Philip Berkovitz, founder of Philip B.
If anyone knows how to give hair a luxurious boost, it is Philip Berkovitz. The California-based hair guru and founder of Philip B. hair products has been in business for 33 years, creating his namesake products, which are popular with celebrities like Ariana Grande, Salma Hayek, Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz, among others.
Since first launching his brand in 1992 with his Rejuvenating Oil, which is made from plant and flower oils, the brand has grown to be in 50 countries, carrying products including his Peppermint Avocado Shampoo and his Russian Amber Imperial Collection.
Hair products by Philip B.
“I went into the beauty business because I liked making people feel better,” said Berkovitz. “It started with cut and color, then clients asking me to fix their bigger problems, from fixing their dehydrated hair, or troubled scalps. I discovered that all the shampoos they were using were simple blends of detergent, water and fragrance, while the conditioners were far too heavy and waxy.”
He has been making his own remedies ever since. “There was no internet when I started, there were only libraries and bookstores, so I started reading books specifically written for doctors on the healing power of plants.” That led him to books on skin and scalp disorders, from seborrheic dermatitis to dandruff to better understand the differences between each ailment.
It led him to collecting some of the highest-quality botanicals he could get his hands on, and spent even months mixing formulas in his kitchen. “Eventually, I tried my custom blends on my clients,” said Berkovitz. “They were so thrilled with the results, that they spread the word. Everything just took off from there.”
Hair products by Philip B.
While botanicals have been used in medicines for centuries, they really took off in hair care and cosmetics in the 1990s. Plant-based ingredients became alternatives to animal-derived ingredients in lotions, makeup, creams and shampoos. “Plants are healing, and the basis of many of our medicines,” said Berkovitz. “So, I take a scientific approach to create products that allow us to have a better quality of life.”
One of his latest products include the new Maui Wowie Volumizing Mousse, an eco-friendly, aerosol-free mousse. “It gives hair a full, voluptuous feel with loads of texture,” he said. Berkovitz also helps clients with scalp problems with his Rejuvenating Oil, which is made entirely from plant and flower oils.
He recommends investing in botanical shampoos and conditioners made with time-released safflower oleosomes, like his Forever Shine and Everyday Beautiful collections, as well as his new Peppermint Avocado Conditioner. “It’s an advanced scalp-treatment conditioner that works for all hair types and offers the same tingly-fresh sensation as the shampoo, but is even longer-lasting,” he said. “The menthol and peppermint stimulate nerve endings to create a cool, refreshing sensation.”
Philip B. aka Philip Berkovitz
For summer hair care, Berkovitz recommends keeping hair hydrated. “Rinse your hair with clear water before you swim in the ocean or a pool, that will keep it from absorbing ocean salts and chlorine,” he said.
Berkovitz also recommends sleeping on a satin pillowcase and treating your hair to a weekly Rejuvenating Oil treatment, which plumps up hair strands. “Your hair is porous and will absorb only what it needs; any excess oil left on the surface will lift away when you shampoo,” he says. “If you’re prone to split ends, rub a dab of leave-in conditioner on the tips of towel-dried hair. My Lovin’ Leave-In Conditioner is perfect for this.”
Next up, Berkovitz plans to re-release his Chai Latte Body Wash and Chocolate Milk Body Wash, both of which launched in the 1990s. “Both will come out later this year as limited editions because customers have been begging us to bring them back,” he said.
He is also working on new products. “I’m always looking for ways to improve, elevate and make things better in my industry,” said Berkovitz. “I have been touching hair every day for three decades, so I’m learning hands-on. I truly believe that healing occurs at a higher level when it comes from the heart.”
