Hair, Healing, and Creating a New Standard

Judy Koloko didn’t begin in beauty. She started in fashion—working in a world defined by silhouettes, styling, and aesthetic precision. But behind the curated polish, her relationship with her own hair was complex. Like many women who regularly wear wigs as a protective measure, she began to notice gradual thinning, irritation, and a sense that something wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t sudden. But it was enough to prompt a shift—not just in her routine, but in her thinking. Why does caring for textured hair still feel like damage control rather than ritual care?

That question would become the foundation of The Steam Bar—a brand that marries science and luxury, rooted in Judy’s lived experience and a deep understanding of what textured hair truly needs.

In 2023, Koloko officially introduced The Steam Bar to the public with the launch of a pop-up salon at Selfridges London—the first in the retailer’s history to focus specifically on scalp health. This was not just shelf space; it was an immersive experience that centred scalp care, salon-grade steaming rituals, and a reimagined relationship with textured hair products.

Backed by an uncompromising standard for formulation, she partnered with Smink, the science-first lab also responsible for products by Philip Kingsley. Her goal? To develop haircare that went deeper than scent and sheen. She wanted barrier repair, microbiome support, and real-world efficacy.

Each product in The Steam Bar range is precise and purposeful.

• The Scalp Shampoo is unlike most sulfate-free cleansers. Creamy, mild, and effective, it lifts debris without stripping away the natural lipid layer—ideal for anyone with a sensitive or reactive scalp.

• The Scalp Saviour Mask is more than a deep conditioner—it’s a dual-action formula that exfoliates the scalp while restoring lipids and elasticity to the hair. It’s designed to be genuinely reparative, not just softening.

• The Super Conditioner is formulated with hyaluronic acid and a curated blend of protective oils and butters, this treatment helps retain moisture, reinforce the scalp barrier, and restore suppleness to dry, brittle strands.

• The Scalp Serum is where the brand’s science-first approach is most evident. Formulated with prebiotics and skin-calming actives, it supports microbial balance, reduces irritation, and may be especially useful for clients with inflammatory conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or central centrifugal cicatrical alopecia.

• And finally, The Steaming Cap—a product entirely designed from scratch. Engineered to recreate the controlled heat and deep hydration benefits of a professional salon steamer, it helps treatments penetrate more effectively and adds an at-home ritual that feels both luxurious and therapeutic.

"The Steam Bar isn’t selling haircare. It’s redefining it."

Koloko herself is still quick to question a trend, and deeply invested in clinical nuance. She’ll talk about scalp itch and microbial overgrowth with the same candour she brings to conversations about wigs, wellness, and the politics of haircare. Her personal commitment to restoring her own hair is visible, and her brand feels like an extension of that journey, rather than a marketing spin on it.

At a time when beauty brands are chasing either performance or polish, The Steam Bar finds its strength in both. It’s indulgent but informed. Rooted in ritual, but never divorced from real function.

Koloko hasn’t just created a line—she’s reframed textured haircare as worthy of clinical depth and design-led beauty. And in doing so, she’s set a new benchmark for what scalp health can truly look and feel like.