Inside Tom Porter’s Vision for Haircare
Tom Porter is a man of positivity and effervescence mixed with scientific knowledge few entrepreneurs carry, and as we sat down to discuss the thinking behind Malibu C and the discipline that drives him, we learned how solo travel continues to shape both his life and leadership style that shows no sign of dwindling.
Haircare research and development is often more technical than we give it credit for, especially now being such an intersectional playground of science backed ingredients and global knowledge – a stronghold Tom and his brand has maintained throughout the decades. Five minutes with Tom reveals the biology behind why his brand was the first to use Vitamin C, driving layers of global success. For Malibu C, it’s far more than just haircare, it’s biology, chemistry, and human experience all at once. Malibu C was a natural extension of global problem solving in haircare – its solutions are grounded in science but designed for real people and real results.
Sitting down with Tom it becomes immediately clear that Malibu C was never about simply launching products for products sake, but solving problems. From its earliest days in Indianapolis, the brand pioneered the use of ascorbic acid - Vitamin C - as a targeted solution for hair, scalp and skin concerns, effectively rewriting how professionals approached mineral build-up, environmental damage and wellness-led haircare.
The first product Malibu C launched was in 1985 when Tom was midway through a doctoral program in Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University, and it was the discovery behind this product that became the precursor to why he ended up leaving that program. Instead he started to build what turned out to be the largest wellness centre of its kind in the world. This worked so successfully that he and the centre were recruited to Los Angeles, which is what made Malibu part of the brand’s journey today. His game changing product has led to a lot more research and development in haircare and ingredients than what meets the eye – catapulting the brand to become not just experts in scalp wellness, but colour safe formulas and Crystal Gel Treatments.
Tom is now building digital curriculums and websites, leveraging AI to improve efficiencies based on the very fundamentals that founded Malibu C, not just a product and brand but a wellness centre. He is still promoting a second edition of his 1999 book on oxidation and vitamin C that further emphasises the importance of oxidation management in haircare and skin health, advocating wellness and secure profits for salons as well as scalp health.
Now available in more than 20 countries globally the benefits of using Malibu C products like ‘un-do-goo’ and ‘colour prepare’ are widely applauded to enhance colour retention and prevent oxidation – with oxidative stress being one of the biggest causes of damage degradation. “If I was sick of travelling, I would be sick of my life,” said Tom. “I embrace it because that part of my life has taken me from my garage in Indianapolis to the world,” Tom said. “We really started out of a bedroom, ended up in a garage to now making products in our own warehouse to the world. We make over 1,000 products for other brands,” Tom said.
With more than 60 employees, Tom takes great satisfaction in the fact that all employees are given shareholder profits in the company so they are not just an employee but a complete brand partner. The Employee Stock Ownership Plan allows employees to accumulate shares over time.
“At our core, we solve problems - that has always been in the Malibu C DNA. Whether it’s hard water, mineral build-up, scalp concerns or maintaining colour longevity, we exist to create meaningful solutions that hairdressers can trust.” “We’ve never chased trends for the sake of relevance. Instead, we focus on science, performance and education. When you consistently deliver results, professionals remember that,” Tom said.
Tom stands firm on the belief that hairdressers, especially in Australia have the opportunity of creating more wellness focused salons. “I’m blown away about what I learned about Australia and the opportunities for skin that the hairdresser can adopt by understanding the statistics around scalp issues, and I’m still learning 30 years on after teaching hairdressers.”
Tom is now writing a book about his products and the loyalty of his team, thanks not only to the success of the product, but to the business model of Malibu C and its company headquarters. The book is a real coming together of his personal journey and professional expertise. “I have a theory that every disease even internal is rooted in the spark of oxidization and ageing that creates the cascade that leads to the free radicals - this we understand better through research,” Tom said.
Right now, Tom believes Australian colourists have an opportunity to elevate their services by confidently offering colour and hair health guarantees, giving clients greater trust and peace of mind – a mantra that is deep rooted in the values of Malibu C.
This edited article was originally published in INSTYLE Professional, Australia’s leading hairdressing industry magazine.
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