Tag: Kerastase

THINNING HAIR?

What would you say if I tell you that there’s help?

Internal & external factors like UV rays, stress & hormone imbalance will contribute to slow hair growth. They caused a situation called Normoxia (over production of oxygen), which made it harder for the follicles to produced new hair. At this phase named Dormant, hair follicles activities will stop & produced no hair for 2 until 12 months before they enter the new life cycles. If you’re unlucky, hair follicles can be stuck in this phase until 10 years!

Oh dear…But thank goodness for L’Oreal Research which found a fact that during this Dormant phase, stem cell hold a key role in the hair renewal process.

The latest hair serum from Kérastase, DENSIFIQUE, was launched last week at La Seine by Marquee, Cyber Tower, Jakarta, Indonesia.

This very innovative product can mimic the essential condition of stem cell activity on our scalp and reactivate the follicles to reveal up to 1700 new hair in three months. At the event, Caroline Dery, Group Product Manager Kérastase Paris explained how to apply DENSIFIQUE everyday. “This will be a new routine for our scalp and hair. Apply one bottle a day to a freshly cleaned (after shampoo, conditioner or mask), towel dried hair.” Currently, you can buy DENSIFIQUE in 128 Kérastase Salon in Indonesia for Rp 785.000/box of 10bottles.

 

DON’T HATE ME FOR BEING PAMPERED

Kérastase and Lancôme Indonesia joined forces to bring beauty bloggers, a special pampering day.

Named Super Serum Duo Pampering Day, me and fellow beauty bloggers experienced the duo super breakthrough ritual at Irwan Team Hair Design Salon, Central Park Shopping Mall, Jakarta, Indonesia last Thursday. This exclusive bloggers only event was held to introduce the latest skincare innovation from Lancôme, Advanced Génifique and the breakthrough discovery for hair from Kérastase, Initialiste.

In case you’ve missed my previous blog’s post for the introduction of both products here, Advanced Génifique and Initialiste have two same goals, to beautify.

Are you familiar with the previous Génifique which was launched back in 2009 and noted as one of the beauty revolution? Well, it was the first Youth Activating Concentrate which effectively returns the skin back to its youthful quality, based on our genes and protein relation. What differs the previous Génifique with the Advanced Génifique? Except the advanced formulas with 40% more active ingredients so we can see faster result (they claimed in 7 days), Advanced Génifique has different texture (from my experience it’s more of a light gel than the previous liquid texture) which made it absorb better, and (the best part of all) it has a new advanced dropper design. The bottle may not change, but for sure it has this self-loading dropper, so no more lucky guess of how many drops should we put on our face and neck for each application. It may be used for day and night as a booster before serum, as our genes are practically weakened by aging. In the morning, it’ll help to activate the genes, and at night it’ll repair the skin to boost the protein production. As the good people at Lancôme said, we can see and feel the improvements and reactivation of the 10 key signs of youth on our skin. Well, that was the concentrate for skin.

How about hair? As precious as stem cells for the skin, same here for the hair. There are 2 stem cells pools at the hair follicle’s level, which able to renew the follicle and hair generation. Initialiste, the first ever hair serum will impulse the hair growth at its source, creating more beautiful and stronger hair. In my opinion, its’ texture (easily absorbed) and scent (not overpowering like some hair products) exactly resemble the best of skin serum product, right down to the bottle and its’ dropper. Make sure you don’t get the wrong product for each. How to use Initialiste? Apply on clean shampooed hair, twice per week on thin hair and up to 3 times per week on normal to thick hair. As it’s a leave-in formula, do not rinse and style as usual.

At the bloggers’ event, I got my skin and hair on both products. I went in the salon with my dirty oily hair & undone face (you don’t want to see the before picture) and I went out with my lustrous, blow-dried hair and luminous skin (you can see my after pic above). Thanks for a super pampering day, team Kérastase and Lancôme Indonesia. 

WHEN SKIN & HAIR COLLIDE

Seems like everything about skin care innovations, the hair will follow.

