Hairbrained Articles

Sebastian Professional · Potion 9 Potion 9 is no longer standing solo. The cult leave-in now leads a complete regimen, from shampoo through styling, bringing fresh momentum to one of Sebastian Professional’s most iconic formulas. Backstage energy, beauty-feed proof. Marylle Koken uses the Potion 9 lineup to bring vitality and shine back to Gabbriette’s hair—and the reaction says it all: “It’s working!” The cult-classic leave-in that gave a generation of stylists permission to play has entered its next act. Sebastian Professional’s Potion 9—the original botanical styling cream and a backstage-to-salon staple since the ’90s—has expanded into a full nourishing collection, bringing new heat to a formula that never really left the conversation. The lineup introduces a Nourishing Shampoo, Nourishing Conditioner, Super Luxe Styling Drops, and a Salon Exclusive Powder-to-Foam Treatment, joining the original Leave-In Conditioner and Styling Cream that stylists have reached for through every reinvention of cool. Built around nine plant botanicals, the collection delivers four times more nourishment and smoothness than a non-conditioning shampoo. Beloved by celebrity fans including Christina Ricci and social influencer Gabbriette, who called POTION 9 “magicccc,” it’s the rare product that can move from ’90s backstage kits to the current beauty feed without losing its edge. Now, the icon has a full creative arsenal behind it. The Expansion A Complete System, Not Just a Single Hero The expanded Potion 9 lineup brings the cult-classic formula into a full care-and-styling system, with nourishment, shine, and creative control built into every step. For Marylle Koken, Sebastian Professional Los Angeles Creative Ambassador and recent NAHA award winner, the expansion gives shape to the bigger story. “Potion 9 has been a beloved hero product for years, so expanding it into a complete collection just makes sense,” she says. “ Now it feels like a true franchise instead of a single product. It gives new life to the original and creates a complete system that’s easy for stylists to recommend and easy for clients to understand and use at home. Marylle Koken That shift matters behind the chair. A single hero product can earn loyalty, but a full regimen gives stylists a broader way in—care, prep, styling, finishing—all under one unmistakable identity. It turns the retail conversation into something more useful than an upsell: a way to show clients how the products work together before ever leaving the salon. “It’s now a complete regimen from shampoo through styling,” Koken says. “That gives the collection a stronger presence on the retail shelf and makes it easier for stylists to educate clients on how the products work together.” The Foundation Built for Today’s Over-Processed Hair Potion 9 Nourishing Shampoo and Nourishing Conditioner create the foundation every style depends on, giving over-processed, overworked hair the lightweight moisture, smoothness, and manageability it needs before styling even begins. Koken sees the collection’s strongest case in the prep stage, where so many clients need support before styling even begins. “Today’s hair is often over-processed and needs more care before styling even begins,” she says. “ Creating a healthy foundation makes every style perform better, and that’s where the Potion 9 collection really shines. Marylle Koken That foundation-first approach is where the new lineup feels especially current. Hair today is colored, lifted, heat-styled, extended, smoothed, reset, and restyled constantly. The products are lightweight, layerable, and built for that reality—giving stylists room to customize without locking every client into the same routine. Behind the Chair The In-Salon Treatment Worth Adding to the Mix To bring the service to life, Sebastian Global Artistic Director Shay Dempsey demonstrates his go-to Potion 9 cocktail in a new Reel, showing stylists how to whisk the Powder-to-Foam Treatment with Potion 9 Nourishing Conditioner and the original Leave-In Conditioner & Styling Cream before applying it from mid-lengths to ends. The Salon Exclusive Powder-to-Foam Treatment may be the collection’s most compelling chair-side addition. Formulated with Vitamin C and Ectoin, it delivers concentrated nourishment directly into depleted strands and gives stylists a treatment moment that feels service-driven, not sales-driven. The Formula Sebastian Global Artistic Director Shay Dempsey’s go-to formula 11 pouch of Powder-to-Foam Treatment 220g Potion 9 Nourishing Conditioner 310g Potion 9 Leave-In Conditioner and Styling Cream Whisk until the powder is fully dissolved. Apply from mid-lengths to ends, massaging the product into the cuticle. Develop under heat for 10 minutes, then rinse and finish with the Super Luxe Styling Drops before styling as usual. The Finisher The Drops That Pull Serious Weight Potion 9 Super Luxe Styling Drops deliver the finish of your dreams: luminous shine, soft control, and a polished veil of protection in just a few drops. Nine benefits in a 30ml dropper is a bold promise, but the Super Luxe Styling Drops are built to do more than polish the surface. Formulated with nine plant botanicals in encapsulated beads, a single application offers a moisture boost, heat protection up to 230°C/450°F, 99% anti-breakage protection, 98% reduction in split ends, up to 72 hours of frizz and humidity defense, UV & pollution protection, enhanced style retention, and long-lasting definition. Apply five to ten drops to damp or dry hair from mid-lengths to ends, work through, and style. For a finishing product doing this much work, the format is refreshingly minimal: a few drops, a lot of control, no heavy-handed finish. The full Potion 9 collection is available now through Sebastian Professional salons as part of the brand’s broader 2026 restage under the “Shape Your World” campaign. To learn more, visit sebastianprofessional.com. Potion 9 Explore the full Potion 9 collection. Shop Sebastian Professional

Ulta Beauty and Black Beauty Roster are piloting All Textures Certification, pairing a written exam with hands-on assessment across hair textures.

