Our Brand of the Month: Nak Hair Australia
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
In Partnership With NAK
If you're a vegan beauty lover who's been tirelessly scouring the internet with a Google history that reads: ‘the best vegan haircare Australia’ - consider your search officially over.
Allow us to reacquaint you with NAK Hair Australia.
You’ll be delighted to know, the majority of Australian-made NAK Hair products are formulated with vegan ingredients and evidence-based solutions that address a diverse range of hair and scalp concerns.
Whether you’re looking for your next ride-or-die shampoo or a hydrating mask or conditioner, you can easily craft your perfectly curated vegan-friendly hair routine from the NAK haircare stable.
Did you know this cruelty-free, salon-first brand is also the proud parent of two other (and equally as excellent) haircare lines?
Yep, these clever hair connoisseurs have crafted not one but three vegan hair ranges: NAK, ORI Lab and ROH to ensure all hair types and concerns are expertly covered and cared for.
Here’s the thing though. You don’t just have to be a vegan beauty lover to appreciate the impressive offering of NAK hair products!
My hair has been loving a bunch of the haircare heroes from each of these ranges over the course of the last few weeks and it’s a testament to their professional results as they’ve been scoring me a few compliments along the way too.
Keep reading for a mini re-introduction to all things NAK Hair as well as their other salon-worthy brands ORI LAB and ROH (which our team have also been trialling and loving on their tresses).
What Is NAK Hair?
'Beautiful Haircare For Everyone.'
In 2003 four hair experts joined forces to launch NAK, an Australian-made and owned brand endorsed by stylists and carried in salons both in Australia and globally.
Catering to every hair type, NAK Hair’s mane (get it) game is to bring you that “salon-fresh feeling” every time you do your hair routine.
Forging a conscious path for those who are shopping for vegan products but also with sustainability in mind, all NAK bottles are made from PCR HDPE (Post-Consumer Recycled High-Density Polyethylene), an eco-friendly and sustainable choice.
NAK also prides itself on its ingredient portfolio.
In fact, each of NAK’s brands has a signature blend of natural and vegan ingredients that powers and elevates each of its hair rejuvenating ranges.
Now that you’re a little more familiar with NAK, let us take you through some of the heroes from their eponymous range as well as our mini reviews.
NAK Hair Structure Complex Protein Shampoo, $39.95.
Fast facts:
- $39.95 for a 375ml bottle.
- A gentle and hydrating shampoo for fragile, damaged hair that might be experiencing hair thinning.
- Contains hydrolyzed rice protein, aloe vera, coconut oil, panthenol and bond-building technology.
- Penetrates deep into the hair follicle to fortify each strand from within.
- Promises stronger, smoother, and more resilient hair.
NAK Hair Structure Complex Protein Conditioner, $39.95.
Fast facts:
- A protein-enriched conditioner for use on very damaged hair. An essential for dehydrated, damaged, brittle hair.
- Hydrates, protects and restores fragile and weak hair using its bond-building technology.
- Contains: Watermelon Seed, Hazel Seed, Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera.
- Is safe for coloured and chemically treated hair.
AB Staffer Elle’s NAK Structure Complex Shampoo and Conditioner review:
“Before having babies, NAK Structure Complex Shampoo and Conditioner were my go-to.
I honestly think I've bought them six times over.
Since having babies, I've had to swap to something that targets hairfall, but my husband is still an avid user of the NAK products.
Not only does it smell incredible, it leaves your hair feeling soft, hydrated and fresh.
NAK Hair Replends Creme Leave-in Moisturiser 150ml is particularly good for hydrating and smoothing hair.
I still have this product in rotation, and notice my hair feels significantly softer and smoother when I use it.”
NAK Hair Hydrate Detangle Mist, $34.95.
Fast facts:
- A weightless, hair-protecting detangler.
- Can be used on wet or dry hair.
- Adds moisture and shine.
- Helps reduce breakage.
- Can also be used as a heat protectant.
My NAK Hair Hydrate Detangle Mist review:
I took home the NAK hydrate detangle mist to try, mainly because my hair has grown out to what some days resembles a bird’s nest.
Especially when I first hop out of the shower as you can see in the ‘before’ image above.
So as you can imagine, my bird’s nest was begging for some sort of detangling product.
I sprayed evenly through my hair starting from mid-lengths, then lifting parts of my hair up and spraying all the way through and underneath.
The first thing that captured my attention was the scent. Fruity, but not overpowering.
It certainly made it easier to soften out the nest and run my blow-dry brush through the knots, so now I understand why this mist is even suited to teens.
And in my opinion even better suited to those with thinner hair who struggle with their hair painfully tugging when they have to brush it.
Next time, I think I’ll also use it as my heat-protectant spray.
For the price of this big bottle, this a great product even more so because it helps make brushing, combing and styling hair less of a chore.
Watch the YouTube video below for more of our NAK, ORI Lab and ROH favourites.
What Is ORI Lab?
'ORI Lab aims to present thoughtfully crafted plant-based collection; clean beauty organic haircare, made without compromise.'
ORI Lab Fast facts:
ORI Lab boasts science-backed formulas powered by its blend of key ingredients including:
Aloe - Infuses a protective veil of Aloe latex, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Hydrating and makes hair more supple.
