Meet Kate Assaraf | Founder & Chief Detangler

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Assaraf and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always heard that when something becomes and unscratchable itch, that is when it is time to start a business. For me, the problem I wanted so desperately to solve was making really great haircare plastic free. There were other bars on the market but they were never a substitute for the brands I loved like Oribe, Kerastase or Pureology. I built Dip to satisfy the needs of high end hair care enthusiasts who didn’t want to sacrifice their routine. I took about a thousand showers with 40+ iterations of Dip during development and when it was finally ready I knew it was time to launch and see if I could convince others to try it too.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I make shampoo and conditioner bars for people who would NEVER touch shampoo and conditioner bars. Most women understand what that means. I tried to make the Dip shampoo and conditioners so great that plastic free isn’t really even part of the marketing. I don’t think people, especially women, want to take risks with buying a sub-par hair product. Dip was built on listening to people like me who wanted to minimize their plastic consumption without feeling like it was a huge sacrifice.

I have almost 2 decades of experience in beauty & branding–and even still, it was hard as hell to launch this line. I don’t want anyone to think that starting a business is easy or cheap, because it isn’t. It truly takes a lot of grit and sometimes you need a shield from unsolicited advice just to make it through the day. Since I let Dip grow organically and didn’t chase crazy growth in it’s first year, any challenges I have faced have happened at small scale. This has been really helpful in letting my mistakes be molehills instead of mountains.

The biggest lesson I learned in my career is that it’s best to start your business small & solo. I learned that no one is going to pour their heart into your dream the way you will, so in the beginning it’s best to obsess and build without anyone else or investor pushing you into making decisions quickly.

I want the world to know that behind every successful brand or entrepreneur–there are many mistakes and missteps and hurdles that get you there. By the time you see success, the hardships become invisible to others. What I am really saying is, “don’t be scared to make the mistakes that get you to where you want to be.” I am turning 40 this month and I can say for the first time ever that I feel the true meaning of success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a guest when I am in Miami, so I am always giddy about what the city has to offer. My favorite section besides the incredible art deco area of South Beach is the Wynwood district. It’s so amazing to see that this art everywhere has come from human hands. I am always in awe when I visit there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My business mentor and dear friend who always made me feel like I was capable of great things: Herb Mitschele

Website: dipalready.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dipalready

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-assaraf-b25a741a7/

Other: Faire: https://dip.faire.com

Image Credits
Jonathan Assaraf Daily Post Media