We formulate to The MAEN Standard, which means every ingredient has to earn its place. Here's what you won't find in any MAEN product and why we leave it out:

Silicones (dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane) Used to fake smoothness and shine. Over time, they trap buildup, block moisture, and require harsh shampoos to wash out. We avoid them because daily-use products shouldn't create problems that need solving.

Phthalates Often used in low-cost fragrance formulas and hidden under "fragrance" on labels. Associated with potential hormonal concerns and restricted or banned in many countries. Our custom fragrance, MAEN Squeeze, is independently certified phthalate-free.

Parabens Inexpensive preservatives commonly used in styling products. Some parabens can mimic estrogen in the body and are restricted or banned in several countries. We use gentler, cleaner preservation systems instead.

Phenoxyethanol A preservative found in many products marketed as "clean." We avoid it due to its potential to cause irritation, especially in leave-on formulas used on kids daily.

PEGs (like PEG-40) Petroleum-derived compounds that require heavy chemical processing. We avoid them in favor of simpler, cleaner alternatives.

Artificial Dyes (FD&C and D&C colors) Petroleum-derived colorants added purely for appearance. We avoid them due to their association with scalp irritation and sensitivity.

Yes, and we treat fragrance as a formulation decision, not just a scent choice.

Our Spray Gel features MAEN Squeeze, a custom fragrance we developed with a perfumery house in France. Most haircare brands buy stock fragrance off the shelf. We worked with a perfumery house to build something specifically for MAEN, with safety as the focus.

MAEN Squeeze is IFRA-certified (the international safety standard for fragrance formulation) and phthalate-free.

Our Slick Stick uses a simpler natural fragrance made from bergamot, grapefruit, and vanilla. When a straightforward natural blend meets our standards, we use it.

Every fragrance decision is product-specific. We don't default to one approach across the line.

It depends on the product.

Our Slick Stick fragrance is 100% natural: bergamot fruit oil, grapefruit peel oil, and vanilla extract. Simple, plant-derived, and it works perfectly for that formula.

Our Spray Gel fragrance, MAEN Squeeze, is predominantly natural with a small percentage of carefully chosen synthetic components. We made that choice on purpose:

Lower allergen load. Essential oils contain naturally-occurring compounds (limonene, linalool, coumarin, and others) that can trigger sensitivities, especially in leave-on products used daily. Selected synthetics can replace the heaviest-allergen natural components without the same risk.

Improved stability. Pure natural fragrances can oxidize and change over time. Stable synthetic components help the scent stay consistent through the life of the bottle.

Stricter safety thresholds. Some natural components are restricted under cosmetic safety regulations because they're potent at high concentrations. Synthetic alternatives can deliver the same character at lower risk.

When natural works (like in our Slick Stick), we use it. When a more complex scent benefits from selected synthetics for safety, we formulate for that. We chose intentional over impressive-sounding.

Some fragrance allergens are present in any quality fragrance blend, whether natural or synthetic. Essential oils contain naturally-occurring compounds that can be allergens (limonene, linalool, coumarin, and others). This applies to our Slick Stick's natural blend and our Spray Gel's MAEN Squeeze blend alike.

What matters is which ones, at what concentration, and for what use.

Our Spray Gel fragrance is formulated under three layers of safety standard:

IFRA-certified. The International Fragrance Association sets concentration limits for every fragrance ingredient based on toxicological safety data. Our blend complies with the IFRA Standards (51st amendment, 2023).

EU regulation EC 1545/2023. The European Union has the strictest fragrance allergen disclosure rules in the world. We hold to that standard regardless of where the product ships.

Phthalate-free certification. Independently certified phthalate-free.

On our packaging, we list it as "Fragrance," which is the standard cosmetic labeling convention. The full allergen breakdown is documented and available on request. Email hello@maenhair.com if you want it.

No, and that's intentional.

Clean isn't about labels. It's about intention, transparency, and performance.

Over 90% of our ingredients are naturally derived. We use carefully selected synthetic ingredients only when they make a formula safer, more stable, or more effective, and every ingredient must meet The MAEN Standard for safety, performance, and synergy.

We don't chase the "all-natural" label, because it can be misleading. Instead, we focus on being honest, effective, and truly clean, clearly sharing what's in every formula and why it's there.

Yes, and that's a good thing.

Any water-based product needs a preservative to stay safe and stable. But not all preservatives are created equal.

Many conventional formulas rely on preservatives like parabens or phenoxyethanol because they're inexpensive and effective, but they can be irritating, especially in leave-on products used daily.

At MAEN, we choose clean, gentle preservatives that meet our internal standards for safety and performance:

Caprylyl Glycol. A coconut-derived humectant with antimicrobial support.

Caprylhydroxamic Acid. A gentle, amino-acid-based preservative.

Propanediol. A corn sugar-derived stabilizer that also helps add moisture.

You won't find parabens, phenoxyethanol, or outdated preservatives here. Just thoughtfully preserved formulas designed to stay fresh without compromising standards.

No. Our formulas are 100% silicone-free, and that's on purpose.

Silicones (like dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane) coat the hair to fake softness and shine. But over time, they trap buildup, block moisture, and require harsh shampoos to wash out.

We avoid them in every MAEN product because daily-use products shouldn't create a negative feedback loop. Real hair health starts with clean, rinseable ingredients that actually nourish, not just mask.

Every age. Our products are gentle enough for toddlers and effective enough for adults.

Many of our customers start using MAEN on kids as young as 18 months. The formulas are water-based, lightweight, and free of silicones, parabens, and harsh preservatives, so they're gentle enough for daily use on developing hair and sensitive scalps.