Hyaluronic acid - Surges water deep into the hair and skin. Plumps, conditions and moisturises as well as helping to prevent dryness and dehydration.
Niacinamide - Facilitates delivery of active nutrients, fortifying hair and skin balance. Promotes hair and skin wellbeing.
Marshmallow - Infuses calming nutrient properties, to gently soothe and protect hair and skin. Conditions dry and damaged hair and skin, promoting harmony and wellbeing.
NAK Hair ORI Lab Gloss Serum, $45.95.
Fast facts:
- A smoothing, nourishing serum oil for frizz-prone hair.
- Made with camellia and marula oils, plus vitamin E.
- Can be used as a finishing serum to smooth hair or before blow drying.
- Other key ingredients include niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera.
- Is silicone-free.
My NAK Hair ORI Lab Gloss Serum review:
As someone who gets dry ends quick and is extremely frizz-prone, I always love to have some sort of hair oil or serum on rotation.
Although I initially used it on towel-dried hair and saw a sleeker, shinier finish after blow drying, I also applied the tiniest bit on dry hair which delivered added shine and tamed frizz.
Its weighless, silky texture is lovely and it smells just like you would think a glossy hair-giving product would - really, really good.
I took a selfie a day after using the serum oil hybrid and as you can see my hair was still glistening in the sun!
I find a lot of affordable hair oils can weigh hair down, but not this one. So if you have thinner hair and are usually averse to hair oils for this reason, I’d recommend trying this one.
NAK Hair ORI Lab Rescue Masque, $48.95.
Fast facts:
- An intensely moisturising mask for coarse, dry hair.
- Made with cocoa butter and marula oil, offers deep, restoring moisture to rough, dry hair.
- Can be used weekly or whenever your parched tresses need a moisture boost.
- Is vegan, cruelty free, and made without silicone.
- Ideal for coarse or curly hair.
- Improves manageability.
- Formulated with 85% organic ingredients.
My NAK Hair ORI Lab Rescue Masque review:
The ORI Lab Rescue Masque comes in a generous tub and let me tell you you are getting more than ‘bang for your buck’ here.
Usually, I have to scoop out quite a healthy amount of a mask tub like this one because I have quite a lot of hair.
But not this one. I scooped out a little amount and it was not only enough to distribute through my thick, coarse hair, but it was also enough to see results.
After blow drying, I was left with smoother locks with less frizz and strands that smelled lush.
So much so that when a friend and I were recently fighting over a dinner bill she got an accidental mouthful of my hair and said, “Wow your smells really nice, like a spa, what’s in it?”
My ends also didn't feel as dry which was a huge win.
Pro tip: If your parched tresses need an added boost, this hydrating hair mask is safe to leave in for up to 30 minutes.
What Is ROH?
'Solution-focused, science-backed.'
If you’re starting to pay attention to the health of your scalp (as you should because healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp), then you need to know about ROH haircare.
NAK’s latest haircare brand launch, the AB team have already fallen in love with their affordable, scalp-focussed range (read our glowing reviews here).
ROH Fast facts:
- ROH’s universal scalp and hair care range focuses on nurturing, protecting and repairing your scalp microbiome.
- Rooted in hair science, the ROH range uses efficacious ingredients also known as the ROH elixir which is formulated with star ingredients like green caviar, peptides and amino acids.
- Also contains a fermented technology that works to support your scalp microbiome, address scalp sensitivity and excess sebum (oil), and improve your general scalp health.
AB Staffer ROH reviews:
"My hair has come a long way from its former bond-broken, frail self, however, hydration and volume will always remain top priorities when it comes to my routine.
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on ROH’s entire range. Per the brand’s suggestion, I’ve been switching between their ‘Ultimate Hydration’ and ‘Clarify and Plump’ routines, depending on my hair's needs (this method is often referred to as 'hair cycling').
For example, the latter on product-heavy days, the former when it’s dry and frizzy.
My overall takeaway? Both routines do a decent job of making my hair look and feel pretty darn good!
Super lightweight, soft and shiny, what more could a gal ask for?" - Jas.
"I want to preface this by saying, I am SO happy that so many new hair care brands are keeping our scalps in mind when creating products.
I road-tested the NAK Hair ROH Reset Scalp Wash 350ml, the NAK Hair ROH Reset Scalp Condition 350ml and the NAK Hair ROH Hydrate Hair Oil 60ml
To be completely honest I truly wasn’t expecting much from the three products, although I was impressed by their 20 years of research.
Well, I got quite the pleasant shock after using the shampoo and conditioner.
After blow-drying then styling my hair, that’s when I noticed a difference.
My waves styled and fell so nicely, and I knew it was the shampoo and conditioner. It made my hair feel nicer too and I honestly loved them after just one wash. That's saying a lot." - Sadaf.
Finally...
While some vegan haircare users might already be familiar with the brand, if you’re still to try a NAK, ROH or ORI LAB product this is your sign to start today, trust us (and our lush-smelling tresses) - you will fall in love with their products just like we did.
Learn more about NAK Haircare products in the articles below:
