— Our Ingredients —
Clover & Stem began with a single question: why is the average professional salon a chemical environment? This page is our answer — what we refuse to use, what we use instead, and why we think it matters.
— The Refuse List —
Some are banned by the EU. Some are simply unnecessary. None of them belong on your scalp.
The compound responsible for the chemical smell most people associate with hair color. We use ammonia-free color from Oway and O&M — slightly slower processing time, dramatically better scalp health, no respiratory irritation for the stylist working over your hair.
The harsh detergents that make shampoos foam. They strip natural sebum, fade color, and irritate sensitive scalps. Every shampoo on our shelf is sulfate-free — and yes, they still lather.
Synthetic preservatives that mimic estrogen in the body. The European Union restricts them. We don't carry a single product containing methyl-, propyl-, butyl-, or ethyl-paraben.
Found in most keratin smoothing treatments. We do not offer Brazilian blowouts or any formaldehyde-based smoothing. We use Cezanne Classic, which uses a glyoxylic acid derivative — no fumes, no exhaust fan required, no risk to our stylists' lungs.
Plasticizers used to make synthetic fragrance "stick" to the hair. Endocrine disruptors. Our fragrance comes from essential oils — eucalyptus, lavender, sweet orange. Brief shelf life, no headache.
A blanket term that can include up to 4,000 undisclosed chemicals. Every scented product in our salon discloses every ingredient. If you smell something, you can read what it is.
They coat the hair to mimic shine. They also build up over months and require sulfate shampoos to remove — a trap. We use lightweight plant-derived alternatives. Your hair will look healthier in three weeks.
Often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen. We don't carry anything containing PEGs. Not even a little.
— Brands on Our Shelf —
We took eighteen months to choose the brands we use. Each one is here for a specific reason.
Biodynamic farm in Tuscany, glass bottles, ammonia-free color. Our primary color line. Their lavender is grown ninety meters from the bottling plant.
Their "Original Mineral" line uses naturally derived mineral pigments instead of synthetic dyes. The bond-building system is the gentlest professional color we've tested in fifteen years.
Family-owned, certified organic, every ingredient under fifteen per product. Our daily shampoo and conditioner shelf. The brand we sell the most of to clients.
A native plant-based system harvested in collaboration with the Quichua-Shiwiar people of the rainforest. Their styling oil is the only product we keep in three locations around the salon — at every station, behind the front desk, and in the bridal kit.
Hairspray that's 95% naturally derived and actually holds. We use it for events and editorial. No CFCs, no propellant headache.
B Corp since 2016. Carbon-neutral. Their NaturalTech line is the only thing we trust for our color-treated clients with sensitive scalps.
Our keratin smoothing system. Formaldehyde-free, glyoxylic acid based. Six-week training to certify our stylists. No customer has ever reported a fume issue.
Black-owned, sensitive-scalp focused, no harsh sulfates. Their scalp masks rescued more curly-haired clients last year than any other product on our shelves.
— How We Practice It —
Every product on our shelf has its complete ingredient list available on the front-desk tablet. Ask, and we'll walk you through it. No "fragrance" hidden as a catch-all. No "and other ingredients."
It's not enough for something to be "natural." Lavender essential oil is natural and will burn a sensitive scalp at 5% concentration. We work with brands that publish the percentage of every active. We choose by the math, not the marketing.
Salon-sized shampoo and conditioner pumps that get refilled from 1-gallon containers. Refills available for clients with their original bottles — bring it back, $4 off. We took 480 plastic bottles out of the waste stream last year.
Our stylists examine your scalp at every visit — under daylight, looking for redness, flaking, or irritation. If anything looks off, we change the product line on the spot. The shelf serves the scalp, not the other way around.
Our entire color and treatment menu is safe through every trimester. We carry a "fragrance-free" service kit for clients in chemo treatment, hyperemesis, or strong fragrance sensitivity. No upcharge. Ask when you book.
That is the rule the salon was founded on. It costs us about 18% more in product spend, takes 30 minutes longer per color service, and is the single best decision we have made as business owners.
Your hair will thank you. Your scalp will thank you. The wastewater going down our drains will be measurably cleaner. That has to be worth something.
— Maren & Avery, founders · Clover & Stem · San Francisco, CA
Twenty minutes, no commitment. We'll examine your scalp, walk you through the products you're using now, and let you smell every shampoo on our shelf.
Book online Call (415) 555-0218