I knew Chris from grad school, but I never expected to get a phone call about his bad hair days.

Nearly every styling product seemed to inflame his scalp. He dealt with embarrassing flakes and breakouts, and he hated relying on medicated products to manage them. Determined to understand the root cause, he started researching.

What he learned surprised us both: certain ingredients commonly used in haircare could feed Malassezia, a yeast naturally found on the scalp.

He began to suspect that his products were contributing to the cycle of acne, dandruff, and eczema he had struggled with for years.

Then he asked me, “Is it crazy to want to make something better?”

That’s when it clicked: I had the same problem.

I had never connected my scalp issues to my hair products. I simply assumed that flakes and forehead breakouts were normal. But when I stopped using products that irritated me, my scalp and skin began to clear.

“You’re not crazy,” I told him. “And I want to help.”

After more than two years of formulating, testing, and manufacturing, we launched OCHRE.

For the first time in years, our scalps feel calm, our skin is clear, and our hair looks and feels the way we want it to.

What began as a personal project has grown into a brand trusted by salons, head spas, and hair-loss specialists across the country.

There is still so much more we want to accomplish, but at least Chris doesn’t call me about his bad hair days anymore.

-Sri