BeautyTalks with Lisa Karandat and Alexa Monahan, Co-Founders of Good Juju

Tell us about how Good Juju came to be!

We (Lisa & Alexa) worked in the natural health industry for a number of years together and shared our values around natural clean products. But we found that while we loved the ideal of clean sustainable products, the quality and values often fell short for us…we just didn’t LOVE them. So, we set out to create a zero waste experience that was natural and sustainable but also luxurious, beautiful and culturally diverse. 

“We set out to create a zero waste experience that was natural and sustainable but also luxurious, beautiful and culturally diverse.”

What do you keep in mind when creating Good Juju products?

Above all else our ingredients must be naturally derived, efficacious and sustainable. We evaluate everything against these three metrics. Is it going to perform, does it have the research to prove this, how clean is it, how is it sourced, and is it what we would call an ‘earth first’ ingredient? Additionally, when it comes to quality a key parameter is that it must perform for ALL hair types and bodies. It is very important to us that we show that zero waste can be for everyone. 

How has your hair care routine changed over time?

Believe it or not, it has gotten much simpler. One of the most amazing things about our bars is that they contain our unique ‘Strength & Shine’ complex, which is blend of nutrient rich plant oil that penetrate the hair making it stronger. Over time, this actually makes your hair healthier and you will find you have to use less additional product to style your hair.

We are obsessed with Good Juju’s packaging, tell us more about it!

We are too! It was really important to us that the packaging conveyed the experience of the product, sustainable but also luxurious. Our packaging is made from 100% FSC certified millboard and paper and is printed using plant-based inks. It is compostable or recyclable. 

“Our packaging is made from 100% FSC certified millboard and paper and is printed using plant-based inks. It is compostable or recyclable”

How do you use the shampoo/conditioner bars and what's the best way to take care of them?

They are very easy to use! You start by wetting the bar in your hands, then rub directly on to wet hair, lather up and rinse.  It’s that easy! For the conditioners, you wet in your hand and rub directly on to hair.  You will feel the conditioner coating the hair.  Massage it through and then rinse. 

It is really important to allow the bars to dry completely in between uses. We recommend storing them on a soap dish that allows them to drain and dry. They should be stored away from shower spray and moisture.

What was the inspiration behind the name Good Juju?

The name Good Juju is about creating positive energy through action, not just thoughts or vibes. We wanted people to feel good about buying from us and knowing that they are creating some positive momentum in this climate crisis.

“We wanted people to feel good about buying from us and knowing that they are creating some positive momentum in this climate crisis.”

Can you give us any tips on choosing the right bar?

Yes, we have a great blog post that can help you choose the right bar for you.

How do you manage zero waste with zero compromise?

Zero waste with zero compromise is essentially about not giving up quality in order to be sustainable. For us these means really taking the time to formulate with intention and purpose and choosing the best ingredients possible that will give the best quality product.

Are Good Juju products for all hair types- including color treated hair?

YES! Our bars are pH balanced which means that they won’t stirp color, and they were formulated for all of all types and ethnicities. We have 4 types to choose from.

Scalp care is often looked-over, tell us about your amazing scalp care bars!

These bars are magic, truly! They contain rich, scalp nourishing ingredients like sweet almond oil, sacha inchi oil, and mushroom extracts to really soothe and nourish scalp irritations. They also contain charcoal which helps to gentle detoxify. These bars are great for change of season scalp issues, for more serious scalp irritations, or to simply rotate in with one of the our other bars for a good reset/detox from hair product.

What makes Good Juju bars different?

A few things. First, our bars contain unique mushroom extracts which are high in plant nutrients that are amazing for hair! Second, our bars contain our ‘Strength & Shine Complex’ which is a blend of sacha inchi oil, snow mushroom, and broccoli seed oil which work together to penetrate the hair making it healthier and stronger. Our bars also do not contain SLS, or Mica, and are scented with only pure organic essential oils. 

What's next for Good Juju?

More expansion into zero waste body care! Two new products coming in the next month and another one in the new year. We will continue to explore ways that we can create amazing products that are also sustainable and plastic free!

What other hair care secrets could you let us in on?

We think mushrooms are the best kept secret in hair care! They have the most amazing benefits for hair.  Snow mushroom and Turkey tail mushroom are rich in hair-strengthening polysaccharides, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals; mushroom has long been used in traditional hair-cleansing routines, not only to promote healthy hair and scalp, but to stimulate hair. Chaga mushroom has also been shown to regrow hair better than the active ingredient in Rogaine! They really are magical.