I am an anthropologist by training. A few years ago, I was doing a diary project, looking at male diaries to understand how men, in my culture, construct their public selves through a private document. I discovered my father’s diaries as result and was fascinated by what I saw in them. Each diary was a journal, a calendar, a recipe book, a memoir, a map, and a confessional. A recipe to make pomegranate wine followed a collection of birthdates. A quote from Rumi—the famous Persian love poet—sat right next to a homemade recipe for soothing the common cold. Intricate mathematical calculations framed the edges of a poem by Goethe on one page and the benefits of probiotic farming on the other.
“So there it is
THE formula!”
As I came to the last few pages in a diary from 1995, a set of scribbles placed diagonally across the top of a page caught my attention in particular. They were in pencil, not very legible at first glance. Numbers interspersed with words. It was definitely a formula of sorts but there was no title or reference. I took the diary to my mother, hoping she would know what it is. In the first minute, she exclaimed—“So there it is! THE formula!”
CRIA is more than 20 years in the making!
According to our mother, the idea for the original formula came from her patients (she is a certified homeopathic doctor). They often asked her if she had “something,” “anything” for hair. Their question was driven of desperation to either save the hair, regenerate it, or just bring it all back. Obviously, in their experience there was nothing that did exactly what they needed. It was evident in their desperation that kept driving up the quest for something more, something different, something literally miraculous.
With CRIA, we honor our parents and you.
Meet the Founders
As leaders of this company we set out from the beginning to put kindness and support back into our communities. The path that led you here, to CRIA, has brought you to a family of health, support, and genuine care for self. CRIA honors our families and in turn we hope to honor you as well.
Shubhra Sharma has a doctoral degree in sociocultural anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin. In an academic career spanning two decades, Dr. Sharma has taught at various undergraduate institutions in the US, including Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, where she served as the Associate Director of Women’s and Gender Studies. She is the author of a critically acclaimed book on social policy in South Asia and several articles on environmental and social justice. It was her anthropological research on the male diary that led her to serendipitously discover her father’s formula for what is now CRIA.
Jeremy Howell started his career in hair under the renowned education system of Vidal Sassoon and after years of apprenticeship moved behind the chair to serve clients in the Austin area. Years later, he gravitated toward salon and barbershop management with the goal of serving even more people through serving hairdressers themselves. After being introduced to CRIA in his barber shop, Jeremy had some initial skepticism, so he brought CRIA to friends and family to try. Once the results were clear, it was undeniable that he had to be a part of CRIA. This sent him down the road that created a life mission to help those who struggle with hair loss and hair health.
For Dr. Sharma and Mr Howell, CRIA represents their company’s mission to offer meaningful minimalist self-care products carefully designed for maximum life-affirming affects.
Kelly Kaiser
There are only 4 ingredients! And there are no chemicals, not even FDA approved ones! And it is 100% natural, vegan (I like Vegan), and gluten-free (I am gluten-intolerant). This offering seemed too good to be true!! Like it was tailor-made for my situation. I do not normally review products after 2 weeks of use but here I am telling you, especially women, that I am already seeing a difference in my hair!!
Jacquelin Marrero
I felt an immediate cessation in irritation on my scalp upon application. It was so instant that I had stop and take in the feeling of not wanting to scratch my scalp raw. And even after washing, the sensation of a clean, soothed scalp remained.
Tina Soto
I used it every other day for the first two weeks. And the first thing I noticed is that my hair has a little more body then it usually does, and is feels healthier. That is only in two weeks! My scalp feels really clean as well. I always had small bumps like acne on my scalp. But these seemed significantly reduced!
Becky Hess Yoder
My hair looks healthy and thicker since I started using CRIA. It definitely is a thickener, and “stimulator” because my thinning hair feels so much better and only in two weeks!!!! I have not experienced any hair regrowth – but if this is all that happens – I’m happy. My hair looks that much better.
Borislava Hicks
I really appreciate this energizer and the difference it has made. In the interest of full disclosure, I recently underwent chemotherapy so saw a lot of hair loss before and while I was beginning treatment. I do see certain bald patches in the middle of my head (are beginning to) have a dark fuzz, which I think might be new hair!!
