We Are MADE SAFE Certified 

We are proud to announce our newest certification with MADE SAFE, one of the most rigorous product assessments in existence that considers the impact of ingredients on the environment and human health. MADE SAFE Certification ensures that a company considers the full ecosystem impact of their ingredients and materials and protects the health of animals, aquatic life, and ultimately humans.     

After extensive research, we found MADE SAFE to be the most holistic and thorough certification for our products. When you see the MADE SAFE logo on our products, you can be sure that each ingredient is carefully considered and chosen for efficacy and environmental responsibility. Transparency of ingredients and integrity in sourcing are of the utmost importance to us, and we believe it makes for better products. Jana Blankenship, founder and formulator of our products spoke with MADE SAFE about why we made this choice: 

Why is it important to have third-party validation for your products?

"Many brands - in the “clean” space included - make false claims about their products - whether intentionally misleading or not - we don’t want to be one of them. For us, transparency of ingredients and integrity in sourcing are of the utmost importance. Since there is no universal definition of “clean” or “natural,” having our products MADE SAFE approved creates a standard for what customers can expect when they shop with us. We are committed to ensuring that the ingredients we use are ethical in their effects on people and the planet." 

What makes MADE SAFE the right certification for your products?

"From our extensive research, we found MADE SAFE to be the most holistic and thorough certification for our products. It takes time, commitment and resources to undergo the certification process and we wanted to make sure we chose the right partner that would dive as deeply as we wanted into every aspect of our products to ensure we choose ingredients that align with our commitments.  We know that when our customers see the MadeSafe logo on our products, they can be sure that each ingredient is carefully considered and chosen for efficacy and environmental responsibility."

Why are your products different from other, more conventional, products in the space?

"Our motto at Captain Blankenship is “Beauty Wild with Nature.” We make clean hair care products that harness the power and intelligence of nature to enhance your wild beauty and never hide it. Unlike conventional hair care that utilizes harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances, we try to direct source as many ingredients as possible from farmers who use sustainable farming techniques. These ingredients are not only effective and beneficial for your hair, but also safe for the environment. We take a holistic approach when we formulate our products by looking at the entire lifecycle.

We believe that ingredients from nature are superior not only in safety and environmental responsibility - but in efficacy. Petroleum-based and synthetic chemicals may work in the moment, but over time they have effects that actually degrade your hair’s health instead of supporting it. We aim to always support the health of your hair, mind, and body. 

There are certain ingredients that are abundant in conventional products that we actively avoid: 

• During formulation, we avoid synthetic surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) that strip hair of natural oil, instead opting for gentle surfactants like coconut-derived coco-glucoside and decyl glucoside which do not strip the hair.  

• Silicones and synthetic polymers like dimethicone lead to buildup, preventing beneficial ingredients from penetrating your hair. We formulate with all-natural shine-inducing, hair-strengthening ingredients like organic argan, jojoba, and camellia seed oil that both deeply penetrate for true nourishment, and coat hair to protect from outside damage.  

• Instead of Parabens like Methylparaben and Propylparaben we choose naturally-derived preservatives like Sodium Benzoate, which is the sodium salt of benzoic acid. 

I developed a lifelong sensitivity to synthetic fragrance from mixing my mom’s perfumes together in the 1980s so I know first-hand the effect these ingredients can have on some people. We formulate with only essential oils which not only smell great but are also active ingredients in the formulas. Nature gets the job done and smells great while doing it, so why mess with that? A synthetic fragrance can be concocted from hundreds of unclassified petrochemicals, which do not need to be disclosed as they are classified as trade secrets. They can lead to reactions like the ones I experience, but also can cause skin irritation, severe respiratory reactions and some have been classified as possible endocrine disruptors."