Jonathan Van Ness—the comedian, author, podcast host, Queer Eye star and ambassador for skincare brand Biossance—can now add beauty brand founder to their résumé. Jonathan Van Ness, or JVN, launched JVN Hair in 2021 and now it’s (finally!) available here in Australia. Among the chaos of the brand dropping into Sephora stores nationally, we had the chance to speak with Van Ness about the line so that we could give you all the details.

“Being able to build a haircare brand was always beyond my wildest dream,” said Van Ness, who identifies as non-binary and goes by they/he/she. “But through a series of events I was able to take my lifelong love of hairstyling, meld it with my career in hairdressing and eventually found the perfect partner in Amyris.” Van Ness had become familiar with the biotech company, Amyris, through their work as the Global Self-Care Ambassador of Biossance. Together, they formulated the sustainable hero ingredients for the line and Van Ness said “it took us about a year and a half to bring JVN to fruition.”

Here, Van Ness shares everything to know about JVN Hair. 

Congratulations on the launch of JVN Hair in Australia! Can you tell us more about the range?
“I had a big wish list of must-haves for this brand: I wanted clean, powerhouse ingredients. Our hero ingredient, hemisqualane, is nourishing enough for dry, curly, and coily hair, but also light enough for fine hair. The brand had to be inclusive and effective across all hair types, ages and genders. It also had to be sustainable, so we prioritised ingredients and materials—such as aluminum and glass, which are infinitely recyclable—that won’t harm your hair or the planet. Finally, it had to be at an accessible price point. I believe JVN is filled with essentials: shampoos, conditioners, and universal stylers and treatments. These are products people can use in their routines every day, and it’s not realistic for most people to purchase a daily shampoo for $40, so we kept every product between $18-$24.”

What are some of your non-negotiable haircare steps to maintain the quality of your hair?
“Find a haircare routine that works for you. Making sure to not over process your hair by means of over aggressive hair colour, too much unprotected heat styling, or putting too much pressure on your scalp through overuse of extensions or weaves, repeated tight hairstyles, or too much friction on the scalp. Using a great heat protectant and your best cleanser and conditioner which I think will be JVN Hair! Also, scalp care is so important, incorporating Pre-Wash Scalp Oil into your routine will improve your scalp and hair texture immediately and over time.”

How can looking after your hair be a form of self-care?
“It’s about taking the time to connect to your inner artist and expressing yourself. There is so much creativity to connect to in our hairstyling and the time that we set aside to connect to that is an act of self care!”

Tell us what your hero ingredient—Hemisqualane—can do for our hair?
“Hemisqualane is our one-ingredient revolution that improves your hair over time by creating healthier, stronger strands. It penetrates the hair’s core better to deeply repair, protect, and smooth all types and textures, healing the hair from the inside out. Traditional Squalene is usually sourced from sharks, but we have a plant-based alternative, Hemisqualane. Ours comes from sugarcane, an endemic plant in Brazil, which means we don’t need to use any extra water for it to grow. When the sugarcane is being processed into Squalane and Hemisqualane, the gasses that are created are used to power the plant in return, making it even more sustainable. Hemisqualane is not only super effective, but it doesn’t accumulate in our water sources like silicones do either.”

Lastly, what’s your number one favourite product from the range?
“Part of what sets JVN Hair apart is that we formulate for hair concern versus hair type. Hair is hair and it typically needs either more moisture, more strength, or more volume and body—that’s why we created our Nurture, Undamage, and Embody lines. As well, we need heat protection, hair styling, and incredible scalp care which is why we created Instant Recovery Serum, Air Dry Cream and Pre-Wash Scalp Oil. Masks are also so useful for hair integrity (I really love the Nurture Deep Moisture Mask). It features Camellia Seed Oil, which is super hydrating, and Rice Protein to add shine and strengthen hair. So when it comes to picking a favourite, it really depends on who you are and your hair’s goals and needs! There is no better heat protectant than Instant Recovery Serum and our Deep Moisture Mask and Embody line are incredible. A lot of people are afraid of masks because they can weigh hair down but this one leaves your hair soft and shiny without ever feeling greasy. Traditionally a lot of volumising products can have alcohol in them, making hair feel dry or crunchy. Our formulas have all of these delicious ingredients like caffeine, to stimulate your scalp and follicles, and bamboo extract, which is rich in natural silica to add volume and shine. When we pair those ingredients with hemisqualane it’s so transformative instantly and over time! Your hair is just so bouncy and looks so healthy.”