Which Nourishing Hair Care Products Should You Choose for Your Hair?

A nourishing hair care product is one that provides the hair with fatty substances. This type of product is particularly suitable for dry, rough, and damaged hair. It can be composed entirely of lipids (such as oil baths) or work on the principle of emulsion (a mixture of water and oil, as in your masks and conditioners).

These nourishing products are essential all year round to help maintain healthy, beautiful hair. They can also be used as intensive treatments after periods of stress or damage to the hair fibre, such as after sun exposure, bleaching at the salon, or frequent use of heat styling tools like blow dryers, straighteners or curling irons.

Our hair has a real need for lipids in order to maintain a healthy appearance—and in fact, it naturally contains them. These “good fats” are found at two levels. First, between the hair scales: ceramides, sterols and fatty acids act as an intercellular cement. Then, around the cuticle: sebum lubricates and protects the hair fibre from external aggressions.

However, this natural hydrophobic barrier is not invulnerable. When it is overexposed to external aggressions, it eventually loses some of its impermeability. It's as if you were stripping the surface of your hair. As a result, the hair is no longer sufficiently lubricated and the scales of its cuticle become raised. In concrete terms, it becomes more porous : it lets moisture escape and, conversely, swells like a sponge in a humid environment. When this dryness/dehydration sets in, hair becomes frizzy, dull, and brittle.

This is where nourishing hair care products come in! They are designed to help you preserve this precious shield by compensating for its lipid deficiencies.

• They form a protective film around the hair. They protect the hair fibre from dehydration, but also from water infiltration from the outside (hygral fatigue).

• They help to "repair" the hair. Certain fatty substances have the ability to penetrate the hair more deeply, which can help to fill in small gaps.

• They smooth and lubricate the cuticle. They restore shine and silkiness to dry hair, while making it easier to style.

• They improve hair flexibility. Hair gradually becomes more malleable, easier to bend, and more resistant to breakage.

Spotlight on the Hair Mask

A true nourishing balm, this neutral hair mask base, certified organic, is rich in jojoba and castor plant oils and shea butter, and protects, smooths and nourishes your hair. Its soft, light texture means it can be used as a hair mask or as a conditioner, making detangling easier and adding shine, suppleness and softness to your hair. It's also ideal as a leave in treatment to coat, nourish and enhance your lengths and ends. Used pure or enriched with fragrances, active ingredients and/or essential oils of your choice, this base lets you create fully personalised hair care with ease, tailored to your hair's needs and all your preferences!

A moisturising mask primarily delivers humectant active ingredients to the hair (substances that attract water, such as aloe vera). A nourishing mask, on the other hand, aims to strengthen the hydrolipidic film that protects the hair fibre. To do this, it contains a generous quantity of lipids. Neither treatment is better than the other: they're two complementary treatments, since water without lipids isn't necessarily beneficial for the hair.

Vegetable Oils

Good to know: it is very important to choose a nourishing oil that is suited for your hair type. Oils rich in saturated fatty acids are the most penetrating. They're therefore ideal for nourishing the hair more deeply, but also for strengthening its structure. They're particularly suitable for thick, curly or very porous hair. Oils with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, on the other hand, tend to remain on the surface of the cuticle. These are more like finishing oils for fine and damaged hair. They seal in moisture and coat the hair.

Organic Coconut Oil. This is the ultimate nourishing treatment for thick, frizzy hair. Rich in lauric acid and highly penetrating, it smooths the hair and restores its vigor.

Organic Avocado Oil. Neither too heavy nor too light, it is an excellent compromise for medium-thick hair. It beautifies the hair and is renowned as an anti-hair loss active ingredient.

Organic Jojoba Oil. This is one of the lightest vegetable oils available, perfectly suited to fine, dry hair. It coats the hair with shine and softness.

Plant Butters

Good to know: just like plant oils, plant butters are made up of triglycerides. Their texture is thick and creamy, simply because they're richer in saturated fatty acids (which solidify below a certain temperature). They're therefore particularly suited to porous and curly hair types. You can, for example, apply them as they are or blended together, as an intensive nourishing mask on the lengths of your hair. Beforehand, melt them very gently in a double boiler.

Raw Murumuru Butter. This plant butter has an exceptional ability to penetrate the hair fibre. With its repairing properties, it deeply nourishes and strengthens dry, curly hair.

Organic raw Kpangnan butter. A little-known alternative to Shea Butter, it offers similar nourishing benefits with a more subtle scent and a less sticky texture.

Organic Mango Butter. Rich in isostearic acid, it is ideal for making nourishing and creamy hair care products. It prevents split ends and makes coarse hair shine.

Nourishing Active Ingredients

Good to know: Unlike vegetable oils and plant butters, the following ingredients are not intended to be used neat on your hair. Instead, they should be incorporated into your homemade hair care recipes. Some can also be used to customise our neutral bases, enhancing their nourishing, strengthening and repairing properties.

Active silk protein: They make hair soft and shiny and help maintain its natural moisture. They are therefore ideal as an active ingredient in your shampoo and styling product formulations.

Phytosterol concentrate. Both nourishing and emollient, it helps compensate for the lack of oil at the ends. It leaves hair more supple and protected.

Plant ceramides. This is a lipid-replenishing active ingredient known for its ability to strengthen the hair's natural lipid barrier. It makes hair stronger, softer, and easier to style.

1. Apply an oil treatment using Hair Care Oil. Apply 1 to 3 tablespoons of the formula throughout your hair, depending on its length. Work section by section, smoothing the hair fibre without rubbing. Focus on the ends, which are drier and more fragile. Leave on for 1 hour or even overnight under a towel or shower cap.

2. Wash your hair with Nourishing & Repairing Solid Shampoo. Wet your hair, run the shampoo under warm water, then lather it onto your scalp. Massage with your fingertips, letting the lather run down the lengths of your hair. Rinse and wash a second time if necessary.

3. Nourish your hair with the Hair Mask. Apply a generous amount of product to the lengths of your hair. Use a comb to distribute the formula. Leave on for 1 to 2 minutes for a conditioner. If you want a more intensive treatment, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. Gently squeeze out excess water and let your hair air dry.

4. Rehydrate and plump your hair with Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Just a few drops are enough to strengthen the hair fibre (especially the ends) against external aggressions. Reapply as often as necessary, using a small amount each time.

Some of the products mentioned in this guide may have specific precautions for use. Please take the time to consult our technical data sheets before using them.

If you wish to make a homemade recipe or customise one of our neutral bases, be sure to follow the recommended usage rates and dosages. When using a product for the first time, perform a patch test in the crease of your elbow. Monitor the area for any skin reaction over the following 48 hours.

Your scalp naturally produces fat tailored to your hair: sebum. While oily hair tends to have too much of it, dehydrated or dry hair can lack it, and this is even more true for curly hair, since sebum travels less easily along a helical structure. The first nourishing treatment for your hair is, therefore, brushing! Several times a day, use a boar bristle brush to distribute this precious sebum from root to tip. Plant fibre alternatives (sisal, tampico and so on) are also available.

Hélène Betoux is a French beauty journalist specialising in web media. Every day she writes tips, advice, and guides to help consumers choose the right beauty products. With a strong interest in natural, organic, and clean cosmetics, she analyses and shares trends and innovations in the sector.