Take BB Cream for example. When BB Cream for face launched as the latest beauty trend, they created BB Cream for hair. Then they went to CC Cream, and so did hair. Well you got what I meant.

So it comes to no surprise when Kérastase created the first serum for hair. Inspired by the incontestable success of skincare serums (one of them is LANCÔME Génifique) which changed the whole skincare routine, especially for women, Kérastase created the first concentrate which generates at its source the growth of a stronger, shiner and more beautiful hair, named INITIALISTE.

You’ve probably heard about the precious stem cells? With their high regenerating power, these cells won’t be affected by aging. But, as fragile as they are, their functionality will reduced due to internal and external aggressions, like oxidative stress, pollution and UV. Guess what? Stem cells existed at the hair follicle’s level, too. Discovered by the Recherche Avancée L’Oréal after 24 years of research, the 2 stem cells pools are as precious and as fragile as skin’s. Therefore, they have to be protected and preserved, to achieve the growth of more beautiful and stronger hair at its source.

Personally, I can’t wait to try the hair serum (and dig more about it for you), which IMHO does look like LANCÔME Génifique bottle, right down to the dropper (don’t you think so too?). I’ve read from other bloggers’ reviews that it successfully made their hair feels softer and thicker, easier to style, shinier with less breakage & split ends. Now I wonder if it’s going to be love from the first use for me? Stay tune, as Kérastase and Lancôme will have bloggers’ exclusive event soon (named Super Serum Duo Pampering Day) and of course, I’ll be there.

 

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECONSTRUCT OUR HAIR?

The answer is yes. So be prepared to say au revoir to those brittles and split ends.

The good news is you’re not alone in these damaged hair categories. “For Indonesian women, split ends, fragile and damaged hair are number two hair problem. The causes are technical aggression and chemical aggression. Technical includes: sun exposure, chlorine in water, hair styling (blow dry, ironing, combing and pony tails) and poor nutrition distribution on longer hair.  Meanwhile, chemical aggression happened due to chemical services like coloring, straightening or curling without proper treatment,” explained Hendra Purjaka, Senior Education and Commercial Manager Kérastase Indonesia.

You might not see it with naked eyes, but there are four levels of hair erosion (as seen on the pictures above):

Level 1: when hair cuticle (that’s the outermost part of the hair shaft) split with a rough surface.

Level 2:  hair cuticle is open and split.

Level 3: hair surface damaged and peeled. See the cortex layer (that’s the center part of hair which gives elasticity to our hair) opened.

Level 4: the worst condition of all when the cortex layer look very damaged with total hair erosion.

So, how to detect your level of hair erosion? I identified mine here and found out that my erosion scale is number 3. Ouch. And I thought my hair looked OK from the outside.

While highly professional diagnostic can only be done in salons, but there’s help for treatment at home. Two complete range for four different levels of damaged hair. Kérastase Force Topseal range for hair erosion level number 1 and 2, and Kérastase Force Architecte range for hair erosion level number 3 and 4.

The latest, Kérastase Force Architecte includes: Bain Force Architecte (shampoo), Masque Force Architecte (hair mask) and Fibre Architecte (hair serum). With cutting edge new technology, Cyment- cylane3 complex, the range is recommended for daily use in whole regimen to achieve revitalized and reconstructed hair at each fibre. And they’ll also help to prevent more breakage and split ends.

From now, consider any level of your damaged hair problems solved.

 

MIDAS TOUCH

Trust me, if you ever tried one of Kérastase’s Hair Rituals, you’ll forget there are cream bath or any other similar but not the same hair treatment.

It’s a ritual like no other, it didn’t just make my hair look good, it made me feel good. Gorgeous healthy hair that bounced with glory every time I walk, will definitely made my day. I bet you too.