From there, MAEN works across every stage:

Toddlers and young kids. Gentle hold for school-day styles, dance, and everything in between. Easy to apply, easy to brush out.

Tweens and teens. Stronger styling for girls who are starting to do their own hair. Clean enough that parents don't have to worry about what's going on their daughter's head every morning.

Adults. Yes, moms use it on themselves too. The Spray Gel and Slick Stick work just as well on grown-up hair. We hear about this constantly.

We didn't design MAEN for one age group. We designed it for daily use at every age, and that's how our customers use it.

All of them. Straight, wavy, curly, and coily.

Our formulas are water-based and lightweight, so they smooth and hold without weighing hair down or leaving a heavy residue. A few specifics:

Straight hair. Holds sleek ponytails, buns, and braids without stiffness or crunch.

Wavy hair. Controls frizz and flyaways while keeping natural texture intact.

Curly hair. Defines and holds without drying out or flaking. No silicone coating that blocks moisture.

Coily hair. Smooths edges and lays styles flat without buildup. The Slick Stick is especially good for edge work.

Our Styling Brush is designed with bristles that cut through all layers of hair, not just the surface. That means the style locks in from root to tip, regardless of thickness or texture.

Yes. Every MAEN product is formulated specifically for daily use, not occasional styling.

This is one of the biggest differences between MAEN and most styling products on the market. Most gels, sprays, and sticks weren't designed with daily application in mind. They work once but create problems (buildup, dryness, irritation) when used repeatedly.

We formulate differently:

No silicones. No coating that accumulates day after day.

Water-based formulas. Lightweight, won't irritate with repeated daily use.

Gentle preservation system. Coconut-derived and amino-acid-based preservatives chosen specifically because they're safe for daily leave-on use on all ages, including kids.

Every ingredient screened for daily-use safety. Our chemists formulate inside strict guidelines. If an ingredient isn't safe for someone to use every single day, it doesn't make it into the formula.

Daily use isn't an afterthought at MAEN. It's the entire point. To learn more, feel free to read The MAEN Standard.

No, and this is one of the things our customers love most.

Most styling products force a cycle: style in the morning, wash it out at night (or the next morning), repeat. That cycle exists because silicones and heavy polymers build up and make hair look dull, greasy, or weighed down after a day or two.

MAEN breaks that cycle:

No silicones, no heavy buildup. Our formulas are water-based and silicone-free, so residue doesn't accumulate the way it does with conventional products.

Brush it out at night, style again tomorrow. Run a brush through the hair before bed. In the morning, the hair is clean and ready to restyle without washing first.

Less washing means healthier hair. Over-washing strips natural oils and can irritate young scalps. Fewer washes means less damage, less dryness, and easier mornings for everyone.

Most of our families wash hair 2-3 times per week and restyle with MAEN daily in between. That's the routine our products are designed for.

Each MAEN product is designed to be easy, intuitive, and mess-free. Here's the basic routine:

Step 1: Wet and detangle. Lightly wet the hair and use the Knot Today Detangling Brush to gently work through any knots.

Step 2: Part. Use the Parting Comb to section the hair where you want it.

Step 3: Brush and shape. Use the Styling Brush to smooth and shape the style. The firm bristles work through all layers of hair so the style holds from root to tip, not just on the surface.

Step 4: Set the style. Spray MAEN Event Spray Gel, brush it in on a final pass, then lock it in with a final mist to set the style. For stronger hold, simply use more spray gel.

Step 5: Touch up. Use the Slick Stick on edges, flyaways, and partings for a polished finish.

You don't need every product to get started. Most new customers begin with the MAEN Essentials Trio and build from there.

For video tutorials and step-by-step styling ideas, follow @maenhair on Instagram and TikTok.

Three things almost no other brand does at once.

Clean AND effective. Most clean brands compromise on performance. Most performance brands compromise on safety. We refuse to compromise on either. Every formula is built from scratch with our chemists working inside strict guidelines. No bandaid ingredients. No filler extracts at marketing doses. Every ingredient earns its place.

Designed as a system for daily styling. Our products are made to work together. No silicones, no heavy buildup, no daily washout required. Style today, brush it out tonight, style again tomorrow. Daily styling that doesn't fight your hair.

Born because 250k moms kept asking. Hillary shared hundreds of hair tutorials with a community of 250,000 moms on Instagram. They kept asking what she was using. Nothing was good enough to recommend, so she and Michael built MAEN. Every product is still filtered through one test: would this work for a real mom doing real hair on a real morning?

Hillary and Michael, a husband-and-wife team and parents of five, based in Vineyard, Utah.

Hillary is a licensed cosmetologist and the founder of @hairystylesforkids, where she's spent years sharing hair tutorials with a community of 250,000 moms on Instagram. Michael left a career in corporate fintech to go full-time at MAEN.

MAEN started because they couldn't find hair products they trusted to use on their own daughters. Nothing on the market was clean or effective enough to feel good about, for their own kids or for the families following along. So they built their own products from scratch.

Today, MAEN is a family business in every sense. The chemists are moms. The designer is a mom. The warehouse team includes moms. And every product still gets tested where it started: on real kids, in real life.

For the full story, visit our About Us page.

Our formulas are made in the USA. Each product is batched and filled in either Utah or Idaho by partner labs we chose and work with directly.

Our custom fragrance, MAEN Squeeze, was developed with a perfumery house in France.

Every order ships from our own facility in Provo, Utah. We handle fulfillment in-house because we wanted control over every detail, a home base where our team can gather and build culture, and the chance to put a little extra care into every order that goes out.

Yes, yes, and yes.

All MAEN products are cruelty-free (never tested on animals), vegan (no animal-derived ingredients), and gluten-free.