Masami

Clean Premium Haircare | Japanese Ocean Botanical | Supporting Ocean Research

MASAMI—meaning "Truly Beautiful" in Japanese—is a love story that bridges East and West. Founded in 2020 by CEO Lynn Power (former CEO of J. Walter Thompson NY) and Chief Innovation Officer James Hammett, the brand was born from James's decade-long dedication to perfecting clean haircare formulations inspired by his husband Masahiro Sasaki's family traditions in Otsuchi, a small coastal town in northeastern Japan. During visits to Masa's family, James was captivated by their remarkable health and the lustrous appearance of their hair and skin—secrets rooted in centuries-old practices of incorporating ocean botanicals into their beauty routines and diet.

After nearly 10 years of experimentation and refinement, James discovered the transformative power of Mekabu—a nutrient-rich ocean botanical growing beneath Wakame leaves in the depths of the Pacific Ocean off northeastern Japan. Packed with over 60 minerals including vitamins A, C, and K, plus calcium, magnesium, and iodine, Mekabu delivers weightless hydration that solves haircare's #1 unmet need without leaving hair limp or flat. Sourced ethically from a family-owned seaweed company in Iwate that works with local fishermen, every ingredient is food-grade, harvested fresh, dried, and ground to MASAMI's specifications.

Launched at New York Fashion Week in February 2020—just one month before COVID-19 lockdowns—MASAMI faced immediate challenges, followed by Lynn's 2021 diagnosis with Stage 3 Metaplastic breast cancer. Through resilience and adaptability, Lynn and James pivoted their strategy, with Lynn ultimately founding the Conscious Beauty Collective in 2022—a collaborative community of 30+ indie beauty and wellness brands supporting each other's growth. Following the devastating 2011 tsunami that destroyed Otsuchi's bays and marine ecosystem, MASAMI established The MASAMI Institute to fund ocean research and education, helping protect ocean life and rebalance the fragile coastal environment. Vegan, cruelty-free, and free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, MASAMI proves that clean beauty and high-performance hydration can coexist beautifully.