Our Story

30 Years of an Alterna-tive Approach to Haircare

Beauty comes from within and also the eye of the beholder. It’s never too late, but an early start can help.

After decades of science-led research, with a relentless focus on efficacy, luxury, and high-quality alternative ingredients, our passion for creating indulgent haircare essentials proves that ideal ingredients defy trend and convention and true luxury is found in transformation.

We elevate haircare by returning to what endures—marine-sourced ingredients, scientific rigor and product excellence—delivering salon-quality, luxurious care that supports your discerning quest for lasting haircare.

By blending uncontested classics like caviar into contemporary formulations, we remain ahead of the curve, providing a sophisticated, forward-thinking alternative that transcends trends and time.

Alterna offers a fresh alternative to anti-aging haircare with timeless essentials and targeted treatments that are adaptive, preventative, and revitalizing, empowering hair to thrive at every stage.

EST. 1997

The Alterna Difference

At Alterna, creating truly luxurious haircare means looking where others may not—and sometimes, that means diving very deep.

Alterna’s legacy is rooted in its caviar. This uncontested classic ingredient maintains its position as a leader in luxury haircare for all hair stages. Caviar as an ingredient can be found in every Caviar Anti-Aging haircare formula from Alterna. 

Today we continue to define the cutting edge of clean beauty with our minimalist development philosophy. Our high-performance formulas feature potent botanicals blended with high-quality essential ingredients needed for superior results — a truly transformative experience without unnecessary additives. That's why Alterna products will always be formulated without parabens, SLS/SLES* sulfates, and synthetic color. We have always believed these chemicals don't belong in your hair.

Our formulas are designed to address concerns such as dryness, damage, changes in texture or density, loss of volume and the visible effects of environmental and styling stress. Each product combines targeted performance with an indulgent sensorial experience, transforming everyday haircare into an elevated act of self-care.


The result is hair that looks healthier, feels stronger and performs beautifully—today and through every stage to come.

* Formulated without Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate.

An Alternative for Every Hair Stage

What We Stand For

Transform Hair at Every Stage

Hair evolves, and haircare should too. Our collections are designed to meet the changing needs of hair, helping to prevent, protect and revitalize so it can thrive at every stage.

Luxury Without Convention

We look beyond passing trends to discover ingredients and innovations that elevate both the health of the hair and the experience of caring for it.

Science-Led Performance

Decades of research and a relentless focus on efficacy guide the development of high-performance haircare that delivers visible, transformative results.

Professional Heritage

Developed alongside professional hairstylists and trusted for salon-quality performance, Alterna brings professional expertise into every haircare ritual.

1997 — Today

Explore the history of Alterna

Three decades of clean, luxurious innovation in haircare.

2025

Caviar Dry Shampoo

A next-generation dry shampoo that refreshes hair between washes while maintaining a clean, luxurious feel. Its innovative, sheer formula absorbs excess oil without leaving behind the heavy, powdery residue traditionally associated with dry shampoo.

2024

Replenishing Moisture Oil

A lightweight treatment oil that transformed the way moisture is delivered to dry hair. This innovative formula replenishes hydration, smooths frizz and restores luminous shine without leaving hair feeling heavy.

2023

Styling Restage

A powerful new generation of Caviar's styling products — core formulas reimagined for a new standard in luxury styling. Modern, more sustainable packaging with twist-open aerosol nozzles and 50% PCR bottles. With Flex-Strength Complex, a proprietary blend of botanicals &
proteins to enrich hair with strength while supporting beautiful styles.

2023

Restructuring Bond Repair Intensive Leave-In Treatment Masque

A leave-in treatment masque that strengthens hair, reduces and prevents breakage, maintains smoothness after repeated washes, and significantly improves shine.

2022

Scalp Care

Formulated with the exclusive Scalp Moisture Complex — Sweet Almond Oil, White Charcoal, Sea Salt, Peppermint, Tea Tree Oil and Hemp Seed Oil — to lock in hydration and soothe the scalp.

2020

Foam Conditioner

The innovative Clinical Densifying Foam Conditioner — a gentle self-foaming conditioner that infuses weightless, nourishing moisture into delicate, thinning hair.

2019

Award-Winning Air-Dry Balm

Recognized with a 2019 Fall O-Ward from The Oprah Magazine. The Smoothing Anti-Frizz Air-Dry Balm adds natural shine, controls frizz, and reduces air-drying time by 25%.

2018

Same Great Formula, New Look

Celebrating nearly 20 years of Caviar, Alterna relaunched the collection with a consistent palette and introduced the Restructuring Bond Repair line to reverse the look of damage and help protect from heat and free radicals while preserving the look of color.



2017

Bamboo Summers

The sunniest Alterna collection returned with natural UV protection, a Brazilian mango and coconut milk fragrance, sunflower seed oil and UVA/UVB filters over the organic bamboo base.

2013

Bamboo On The Beach

A summer lineup for carefree beach waves — treating UV damage and preserving color, the go-to for anyone who loves time in the sunshine.

2012

New Bamboo In Style

A completely new certified organic bamboo extract, paired with blue yucca root to protect hair during cleansing — in fragrances from Bamboo Leaf to Sugar Lemon.

2011

Fast Bamboo Growth

Indian gooseberry — the highest natural content of vitamin C — was added to the Bamboo line to replenish moisture and coat hair in a veil of mirror-like shine, sourced with minimal environmental impact.

2010

The Bamboo Strength

Infusing hair with one of the world's fastest-growing, most resilient ingredients — sustainably harvested from India, Peru, Indonesia and Namibia for intrinsic strength and flexibility.

2008

Seasilk, Hemp & Life Line

A landmark year: industry-defying Seasilk packaging elevated Alterna's premium status; Highly Hydrating Hemp became the first haircare line to feature hemp seed oil; and the Life Line extension balanced hair and scalp with eastern extracts.

2007

Ten Out Of Ten

To celebrate 10 years, Alterna created the Ten line — a shampoo, conditioner and masque built on an experimental recipe of 10 luxurious ingredients. Demand made the limited edition permanent.

2005

White Truffle & Caviar Enzymes

White Truffle Luxury Shampoo & Conditioner brought Renaissance-era opulence and B vitamins to haircare, while Caviar with Age-Control Complex restored vibrancy and elasticity at the cellular level.

1999

Anti-Aging Caviar & Life Line

Less than two years after launch, Alterna introduced its breakthrough Caviar collection — rich in omega-3s to replenish the hair's lipid layer — alongside the Life collection uniting western technology and eastern wisdom.

1997

A New Generation Of Haircare

Founded in 1997 with a vision for a sustainable future: a no-compromise, luxurious haircare collection based on the science of skincare. Only natural eco-certified ingredients. No sulfates or parabens. No animal testing. Ever.

Find Your Transformation

Discover salon-quality, luxurious care that supports your quest for hair
health.