After 20 years behind the chair, SEVEN Haircare is relaunching on July 7 with a new identity, seven clearer collections and the same formulas stylists know.

Stylists break down how Sebastian Professional's evolved lineup, including Dark Oil Lite, Potion 9, and Shaper ShineSpritz, fits into everyday cocktailing and layering.

Sebastian Professional celebrated its major brand restage with a stylist event at The Harlot Salon in LA, hosted by Creative Ambassador Marylle Koken. Inside the new look, new education, and the cocktailing philosophy driving the brand’s next chapter.

Alfredo Lewis and Aditi Sharma launch QOAT, the first professional haircolor topcoat, protecting color for 40 washes with HydraGlow Shield technology.

Ulta Beauty Names 2 Artistic Leads for Artist Collective Industry News Ulta Beauty's Artist Collective Just Got Two Artistic Leads. Here's Why It Matters. Michelle O'Connor and Danielle Keasling bring editorial vision and stage expertise to the 28-member collective. Ulta Beauty's Artist Collective introduces its two new Artistic Leads: Michelle O'Connor, left, and Danielle Keasling, right. Images courtesy of Ulta Beauty. Ulta Beauty has named Michelle O'Connor and Danielle Keasling as Artistic Leads for its Artist Collective, and the appointments signal something bigger than two new titles. With 28 artists spanning color, cut and texture now operating under a shared creative framework, the brand is making a deliberate play for relevance inside professional education (not just retail). O'Connor steps in as Artistic Lead for Salon Editorial and Brand Imagery, while Keasling takes the lead for Industry Shows and Events. Between them, they cover every major touchpoint where the Collective's work goes public, from editorial campaigns and educational photoshoots to live stage moments at Ulta Beauty's biggest events. More Than an Ambassador Program Danielle Keasling and Michelle O'Connor at work inside The Salon at Ulta Beauty. Image courtesy of Ulta Beauty. The Artist Collective itself is not a brand ambassador program or a social roster, but a structured group of longtime stylists built to generate education and creative content that reaches stylists where they need it most. Each of the 28 members contributes diverse, complementary skills and reflects the Ulta Beauty values of winning together and improving always. Sarah Dahl, Ulta Beauty's Director, Field Services and Speciality Experiences, describes the introduction of the two leads as bringing "a strong creative foundation" — one that ensures the Collective reflects technical excellence alongside a genuine artistic point of view. For Keasling, that foundation starts with who's in the room. "We're bringing together diverse voices, specialties, and perspectives, from colorists and cutters to texture experts," she says, "and I see an opportunity to elevate the perception of what's possible inside the Ulta Beauty salon environment." O'Connor's vision is similarly simple. "The Ulta Beauty Artist Collective will raise the standard for what professional beauty leadership looks like," she says. "More collaboration. More education rooted in expertise. More space for textured hair knowledge at the forefront." The ripple effect, she believes, reaches well beyond the Collective itself, creating stronger stylists, more confident clients, and a more unified industry. What Happens After the Demo Ends For Keasling, the real opportunity lives in what happens after the lights go down. "When you bring the right artists together under a shared vision, something powerful happens. Energy multiplies. Confidence grows. Standards rise." — Danielle Keasling, Artistic Lead, Industry Shows & Events "We're not just creating inspiration on a stage," she says. "We're translating artistry into practical, usable education that stylists can immediately bring back to their clients and their businesses." With Ulta Beauty's national footprint behind it, that ambition has real reach. Imagery That Teaches O'Connor brings the same thinking to her work behind the camera, where editorial and educational shoots under her direction are meant to do more than look good, they're meant to guide with intention. "True leadership in our industry is about stewardship – protecting the integrity of the craft while also pushing it forward. Guiding a collective means creating space for diverse voices, diverse textures, and diverse creative perspectives to coexist and inform each other. That is where innovation lives.” “I expect the impact to be cultural as much as creative. By investing in artists as thought leaders, Ulta Beauty reminds the industry that education drives revenue, that artistry drives innovation, and that representation drives belonging.” — Michelle O'Connor, Artistic Lead, Salon Editorial & Brand Imagery Both leads will mentor artists within the Collective while guiding its work across platforms, shows and brand partnerships, and if the vision holds, the stylists sitting in the audience will be the ones who feel the benefits of that duality most. “Every event, every demonstration, and every educational moment can spark confidence in someone sitting in the audience,” emphasizes Keasling. One idea, technique, or conversation can change the trajectory of a stylist’s career. Being part of creating those moments is incredibly meaningful to me.” For more information on the Ulta Beauty Artist Collective, contact Haley Valadez, Sr. Manager, Creative Services & Talent, at hvaladez@ulta.com.

Paul Mitchell's new Pre-Bonded Lightener delivers up to 9 levels of lift with AminoBond Protect built into the formula. No additive, no extra steps — and stylists are already calling it their most reliable lift yet. Available now at CosmoProf.

Discover how Aveda’s professional color system supports customization, healthy hair, and long-term career growth for stylists behind the chair.