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“I want hair extensions to be treated like any other personal-care product,” says Ciara Imani May over the phone. “Our mission is to dramatically reduce the health and environmental disparities in the hair industry, and we do that with our zero-waste product.” May is the CEO and founder of Rebundle, the first American company to manufacture and distribute plant-based braiding hair extensions meant to be a healthier, more sustainable option than widely available synthetic-hair offerings. A study on traditional braiding hair extensions published by Consumer Reports in February 2025 tested 10 popular products on the market made of synthetic materials like Kanekalon, a commonly used fibre that closely mimics the look and feel of real hair, and found that toxic substances like lead or probable carcinogens were in every single one. Most braid wearers will don their styles for extended periods of time—ranging from four to eight weeks—thus increasing their risk of exposure. And with some consumers disposing of their extensions after only one use, those materials then make their way into landfills across the globe. May’s curiosity concerning synthetic braiding hair and its health and environmental impacts was initially sparked by a personal experience. When her freshly braided hair left her with an irritated scalp, she suspected her extensions might be the cause. Armed with a master’s degree in social entrepreneurship, May dove headfirst into the murky, synthetic waters of braiding hair. “I discovered that there was a dermatological link between the materials being used in braiding hair and what we were experiencing as users,” she says. Two of the primary ingredients used in manufacturing Kanekalon are vinyl chloride (a flammable and explosive colourless gas often used in the plastics industry to produce heavily scrutinized materials such as PVC) and acrylonitrile (a highly reactive liquid chemical that, at certain doses, can be poisonous when it is inhaled or ingested or comes into contact with the skin).
photography COURTESY OF REBUNDLE
“I started trying to figure out what else hair extensions could be made out of and just went down this rabbit hole of material science,” says May. It was then that the proverbial light bulb went on and Rebundle was born. When asked why creating a company built on the pillars of sustainability was so important, May pauses briefly before stating, “I didn’t see a world in which I could do one without the other.” Rebundle’s hero product is its BraidBetter extensions. They’re made from banana fibres and are non-toxic, itch-free and entirely biodegradable. With a formulation that includes the acacia senegal plant and grape seed oil, BraidBetter extensions provide the scalp with moisturizing and conditioning benefits. In addition, when they’re disposed of, they improve soil fertility in the process of biodegradation. Hairstyling—from extensions to styling products—is a loaded topic within the Black community, and with a global market valuation of $4.2 billion as of 2023, the industry is undeniably lucrative. Yet it remains largely unregulated and under-researched. While findings like the above are undeniably worrisome, growing public awareness has helped fuel action from Black women like May to initiate long-overdue changes to industry practices; if left unaddressed, these practices pose a critical threat to the health and safety of both consumers and our environment. With Rebundle, May is tackling the lack of consumer-health-focused hair-care products through a sustainable lens—prioritizing waste-free packaging and natural and sustainably sourced ingredients while maintaining product efficacy.
photography COURTESY OF ecoslay
Inspiring change on the styling-products front is Adria Marshall, founder of sustainable-hair-care brand Ecoslay. Her “aha” moment came when she decided to forgo chemical relaxers in favour of nurturing her natural curls and was almost immediately catapulted into a continuous cycle of buyer’s remorse. “I was spending all this money on products and the majority of them weren’t working,” she says. “The turning point for me was when I realized that the best products for my hair contained plant-based ingredients.” Although she’s a software developer by trade, as chance (or fate) would have it, she comes from a family of skilled gardeners. This gifted her with both a built-in interest in the environment and an understanding of the vast benefits of natural ingredients. What began as a passion project executed at night and on weekends from her family’s kitchen has flourished into a successful business. Ecoslay now offers everything from cleansers and curl-defining gels to hair-growth oils and leave-in conditioners. Every product is created using plant-based, sustainably sourced ingredients housed in eco-friendly packaging. The brand has even partnered with local farmers within the Atlanta region in its effort to reduce emissions and costs while supporting the local Black community. Ecoslay is also in the audit stages of becoming a B-Corp—an accreditation given to companies that maintain the highest standards of sustainability, community service and ingredient integrity, she explains. Both May and Marshall agree that the hair-care industry is lacking transparency and accountability, and they urge consumers to think critically about the products they use. “As soon as everyone stops acting like sustainability is something we simply aspire to reach and starts looking at it as a means of survival, we can have industry cohesion,” says May.
Sustainable Styling
These nourishing, responsibly sourced products are packaged in eco-friendly materials and require no sacrifice on the efficacy front.
Ecoslay Lemon Buttercream Styling Cream
This lightweight styling cream adds a lemon- and vanilla-scented boost of moisture, volume and definition to hair. [cta affiliate=”skimlinks” align=”center” format=”button” url=”https://go.skimresources.com?id=130X979127&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fecoslay.com%2Fproducts%2Flemon-buttercream%3F_pos%3D1%26_sid%3D166e1b47e%26_ss%3Dr%26variant%3D39713091092526″]Shop Now[/cta]
Rebundle Mini Styling Set
Preserve your new braids using Rebundle’s plant-based gentle-on-the-skin edge gel and braid-refreshing mousse, conveniently packaged in a travel-size set. [cta affiliate=”cj” align=”center” format=”button” url=”https://rebundle.co/products/mini-styling-set?srsltid=AfmBOorGeGDMfiWp_ALSSgy16Y4y0cJtb9vbocp3BH0e2hyajc05Oe0L”]Shop Now[/cta]
Ecoslay Moonshine Hair and Body Oil
Sweet and citrusy essential oils like lemon grass, cinnamon and orange mingle in this highly nourishing oil—perfect for giving your hot-oil treatments an aromatic upgrade. [cta affiliate=”skimlinks” align=”center” format=”button” url=”https://go.skimresources.com?id=130X979127&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fecoslay.com%2Fproducts%2Fseal-the-deal%3F_pos%3D1%26_sid%3D3676d7372%26_ss%3Dr%26variant%3D39419543126062″]Shop Now[/cta]
Rebundle BraidBetter
These lightweight, heat-safe braiding hair extensions have a buttery-soft texture and non- slip grip and can be reused up to three times. [cta affiliate=”cj” align=”center” format=”button” url=”https://rebundle.co/collections/shop-all”]Shop Now[/cta] This article first appeared in FASHION’s Summer 2025 issue. Find out more here. Continue Reading