After the marvelous launching event of Kérastase Elixir Ultime Grands Crus (see it here), Kérastase Indonesia invited me and a few other bloggers yesterday to experience their latest Hair Rituals, 24 Carats Ritual. Just like its’ name, the pure and fine gold measurement, the ritual itself is really a luxurious experience. Tailor made, just like the other Kérastase’s hair ritual, but this time using Kérastase Elixir Ultime’s range, including the predecessor Kérastase Elixir Ultime and the latest addition: Sublime Cleansing Oil Shampoo, Beautifying Oil Mask and Grands Crus.

Frankly speaking, I was being skeptical at first as I have super oily scalp and the thought of washing and treating it with oil didn’t thrill me. But, boy…was I wrong. The shampoo effectively cleansed my scalp without weighing my hair down. The mask, which actually looks like a thick cream mixed with gold flakes crushed, nourished my hair completely, leaving them with a lustrous looking shine. As for the Grands Crus, it completed the whole ritual by its’ divine scent. If they did ‘magic’ to my short hair, imagine what they can do for longer hair.
Let me share my 24 Carats Ritual’s experience at Irwan Team Hair Design, Grand Indonesia, Jakarta.

  • First the therapist applied Elixir Ultime Oil to the scalp and shafts on dry hair (pre-shampoo), and massage for 5 minutes.
  • Then, shampoo with Sublime Cleansing Oil Shampoo.
  • The therapist blend about two spoon of Beautifying Oil Mask, two drops of Elixir Ultime and Grands Crus (I personally picked THÉ IMPÉRIAL for the colored hair) and he applied them generously on the shafts.
  • Cold steam for about 10 minutes, while the therapist did hot stones massage on my back, hands and feet.
  • Rinse without shampoo and preparing for blow dry with a drop of Grands Crus THÉ IMPÉRIAL.

As you can see from my pictures above, my hair looks like they have just been revamped. Though I don’t have Giselle Bundchen’s long shiny locks, I’m quite happy with the way they bounced healthily and most of all smell incredible. “Your choice of Grands Crus is actually inspired by Chanel fragrance’s, Coco Mademoiselle,” said Caroline Dery, Group Product Manager Kérastase.

After our 24 Carats Ritual’s experience, a beauty luncheon was held and Caroline explained more about the Grands Crus line. “ROSE MILLÉNAIRE suited for the passionate moods, MORINGA IMMORTEL for the elegant in you, THÉ IMPÉRIAL for the romantics and ELIXIR ULTIME for the glamorous.” If my choice (THÉ IMPÉRIAL) was inspired by Coco Mademoiselle, MORINGA IMMORTEL was inspired by Kenzo Flower, while ROSE MILLÉNAIRE was inspired by Aromatonic from Lancome. Yes, everyone would be able to find an elixir suited for their hair type or just to suit their mood.

But, don’t just take my words for this special hair ritual. Seriously, you have to feel it yourself to believe it.

 

Crème de la Crus

If a brand expanding their previous product and providing us with new variants, it must be that good.

Apparently so good, Kérastase Elixir Ultime which was launched last year reportedly one being sold every 2 minutes worldwide, and it’s Kérastase’s number one best selling product. This exclusive hair oil is the answer for growing demand of high performing hair oil for its’ benefits and the luxurious feel.

Well, the Elixir Ultime has new families now. Kérastase Elixir Ultime Grands Crus combining the same original base formula, Oléo-Complexe (a fusion of Maize Oil, Argan Oil, Pracaxi Oil and Camellia Oil) with natural extracts of Rose flowers, Moringa and White Tea. Three variants are created with different scents and tailor made to deliver specific results for each hair needs. “Back in my country, Grands Crus means the ‘best’ for wine and such. This time we brought the best care with the special fragrance to suit every mood,” said Michel Toth, General Manager Professional Products Division L’Oreal Indonesia at the Indonesia’s launch of Kérastase Elixir Ultime Grands Crus. Celebrated at SKYE Bar, Menara BCA, Grand Indonesia, Jakarta with fellow journalists, salon owners and hair enthusiasts, Kérastase Indonesia also introduced the new hair care ritual, named “24 Carats Ritual” (which I’ll experience personally soon and for sure I’ll keep you updated).

