In this cycle of The Hair Edit, we’re shining a spotlight on the nourishing and sustainble Abyssinian Oil found in Abyssian Haircare. We spoke to founder Thierry Mandonnaud on why he and business partner Sebastien Morin started the brand, reasons for choosing Abyssinian oil, how the brand remains environmentally friendly, and more.

Q1. Tell us about how & why you started the brand?

"Being both young dads, having clean beauty products at home quickly became really important and we were amazed at the amount of not-so-great ingredients you can find even in kids products. The clean hair care space is still quite small and we saw an opportunity to offer safe products without sacrificing performance. In addition to products that are safe, we also wanted the brand to work towards sustainability, and try to bring improvement not only to what we put on our heads but also what kind of earth we leave to our kids."

Q2. Why did you choose Abyssinian Oil over other types of oils?

"Abyssinian oil is a very sustainable option as it requires less water to grow than other plants, also socially it's great because farmers can still have an additional harvest and earn extra income during the dry season, unlike other crops.

In terms of performance, the fatty acid structure of the oil itself is fantastic as the high concentration in very long chain fatty acids protects the hair and boosts moisture and shine by keeping the cuticles closed. Meanwhile just enough nutrients are delivered inside the hair without bloating it or making it heavy, helping your hair keep all its volume."

Q3. Does the brand have other sustainability efforts?

"Yes absolutely, Abyssian Haircare proudly plants a tree for every product sold. By supporting reforestation, we not only reduce the carbon footprint of our products but we help develop new forest habitats, increasing biodiversity, enriching soils and most importantly supporting hundreds of jobs in local communities."

Q4. Which products from the range would you recommend for different hair types or scalp concerns.

"For dry and damaged hair, we would highly recommend our Hair Serum, it really helps repair, protect and soften your hair bringing back its natural healthy glow.

For scalp care, we suggest our Sunday Detox Exfoliating Shampoo. Especially if you live in a city, the pollution and other chemicals can really build up on your scalp throughout the day. This shampoo will gently remove all the impurities and leave your scalp all clean and fresh."

Q5. Any hair care tips for us?

"Use the Abyssian Hair Serum on damp hair before blow drying. The serum will help protect your hair from the damaging heat, and this will cut your drying time in half!"

Q6. If you could only take 1 Abyssian product with you on holiday, which would it be?

"Our Abyssian Hair Serum. It’s perfect for any climate - it can protect your hair from the sun if you go to a beach destination and it will also help hydrate and repair your hair if you visit cold and drier climates. Plus, it comes in a handy 15ml size that can conveniently fit in any carry-on bag."