SOPHIC Wins Women in Business Grant | Vegan Hair Products

We’re beyond excited to share that SOPHIC Hair Care has been named one of the recipients of this year’s Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant. This incredible initiative celebrates and supports women-led businesses in Brisbane that are making a real impact in their industries and communities.

For us at SOPHIC, this recognition means more than a headline, it’s an opportunity to continue building on our mission of creating eco-friendly hair care that’s good for people, salons, and the planet.

Women in Business Brisbane: Why This Matters

Brisbane is home to an inspiring community of women entrepreneurs driving innovation across industries. Being acknowledged in the Women in Business Brisbane network highlights the strength of female-led leadership and the opportunities that come from building with purpose.

As a Brisbane haircare brand, we’re proud to contribute to this ecosystem by proving that sustainability and performance can work hand in hand. Winning this grant allows us to invest even further in environmental accountability, ensuring that our growth aligns with both our values and the needs of the community we serve.

 

SOPHIC’s Journey: From Curiosity to Cruelty Free Haircare Brand

SOPHIC was founded by Amanda Thompson after her personal health journey shed light on the hidden chemicals in everyday haircare. Frustrated by the lack of transparency, Amanda envisioned something different: vegan hair products that worked as well as, or better than, mainstream salon brands, but without the toxins, the waste, or the harm to animals.

That vision became SOPHIC. Since 2019, our products have stood for:

Cruelty free haircare brands principles: no product is ever tested on animals.

100% vegan hair products: no animal-derived ingredients, ever.

Environmentally friendly hair care: sustainable packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials.

Eco-friendly hair care formulas: safe, non-toxic ingredients powered by native botanicals that deliver salon-quality results.

What started as a passion project has grown into a trusted brand stocked in professional salons and loved by individuals who believe in making conscious beauty choices.

Eco Friendly Hair Care at Its Core

Sustainability has always been more than a trend at SOPHIC, it’s the foundation of everything we do. From the start, we’ve designed our environmentally friendly hair care products with both people and the planet in mind.

Our packaging is made with recycled glass and aluminium, chosen because it can be infinitely recycled unlike plastic. Even our shipping materials are compostable or dissolvable, making it easy for our customers to reduce waste at home.

Beyond packaging, our sourcing is local and ethical. More than 75% of our suppliers are based within Brisbane or nearby regions, ensuring we reduce transport emissions and support other small businesses. By manufacturing within 50km of our headquarters, we’re cutting down our carbon footprint while strengthening our community ties.

This grant will allow us to go one step further, working with sustainability experts to measure and reduce our carbon emissions across the entire business. Transparency and accountability matter, and we’re determined to set new standards for cruelty free haircare brands in Australia and beyond.

 

Why Vegan Hair Products Matter

Haircare is deeply personal. For many, it’s part of a daily ritual, but it should never come at the cost of health or ethics. That’s why SOPHIC is committed to vegan hair products that are not only effective but safe and transparent.

Unlike mainstream options, our formulations are free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, and synthetic fragrances. Instead, we use naturally derived, salon-proven ingredients, including Australian native botanicals, to deliver shine, strength, and manageability without compromise.

Choosing vegan hair products means making a stand for both wellness and animal welfare. It means being confident that your shampoo or conditioner is part of a bigger movement toward beauty that doesn’t exploit animals or harm the planet.

 

Hair Products Not Tested on Animals

As part of our mission, SOPHIC proudly develops hair products not tested on animals. Sadly, many big brands still rely on outdated and unnecessary animal testing, but we believe beauty should never come at the expense of animal wellbeing.

Being recognised among cruelty free haircare brands gives us the platform to show that high-performing salon products can be created ethically. Every bottle we produce is a reminder that conscious choices can spark real industry change.

 

Best Natural Products for Natural Hair

SOPHIC’s formulations are designed to restore balance, bring out natural shine, and strengthen hair fibres from root to tip. For customers seeking the best natural products for natural hair, our CARE range offers a healthier alternative to chemical-heavy brands.

Whether you’re looking to maintain curls, repair damage, or simply enjoy more manageable hair, SOPHIC delivers results without the harsh ingredients that strip away vitality. It’s professional performance powered by nature, proof that eco friendly hair care can be luxurious, effective, and safe.

 

Looking Ahead: From Brisbane to the World

Receiving the Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant is a milestone, but it’s only the beginning of SOPHIC’s next chapter. The funding will help us take measurable steps toward becoming one of Australia’s leading cruelty free haircare brands, while also expanding into international markets including Europe, the UK, and the US.

Through it all, we remain committed to our Brisbane roots. Our community of salons, suppliers, and loyal customers has been the backbone of our success. Together, we’re proving that environmentally friendly hair care isn’t just possible — it’s the future.

 

A Thank You to Our Community

We’re deeply grateful to the Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Program for recognising SOPHIC’s journey and supporting women entrepreneurs who are changing their industries.

And to our incredible customers, stylists, and salon partners: thank you. Your trust and support have made it possible for us to create vegan hair products, invest in eco friendly hair care, and grow as a proudly Brisbane-based brand.

With your continued support, SOPHIC will keep pushing boundaries, proving that the best natural products for natural hair are also the most sustainable, ethical, and beautiful.