Firsthand's journey goes back to 2016, and even then, it was all about ingredients. Filipe Inacio, one of our founders, started experiencing inflammation and irritation on his scalp and around his hairline. At the time, he was using leading name-brand hair products from local drugstores and barbershops. While he didn't initially suspect these products were causing his issues, his wife—who had begun detoxing her own detoxed personal care journey—suggested he try a more "naturally made" hair styling product.
What happened next inspired the creation of Firsthand: the "natural" hair product didn't work (we’d say which product it was, but they still exist 😬).
By "didn't work," we mean Filipe couldn't style his hair with the same results and consistency he achieved with his standard products. However, he noticed something important—after stopping the use of those conventional products, his inflammation and irritation subsided. This realization led Filipe to believe he could figure out this problem—there had to be a way to use these cleaner ingredients to make a product that would actually achieve his desired look.
In the small kitchen of his second-floor apartment, Filipe spent the next year teaching himself basic chemistry and playing with things like shea butter and beeswax. You can imagine his wife’s joy while his “little project” took over the kitchen and eventually an adjacent spare bedroom which was occasionally covered in the remnants of failed experiments. And then, after creating over 50 iterations of a formula and nearly blowing up that spare bedroom once or twice, Filipe developed what would later become our first product: a hair styling pomade made with ingredients that didn't irritate his scalp, yet performed insanely well.
A problem was solved and soon a company would be born.
Filipe was joined by Josh Hester and the two of them took that solution and built the vision and mission of a new company, Firsthand, around it. That perfect balance of ingredients and results—it’s what we've pursued ever since. We call it "formulaic integrity": creating products with clean ingredients that actually perform at the highest possible levels.
When we develop products, we consider not just the best (and cleanest) ingredients for function, but also how those ingredients interact with the hair and the skin. All of our hair styling products include just as many hydrating and conditioning ingredients as ingredients that are present for the purpose of achieving “a look”. And that’s on purpose. But let’s stop talking philosophy—let’s talk about these products.
Our Styling Products: Performance Without Sacrifice
Our styling line represents our origin story—products born from necessity when existing options caused irritation and simply didn't perform.
Clay Pomade
Our best-selling Clay Pomade packs a serious punch, combining Kaolin Clay, Aloe Vera Juice, Argan Oil, and Vitamin E into a luxurious, creamy formula that's remarkably easy to work with. The result? A product that delivers exceptional hold with a sophisticated matte finish. Kaolin Clay is the star ingredient here, providing that unmatched texture and volume that truly amplifies your style, while our carefully selected moisturizing components ensure your hair remains healthy and nourished beneath that perfect exterior.
All-Purpose Pomade
The product that started it all (yep, this is that first formula), the All-Purpose Pomade balances gentle hair care with serious styling power. We've combined Aloe-Vera Juice, Beeswax, Shea Butter, and Grapeseed Oil to create a formula that delivers low-shine, high hold that lasts all day while still letting you restyle on the go. It's that perfect sweet spot between performance and hair health—exactly what we've been after since day one.
This product is incredibly versatile, perfect for classic side part styles for "going out" or "wedding" looks. But it gets better! It works beautifully in long hair for pulled-back buns and excels with coily hair for curl definition and shape control. Thanks to shea butter and other hydrating ingredients, it won't dry out or create crunchiness in longer or thicker hair types.
Texturizing Paste
For those who love that effortless, laid-back beach style, our Texturizing Paste brings together four key ingredients: Jojoba Oil, Kaolin Clay, Apricot Kernel Oil, and Shea Butter. This simple but powerful formula keeps your hair feeling soft and nourished while giving you that perfect "I woke up like this" look—medium hold with a natural finish that doesn't scream "I'm wearing product."
Beyond Styling: Our Hair and Body Care
As we've expanded beyond our styling roots, we've maintained our commitment to clean, effective ingredients.
Equilibrium Shampoo
Our shampoo formula restores your hair's moisture balance while cleansing—a rare combination for products with cleaning properties. Using a healthy dose of moisture-attracting humectants and gentle yet effective cleansers, we've created a shampoo that actually delivers on its promise. The luxurious scent comes from a natural blend of five essential oils: Lavender, Bergamot, Juniper Berry, Palo Santo, and Wormwood.
Everyday Conditioner
Our Everyday Conditioner perfectly complements our shampoo with a thoughtfully curated blend of natural ingredients that nourish without weighing hair down. With a scent profile that softens the top notes to highlight warmer, mellower tones, this formula features Shea Butter (a star ingredient since our earliest kitchen experiments) to condition and reduce frizz, Aloe Vera for lightweight hydration, Argan Oil rich in antioxidants to repair damage and restore elasticity, and Jojoba Oil that mimics your scalp's natural oils for balanced moisture without buildup. Our signature Essential Oil Blend of Lavender, Bergamot, Juniper Berry, Palo Santo, and Wormwood creates the sophisticated fragrance profile that's uniquely Firsthand—all maintaining our commitment to products that work with your body, not against it.
📸 Matt Francisco
Tranquil Body Cleanser
Our Tranquil Body Cleanser combines a thoughtful blend of plant-based surfactants like Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine (a coconut-derived cleansing agent) and Decyl Glucoside (a gentle sugar-based cleanser) that gently cleanse without stripping your skin. The formula is enriched with Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to refine skin texture, while Propanediol (corn-derived humectant) and Glycerin (plant-based moisturizer) provide essential hydration and strengthen your skin's natural barrier. We've also included soothing Chamomile Extract and a calming aromatic blend of Lavender, Vetiver, and Ho Wood essential oils. The result is a cleanser that not only purifies but also nourishes—turning your daily shower into a moment of true tranquility.
Ritual Hand Soap
Similar to the Body Cleanser, our Ritual Hand Soap features gentle cleansers like Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine (coconut-derived) and Decyl Glucoside (sugar-based) that effectively purify without disrupting your skin's natural balance. We’ve enrished it with Ale Vera Juice so that your hands don’t dry out with added use. The aromatic experience comes from our signature blend of essential oils including Lavender, Bergamot, Juniper, Palo Santo, and Wormwood. Every ingredient works in harmony with your body rather than against it.
Revive Body Lotion
Our Revive Body Lotion delivers long-lasting hydration and improved skin health through a luxurious blend of nourishing ingredients. It features Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to improve texture and tone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) for intense moisture, and Hyaluronic Acid to lock in hydration. We've added Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (derived from coconut) as an emollient to deeply soften skin, while botanical oils like Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vetiver), and Cinnamomum Camphora (Ho Wood) create a calming aromatic experience that transforms your daily moisturizing routine into a moment of self-care.
Made With Nature, For Your Nature
Every product we formulate is made from nature or supports nature in some way—either through the plant or mineral-based ingredients in the formula or through our utilization of post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR).
We've been able to keep over 250,000 (and counting) plastic bottles from entering our landfills by making our plastic containers from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR). There's still more to do, but it's a start.
This commitment to quality and sustainability isn't just good marketing—it's good for you and the planet. That's how real care can do real good. Made with nature, for your nature.
