Talking with CZE’s Chloe Zara about the exciting evolution of her eponymous haircare brand

We could all do with a bit of extra luxury in our lives, and for me, that mainly comes in the form of beautiful, clean and luscious skincare and haircare that feels like a dream whilst doing zero harm to me or the planet.
A brand created just before the pandemic that quickly became a favourite of mine was Chloe Zara Hair, which took luxe, natural haircare and elevates it to incredible new levels. It was the work of award-winning Auckland hairstylist Chloe Zara Munro, who I met almost 20 years ago when she regularly delivered a killer colour and blow wave at Stephen Marr in Ponsonby. Since then she’s embarked on her own as a super creative stylist and colourist, before she stepped aside to create a haircare offering that has seriously disrupted the industry thanks to its effortless mix of clean ingredients stellar results. And now Chloe Zara the brand has evolved into CZE, with new additions to its lineup and an inspired new commitment to hair health for all.

Founder, Chloe Zara Munro

The winds of change for the brand started to arrive in 2022, when the Chloe Zara Hair brand was being threatened by a global fashion giant with a vaguely similar name that was looking to move into the haircare category. Numerous sleepless nights ensued, eventually followed by a decision to rebrand and then a revelation. “It was so incredibly stressful at the time, but we soon realised it was giving us the perfect opportunity to almost start afresh,” Chloe tells me. “It gave me time to step back and do a real deep dive into why I created it in the first place,” a silver lining that the founder took as a challenge to be met head on.
The end result is CZE Hair, the “e” representing everything from essential and effective to effortless and easy, the former adjectives synonymous with her work as a colourist. The forced evolution has also given her the power to democratise the brand, which the stylish founder says was always the plan from the beginning. “I want everyone to be able to use my brand, and experience what beautiful, healthy hair feels like each and every day.”

The newly rebranded CZE is dedicated to redefining what it means to achieve healthy, beautiful hair - effortlessly – and really doubles down on the message that beautiful hair begins at the scalp. By fusing the latest in trichology with clean, plant-based ingredients, CZE truly taps further into the 'skinification' of haircare, and the results from are significant and impressive. “Strong, healthy hair starts with a well-nourished scalp,” Chloe explains. “The scalp is more sensitive and absorbent than the rest of our skin, so treating it with the same attention as our face is essential. With CZE, we’ve created a simplified approach to haircare that delivers real, visible results.”
At the core of CZE’s launch is the Refine Scalp Serum, a clinically proven solution that stimulates hair growth and combats hair loss. Infused with hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and rosemary extract to boost circulation, the powerhouse serum is clinically shown to reduce hair loss by 53% within 45 days and I’ve been using a few drops almost daily over the past month. Whether it's postpartum hair thinning, stress-related shedding, hormonal changes or simply a desire for thicker hair, the Refine Scalp Serum was created to really nurture the scalp and address hair fall, and it arrived toward the end of last year alongside an accompanying shampoo and conditioner. Called Refine Wash and Refine Condition, both are designed for fine, flat or thinning hair in need of an extra boost, and I’ve become obsessed by using the Refine Wash shampoo alongside the richer, original CZE Silk Condition in line with my combination hair. The former is gorgeously light and definitely boosts volume, which is always the end goal in my books.
The original collection was comprised of everyday essentials, as well as a luxurious Hair Perfume that I fell hard for – and now can’t leave home without. It has the most incredible earthy, spicy scent of saffron, pineapple, fig and sandalwood created in Grasse – and literally turns my often-tortured locks to silk. Chloe reassured me that the formula hasn’t been messed with, but it now comes in a more compact vessel in response to consumer feedback.

The launch of the Refine Collection also introduces a brand new concept in the haircare industry, which Chloe created in collaboration with her incredible formulator, cosmetic chemist Stacy Fraser. Dubbed Trico-Dermis Beauty™ - trademarked by CZE Hair – it’s an approach that blends the science of trichology (hair and scalp health) with skincare principles to treat the scalp as an extension of facial skin. Given that the scalp is up to four times more absorbent than the rest of the skin, Trico-Dermis Beauty™ ensures that every CZE product nurtures the scalp for optimal hair vitality. I love that!
I have nothing but respect for Chloe and her team for truly making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, and can’t wait to see what she does next.

You can find out more and explore the brand for yourself here.