Fragrance house

Kristin Ess Hair

Kristin Ess Hair launched at Target in January 2017 as a 15-product line developed with hairstylist Kristin Ess. Co-founded by Ess, it was created to bring salon-quality haircare and styling into the home, and its stylist-led identity emphasizes modern, easy, deliberately imperfect styles for all hair types and textures, with lightweight, buildable formulas. Maesa incubated the brand and identified itself as owner of the KRISTIN ESS trademark and associated goodwill in a 2018 USPTO filing. In 2018, the line added styling tools; a scalp-focused collection followed in 2019, alongside a fragrance-free collection introduced in December in response to consumer requests. Bain Capital Private Equity agreed in March 2019 to acquire a majority stake in Maesa, which listed Kristin Ess Hair Care among its incubated brands. After a 2022 legal dispute over creative control and ownership, Ess and Maesa announced a private resolution in March 2023. In February 2025, the brand introduced a seven-member Hair Artistry Team of female hairstylists to extend its stylist-founded identity through collaboration and education.