Everything was “big” in the ’80s: big hair, big shoulder pads and big dreams. And in 1988, entrepreneurial hairdressers Jim Markham and Alan Benfield Bush realized their big dream to create the “perfect” shampoo. ABBA, an acronym for Achieve Balance of Business and Art, was born.
As one of the first vegan haircare lines, ABBA is committed to natural formulas that are gluten-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free and not tested on animals. Additionally, ABBA continues to be a pioneer of the environmental responsibility movement by using recycled paper and soy ink in its biodegradable containers. The company also builds their legacy through innovative product design and education—with videos and other new content currently in development for their website.
Austin Baskett, who has worked with ABBA for almost 20 years and now serves as vice president of marketing, says that the company has never been better or more relevant than it is today. “‘Pure Performance’ is in our brand name,” Baskett says, “and we always strive to deliver the best performance, results and value to our customers. Over the past two years we’ve made incredible investments in new formulas, new products, and now we are on the verge of releasing a new packaging design in honor of the brand’s 30th anniversary.”
Backed by hard science in addition to ethical and moral conscientiousness, ABBA’s formulas are trailblazing too. For example, ProQuinoa Complex offers a blend of hydrolyzed protein, which consists of quinoa, barley and soy. “The future is bright for ABBA salons and clients,” Baskett adds, “and we can’t wait to see what the next 30 years will bring.”
You can find ABBA’s products in salons nationwide or online at www.pureabba.com.
