t this point in the season, your hair might be feeling the stress of Summer’s sweat, sun, sand, wind, chlorine, and of course, the sun’s powerful rays. You can protect your hair, skin and scalp with lots of products, but when they’re pampering and luxurious, it makes the experience, even more pleasant. The Advice Sisters selected lines from three superb companies to address three very specific and important hair issues. Kérastase, René Furterer and Arbonne each offer a myriad of excellent products. This article features a new line for sensitive skin and scalp from Kérastase Paris ; a luxuriously protective line with advanced plant-based actives from René Furterer; and a sensational new line from Arbonne specifically for chemically and color-treated hair. Which of these are going to be your “must-haves?”
Luxury and quality should be yours, even if your skin and scalp are sensitive. Luckily, Kérastase Paris has brought their favorite (bordering on cult status) European line, Dermo-Calm, to the United States. Dermo-Calm is a part of the Kérastase Specifique offerings and features advanced technology that instantly soothes and calms a sensitive scalp, while providing suppleness and softness to hair. The Dermo-Calm Collection features the NEW BAin Vital Dermo-Calm ($39.00) a hypoallergenic shampoo, followed by the NEW Sensidote Dermo-Calm Masque ($61.00) that soothes, calms and adds softness to hair. Key ingredients include: Mentha P. – (aka. peppermint) used in traditional pharmacopeia as an anti-spasmodic and an inflammatory agent; Salix N. – known for its soothing properties, Salix N. is a natural ingredient that comes from willow extract, and: Glycerin – molecula extracted from vegetal oils, Glycerin has a triple calming power. It’s able to hydrate, soothe and protect the scalp from external aggressions
When I think of “gentle” I often think it’s not going to be a heavy-hitting cleanser, but the Kerastase Bain Vital Dermo Calm (the first hypoallergenic shampoo offered by Kerastase) cleanses as purely and as well as anything else I’ve ever tried. In that, my hair stayed cleaner a day longer than usual. This cleanser is formulated to gently cleanse sensitive scalp that is prone to itching, burning, redness and tingling. But while it didn’t irritate my skin or scalp, it left my hair super-soft, glowing, and healthy looking with a minimum of frizz. Even those without the sensitivity issue will love this luxurious, superior cleanser.
I followed up with the excellent and equally pampering Sensidote Dermo-Calm Masque. This intensive treatment sooths and calms the scalp, but it also adds flexibility and softness to your hair. There is absolutely no greasy residue. Who wouldn’t love that?! It doesn’t even require that you linger longer in the bath or shower to use it. Simply apply it to the scalp and massage it down the length of your hair. Rinse off the rich cream, and you’re done, without any itching, burning, peeling or irritation. And, while I’m not a huge fan of creams and gels, however rich, in screw-top jars, the ice blue gel with fresh scent, housed in an elegant, oval jar with ice blue top, enticed me. THE DERMO-CALM COLLECTION is available at www.kerastase-usa.com and Kérastase Consultant Salons. Call 877.748.8357 or visit the website. For more information
Heat and humidity are making many women just give up and wear a headscarf or a ponytail, but the rest of us do battle with Summer by simply using (and abusing) our heat styling tools much more often. Alas, to get hair smooth, many people are using heat settings that are too hot (above 356º F), and then making multiple passes with a flat iron or curling wand for way too long. Over time, what you can’t see can hurt. It can actually “burn” hair fiber and cause irreversible damage! Once the water evaporated in the hair fiber hair is weakened to the point deep beneath the surface, where it become weak and vulnerable to breakage. When the water evaporates, the overlapping scales of the cuticle—outer layer of the hair shaft—become raised, leaving hair more prone to frizz and/or with outsized volume. Now, you struggle to smooth, even harder, causing even more damage. Luckily, a new line from René Furterer called ” LISSEA (Lis-ee-ah) luxuriouswly smooths, protects and de-frizzes, with advanced plant-based actives (more on that in a moment).
The line includes: LISSEA smoothing shampoo (6.76 oz., $28) and LISSEA smoothing conditioner (5.07 oz., $30). For smooth styling with highly effective thermal protection, there is LISSEA leave-in smoothing fluid (4.22 oz., $30) and LISSEA thermal protecting leave-in spray (5.07 oz., $26).
I tried the Thermal Protecting Smoothing Spray ($30.00 5.07 oz.) because I know that we’re all going to be giving our heat styling tools even more of a workout in the hot, sticky, humid weeks ahead. But a lot of thermal protectants weight hair down and make it feel greasy, even though you have just washed it. This spray is light and dries quickly without leaving any residue. It is very luxurious and pleasant to use, applied to towel-dried hair before blow drying and on dry hair before flat-ironing or using curling wands. My test of this product left my hair bouncy, but still smooth instead of just flat and dull. Did I detect additional shine to catch the light? Why yes, I did!
