Exclusive Interview with Beauty Industry Veteran, Rachel Anise

SB: You’ve built such a loyal community as @beautyprofessor — can you tell us how your journey in beauty began and what originally inspired you to step into product development?  

RA: I started my website, Beauty Professor, almost 15 years ago as a fun way to share my detailed reviews of luxury and independent beauty. Gratefully, my site gained traction and a loyal audience fairly quickly and I began working with brands to write articles and create content; I also began developing my Instagram page and YouTube channel. Years of consistency as a trusted voice in the industry lead to me becoming a beauty expert with a high level of credibility in my online community at large. After multiple product collaborations with brands I love, I knew I really wanted to create something of my own in the space and hair care seemed like a natural step as I frequently field questions about my hair and how I take care of it. Thus far, I have self-funded every step of Académie Hair and have such respect for the entrepreneurial journey and those who choose this complex path to creation! 

SB: Why “Sea Glass”? Tell us the story behind the name and the vision.

RA:  I grew up at the beach and always loved finding sea glass (it’s the most magnificent shade of green) color and moments when the ocean was its glassiest and smoothest. When I started Académie Hair (a nod to the educational dimension of both Beauty Professor and my other job has a full-time college professor of Communication Studies) I knew I wanted my first product to be a detangler. I’ve been blessed to try new launches in the beauty space for nearly 15 years and that exposure to so much always clarifies which products I wished existed. To that point, I always yearned for a detangler that would effortlessly release tangles without creating weigh down. I wished for a formula that would soften and add silkiness (much like the sea glass and glossy ocean I love) while having a minimal ingredients list that performs effectively. From that idea, Sea Glass was born. 

SB: What gap in the haircare space were you hoping to fill with this launch?

RA: When I started working with my lab to develop Sea Glass, we weren’t sure if we could actually bring it to fruition because my expectations about it being highly efficacious yet free of weigh down created a paradox. How can you provide the slip necessary to detangle without leaving buildup behind? Sea Glass went through countless iterations over two years, and I personally tested every lab sample until we hit the perfect ratio for weightless detangling power. The bonus was by the time I finally could confirm the formula, it has been so finely tuned that it also included other benefits like extreme silkiness, softness, the ability to be a helpful precursor to heat styling, and a refresher after workouts in between washing. Plus, it smells sublime! It went from being more than just the best detangler on the market…it also transcended into a daily hair elixir that serves a multitude of purposes for hair of all types. I can truly say that there is no product like Sea Glass currently available and it came to life all because I wanted to fill a white space in the detangling category.

SB: Walk us through your everyday hair routine — how and when do you use Sea Glass?

RA: My hair routine is quite minimalist in nature! I wash and condition my hair every other day, usually at night. That means that I often go to bed with damp hair and style it in the morning. I use Sea Glass  after showering to comb the tangles out of my hair and also use it in the morning to brush my hair out before heat styling. Then, depending on the weather my activities for the day I might use it a few more times on dry hair to banish tangles and add silkiness and volume to my mane. Whenever people ask me the secret to my healthy, shiny hair, I excitedly tell them that all I’ve been using, essentially, for the last 2 1/2 years is Sea Glass! 

SB: Who is the ideal woman for Académie Sea Glass? What do you hope she feels when she uses it?

RA: It was very important for me to develop Sea Glass for all ages (my 7 year old and my mom both use it as much as I do) and hair types, and I love that my customers (with hair that is straight, curly, fine, thin, thick and everything in between) find their own way of implementing it in their routine. I firmly believe that brushing your hair is a key component to hair health as it increases circulation of the scalp and brings your natural oils through to the ends. I created Sea Glass for everyone who wants a more effortless brushing experience (this, selfishly, started with my own desire for this!) and I hope Sea Glass users feel the luxury of the experience while taking confidence in knowing each brushing session contributes to the overall health and maintenance of the hair. The formula delivers instant results and long term benefits that will make you want to use it every single day! 

SB: A Storied Beauty is an icon you admire in the beauty and fashion arena. When you reflect on your journey, who is a Storied Beauty that has influenced you personally or professionally, and why? 

RA: Without question my mom Laura has been my biggest beauty influence and my best friend. Undeniably beautiful, she taught me the importance of taking care of myself while embracing a classic, less-is-more approach to product usage. She also impressed upon me the importance of developing beauty because it doesn’t matter how much you enhance your exterior if your inside does not match. 

SB: What is your ultimate beauty secret — the one tip you swear by no matter the season?

RA:  I actually have three: (1) If you wash your face well the night before, there’s no need to use a strong cleanser in the morning. Most of the time, I just use warm water on a clean cloth and this keeps my skin barrier thriving and my face glowing!  (2) Whenever possible, try to sleep on your back (your face will look younger longer) and using a silk pillowcase at night will take over where Sea Glass leaves off. The silk protects  your hair from tangles and breakage overnight while also reducing unecessary pressure and wrinkling on your face.  (3) Concealer can double as foundation and I often use two shades strategically (love Maxine’s Revenge French Face and Storied Beauty Concealed) to quickly even my canvas while still letting my skin shine through.