Kérastase Elixir Ultime Grands Crus are:

Rose Millénaire (purple): Perfect for fine hair. Rich in vitamin E to protect fine hair from UV radiation and pollution. Flowery scent for those who longs for passionate mood.

Moringa Immortel (green): Made for weak hair. Rich in vitamin and nutrition to revitalize hair condition. Woody and citrus scent to fulfill elegant mood.

Thé Impérial (pink): Designed for colored hair. White tea extract will protect colored hair from fading and reflect hair shine to the fullest.

What differs the trio from the predecessor (comes in gold)? They’re lighter so they won’t make our hair limp, sticky or (worse) weigh them down. The scent reminds me of luxurious French perfumes and they’re so multifunction. We can use it before shampooing, before styling, as leave-in conditioner, as finishing touch and for retouching. From my own experience (my favorite is Thé Impérial, by the way) it is the hair oil without the oiliness, it didn’t even leave oily trace on the palm of my hands afterwards. I only use one pump for my short hair and I like to use it to retouch throughout the day. It gives my hair that shiny (not oily) and healthy bounce with fragrant hair as bonus.

Kérastase Elixir Ultime Grands Crus are now available in 127 leading salons nationwide in Indonesia. 

BAD HAIR DAY?

There’ll be no such thing as bad hair day if you know exactly what hair type do you have and which hair care and styling products that will suit you best.

Take it from me, there’s no way in this world that we can expect our hair to look its best without any help. At least, we all need our basic hair care products. I’ve learned from a few hair experts back in the days that we have to choose to the right shampoo and conditioner (separate) for our scalp and hair type. And if you are the styling type (like me), you need add-ons. In my case, pre-styling products and post-styling products. 

Why do I believe in the power of styling? I have very fine baby hair, and I blame it on my genes for not having thick hair. I need volume and shine, pronto! That’s why I stocked my self with pre-styling products to keep my hair safe from heat, as I blow dry almost every day. And I definitely need my post-styling products to keep my hair in place for the rest of the day. I even have two different hair sprays, for day and night use. There you have it, my dear hair products that keep my bad hair day away. 

FINISH WHAT I STARTED

This will be my first post for everything that I have emptied from my adventure on beauty and body care products.

Personally, I never leave half empty products hanging around my drawers or in the bathroom for too long. I tried, I conquered and I’ll make sure I finished it if I love it. The rest is history, as I hate to see clutters.

Now, I’m going to share the products that I’ve emptied recently.

1. MAC STUDIO FIX NC30
I’ve been using this compact powder foundation for ages. So, to tell you the truth this is not my first MAC Studio Fix I’ve emptied. It works wonder for my oily skin and stay forever until I took it off after a long day. Repurchase? You bet!

2. L’OCCITANE CHERRY PRINCESS HAND CREAM
This delicately cherry fragranced hand cream is one of my must have. Contain nourishing shea butter (FYI, L’Occitane shea butter hand cream is sold every three seconds around the world), this is my day hand cream. Repurchase? Too bad, this is a limited edition product, so I might switch to other similar scent from L’Occitane, Fleur Cherie.

3. NEUTROGENA DEEP CLEAN FOAMING CLEANSER
Whenever I got a chance to go abroad, I’ll stock up on this facial cleanser from the drugstore. With a very accessible price, this cleanser really did what it said. Deep clean. It gives my oily skin a matte looking face for hours and keeping the acne at bays. It gives enough foaming action without no scent. Repurchase? Yes. But if I’m running out of stocks, usually I switch to SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser, which I love as well.

4. KERASTASE REFLECTION CHROMA THERMIQUE THERMO-SHINE THERMO-RADIANCE PROTECTING MILK
Phew, that was a long name for a product, don’t you think? When I had my naturally straight hair (I had mine curled now), this product is a true helper since I will use my straightener every day. Not only protecting my hair from the heat of straightener, but I feel my hair got straightened more easily. And I love the floral scent it left on my hair. Repurchase? Maybe, if I ever decided to get back to my straightener and straight hair again.