If you know me as a hairdresser, you also know that I am the go-to guy if you have fine or weak hair. You know; the kind of hair that doesn’t seem to grow past a certain length? It’s always fly-away. Never shiny. And it’s the kind of hair that is often mistaken for dry hair and yet, if you load it up with moisturizers, it goes limp and looks like you’ve used olive oil for a styling product.
Well, now I’ve found my new favorite product(s). It’s made by Kérastase, a French brand that Joseph Michael’s partners with. I’ve been aware of the line for years but I had never worked in a salon that used it. But, now I’m very impressed with Kérastase and pleased to tell you about its treatments for fine or weakened hair.
During our initial staff training, I had the opportunity to see everyone else’s results from the different treatments for varied hair problems each staff member was asked to address. All of the results were instantaneous and substantial, from dry or curly-rebellious, to mature hair.
But the fine, weakened hair of my friend & co-worker (& part-time gorgeous model—she’s on the cover of my book!), Eileen was definitely the most dramatic. Eileen has the kind of hair that looks fine yet straight when it is blown out and flattened with a heating tool. It is long and appears to have body due to the blond dimensional highlights. But, when it’s freshly shampooed, it feels dry and tangles easily and no amount of conditioner seems to make it feel nice until most of the water is blown out of it. This is the exact type of hair that I used to coat up with polymers or weightless oils so that the hair can be thicker and not flimsy once it’s styled.
The stylist who did Eileen’s treatment shampooed her hair with Kérastase Bain De Force shampoo. It’s made specifically for hair that is weak or damaged (highlights!) and hair that doesn’t have a lot of elasticity (think: stretchy = bad). A good fine-hair shampoo will not over-cleanse the outer layer of the hair shaft but should leave a top-coat of protection, and this one does just that.
The in-salon instant treatment we used on Eileen is called Concentre’ Vita Ciment. It costs $35 in our salon to have it done and it’s worth every penny! We applied the strengthening liquid on her hair and suddenly her hair was smooth, shiny, radiant, and it looked like younger and naturally colored hair. But the proof was in the blow dry. Her hair was easy to blow dry and the length had bounce and shine.
How long will it last? I tell my clients that their treatment lasts as long as they keep on supporting what I did in-salon at their very own homes. That means using the right shampoo, hair masques, and strengtheners vs. moisturizers and/or thermal protectors. Everyone is different and has different lifestyles. For Eileen, she’ll use Bain de Force Archetecht shampoo and Ciment Anti-Usure conditioner for additional strength with every wash.
