Sonia Kashuk, the makeup artist and entrepreneur behind the eponymous cosmetics brand that defined affordable beauty for two decades, has launched Funner, a new hair-care line. The brand emerges from a family venture, co-founded by Kashuk alongside her husband Daniel Kaner, president and co-founder of luxury hair brand Oribe, and their son Jonah Kaner, who oversees daily operations.
The move marks Kashuk's return to the beauty industry after stepping back from her namesake brand. Her original makeup line revolutionized the accessible beauty market, making professional-quality cosmetics available to mainstream consumers at drugstore price points. That democratization of beauty established her as a pivotal figure in the category during the 1990s and 2000s.
Funner positions itself at the intersection of Kashuk's mass-market sensibility and Kaner's luxury hair expertise. The family dynamic also signals a generational shift, with Jonah Kaner taking an active leadership role alongside his parents. This structure reflects broader industry trends toward family-run beauty ventures that blend heritage with new energy.
The timing arrives as hair care continues its expansion beyond shampoo and conditioner into specialized treatments and styling products. Brands have increasingly focused on ingredient transparency and performance-driven formulations. Oribe's presence in the founding team suggests Funner will likely leverage professional beauty knowledge while maintaining accessibility that defined Kashuk's original success.
The brand launch underscores Kashuk's enduring influence. Her departure from mainstream cosmetics didn't diminish her standing. Instead, Funner signals her evolution from makeup pioneer into a broader beauty entrepreneur. The partnership with Kaner allows cross-pollination between luxury and accessible markets, a positioning that other beauty founders from Bobbi Brown to Charlotte Tilbury have tested successfully.
Funner