The key is Rene Furterer’s Thermal protecting complex that protects hair from the damage heat styling tools and provides anti humidity protection. Natural Alkekenge (also called “Chinese Lantern:) is a pretty looking plant, but as an extract it instantly smooths and controls volume and frizz, helped by Avocado oil that nourishes and moisturizes. I had no idea what Alkekenge extract was, so if you’re wondering as well, this plant has lipidic, nourishing and protective properties. Natural Alkekenge extract forms a film around the hair fibers to smooth, control frizz and lock it moisture. So now you know that this product will smooth your hair and make it feel lovely, while it is protected from the ravages of too much heat styling. But the “luxe” in this product is the aroma, a light blend of Bergamot, Ginger, Cardamom, Jasmine, Tea, Rose, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Musk that smells more line a fine fragrance, than a boring old chemicall-y smelling hair protectant.
Everyone’s hair is different, so René Furterer tested the Lissea products on women who had unruly, difficult-to-style and frizzy hair. In a study of 70 women using LISSEA smoothing shampoo, after two weeks of use 85% of the participants reported that their hair was smoother, while 86% reported hair was softer and volume was under control. In another study of 32 women using LISSEA smoothing conditioner, after two weeks of use 94% said hair was softer; 91% reported hair was easy to detangle and style while 84% said volume was under control and 81% reported improved frizz control. In a study of 31 women using LISSEA leave-in smoothing fluid before blow-drying, after two weeks of use 97% of participants said hair was soft and shiny; 90% said hair was more manageable; and 90% said frizz was under control. A study of 31 women who applied LISSEA thermal protecting smoothing spray before using straightening tools like flat irons shows that after two weeks of use 97% claimed frizz was under control and heat styling was easier; 94% reported hair was smoother and shinier and 87% said that smoothing results held up in humid conditions. Impressive! You can get Lissea at fine salons and spas nationwide. Call 800-522-8285 to find a salon, or visit renefurtererusa.com
The Advice Sisters are truly fond of Arbonne products. This company excels in producing good-for-your-skin products with ingredients that offer lots of effective results, including anti-aging properties. For 37 years, Arbonne has products products that are vegan-certified and formulated without animal products, animal by- products, gluten, parabens, formaldehyde-donating preservatives, PABA and the following petroleum-based ingredients: Benzene, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Phthalates and Toluene. Arbonne is cruelty free and does not test any product on animals. And Arbonne’s packaging is gorgeous (we adored the holiday gift packaging, last season).
Arbonne recently launched a hair care line called: “Pure Vibrance .” This line is tailor-made for chemically and color-treated hair and includes Arbonne’s exclusive ColorLast Technology (that hydrates and protects with anti-fading properties to lock-in color). Although the products ares sold in full sizes, we love this travel set that you can get for $25.00 with a purchase of $150 or more. The Four travel-sized items are tucked into a sleek, fuschia, zippered travel bag with mesh front. The 2 fl. oz. Lustre Fortifying Shampoo, Fortifying Creme Conditioner, Hair Revitalizing masque all arrive in lovely lavender and purple, flip-top tubes. The 1.7 fl. oz Texturizing Mousee is in a pump bottle. The products are a bit pricey, but they’re good. If you are ready to splurge on Arbonne, get the travel kit too, it’s a pampering way to protect your color investment. Here’s a rundown on the Arbonne Pure Vibrance collection:
Pure Vibrance Lustre Fortifying Shampoo – adds shine, strengthens hair, and helps keep color with Arbonne’s exclusive ColorLast Technology. Key ingredients: Rice, artichoke, Hawaiian white ginger root. #4801; $36
Pure Vibrance Fortifying Crème Conditioner – Restores, protects and hydrates, while to prevent against further breakage and damage. Arbonn’es exclusive ColorLast Technology maximizes color longevity while providing softness and shine. Key ingredients: Argan oil, rice, hydrolyzed linseed extract, vicia faba seed extract.#4802; $36
Pure Vibrance Texturizing Mousse – This multi-tasker adds volume, while it helps prevent color fade (especially good in Summer to prevent fading from the sun’s rays). 2-4 pumps on damp hair is all it takes. Key ingredients: Rice, vicia faba seed extract, white tea. #4804; $28
Pure Vibrance Hair Revitalizing Masque – We love that this is in a travel-friendly, flip top tube, instead of a big clunky jar. The masque softens, strengthens and adds shine by adding back moisture that may have been destroyed during the color treatment process. It also has Arbonne’s exclusive ColorLast Technology. Use it once or twice a week instead of conditioner, keeping it in your hair a quick, 2-5 minutes. Then rinse. Key ingredients: Argan oil, rice, artichoke, Hawaiian white ginger root.#4803; $52 – All Arbonne products can be purchased through Arbonne’s network of Independent Consultants, or online at www.arbonne.com
