May 10 | 6 minute read
Words by Danielle Gay
Babba Rivera’s earliest memories of her mother are of observing her beauty regimen with a sense of fascination: “She unapologetically always found a way to carve out time for self-care. Whether that was a two-hour bath or simply doing her nails at home, my mother always prioritised beauty… and that has truly shaped me,” she recalls.
That philosophy, coupled with her father’s training as a hairdresser and the family’s Chilean heritage, formed the foundation of Ceremonia – Rivera’s haircare brand, whose name translates to ‘ceremony’ in Spanish. Founded in 2020, Ceremonia is all about embracing your natural hair with considered rituals and nutrient-dense ingredients from South and Central America.
The idea for the haircare line reached its full expression after Rivera became a mother herself: “I dealt with severe postpartum hair loss, especially after having four children in under five years!” she says. “I became obsessed with scalp care – I turned to the ancient ritual of scalp oiling and used that as inspiration to create Ceremonia’s first-ever product, Aceite de Moska.”
For the time-poor, Rivera points out that a hair regimen doesn’t have to be overly complex. If a scalp massage feels out of reach, try upgrading your wash to once-a-week treatment – replace your usual shampoo for Ceremonia’s Papaya Scalp Scrub “to exfoliate the scalp and remove any product build-up” and follow with the brand’s Guava Hair Mask instead of a regular conditioner “to tackle dryness and frizz”.
“Out of the shower, I always apply Guava Leave In Conditioner to lock in hydration and for my friends with finer strands, I recommend Guava Rescue Spray instead,” Rivera adds. Finally, allow your hair to air dry for softness and shine, without the need for any time-consuming heat styling.
