high-performing products that are environmentally conscious.
Clean Haircare
Vegan shampoos and conditioners offer not only environmental benefits, but also an absence of harsh chemicals—such as parabens and sulfates—that strip the hair and lead to dryness, scalp damage, and even hair loss. Vegan hair care can still be as gentle, strengthening, and effective as other formulations, while being better for the planet.
ABBA, as one of the pioneering vegan and sulfate-free hair care brands, goes beyond expectations in its clean beauty commitment. In addition to being vegan and sulfate-free, ABBA’s collections are formulated without sodium chloride, parabens, gluten, or synthetic additives, offering pure and simple solutions for clean beauty enthusiasts.
“Eco-consciousness and vegan beauty go hand in hand,” Markham told Beauty Store Business in 2018. “What we consume has a tremendous effect on our environment, whether it be our food choices or the products we purchase.”
While ABBA uses the cleanest ingredients available, the brand never sacrifices the performance customers need.
Powerful Protein
On top of being one of the first 100% vegan haircare brands, ABBA sets itself apart by incorporating three powerful proteins into all its products: Quinoa, Barley, and Soy.
Quinoa is rich in eight essential amino acids that provide moisture and strength to each strand. Barley infuses lasting moisture, and Soy adds body and control. This dynamic ProQuinoa Complex of hydrolyzed proteins delivers incredible performance to each ABBA product without relying on gluten.
Fabulous Formulas
From shampoos and conditioners to leave-in and styling products, there is an ABBA solution for every hair type and need. The brand boasts multiple regimens, including Pure Gentle (with cherry bark and aloe) for sensitive skin and scalps, Pure Moisture for dry and frizzy hair, Pure Protection (with coconut and sage) for color-treated hair, and Pure Volume for fine hair, as well as many other solutions.
The great thing about ABBA’s vegan collection is how you can mix and match each haircare step to create your own pure, personalized regimen. Whether it’s combining the Detox Shampoo, Color Protection Conditioner, and Firm Finish Hair Gel or exploring other combinations, ABBA empowers you to craft your own unique hair care cocktail. If you’re still not sure where to start, though, there are a couple of ABBA products that top our “must-try” lists.
Standout Suggestions
First, we recommend everyone tries the Complete All-In-One Leave-In Spray. On top of amazing thermal protection against heated hair tools like dryers, curling wands, and flat irons, this lightweight and conditioning spray adds strength, shine, softness, hydration, and elasticity. The result is soft locks with less breakage, plus a light and lovely coconut and watermelon scent with every spritz.
On the opposite end of the hair care spectrum, we also highly recommend the award-winning Always Fresh Dry Shampoo for its cleansing and refreshing capabilities. This lightweight aluminum and talc-free formula uses rice starch to absorb excess oil while preventing salt from building, and it adds some natural lift and light texture for fresh-feeling tresses. With conditioning argan and sunflower oils plus nourishing and color-protecting coconut oil and sage, this style-refreshing spray leaves a natural, light scent while absorbing any unpleasant odors.
For a duo that can’t be beaten, we also love the Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner. Olive butter and peppermint oil gently cleanse, hydrate, and strengthen the hair while also creating a wonderful sensory experience. Hydrated hair is happy hair, and this partnership is perfect for adding moisture that minimizes frizz and improves softness without weighing down ‘dos.
And lastly, if you’re looking to add volume but the Volume Shampoo and Conditioner alone are not enough, check out the Volume Root Spray and Volume Foam. These products create moveable volume with visibly thicker, fuller-looking hair with key ingredients like lemongrass and grapefruit (which also smell heavenly together). After showering, target damp roots in two-inch sections with the Volume Root Spray, then gently work the Volume Foam throughout to create texture.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
