French hair is iconic. It’s as much a part of the culture as the famous Eiffel Tower, delicious croissants and the glamour of Cannes. It may sound strange that a country could be so famous for the strands of its inhabitants, but French hairstyles transcend oceans, women all over the world envy French women and their hair.
Why has French hair become so coveted? It’s partly because of the women themselves. In the 1960s Brigitte Bardot was known for her messy beehive, girlish braids and undone bangs that, in part, made her a style icon. Since then Carla Bruni, Vanessa Paradis, Lou Doillion, Charlotte Gainsbourg and more have put laissez-faire hair on the map - bedhead styles that looks glossy and gorgeous but also lived-in. Then there are the cute French hairstyles, actresses Marion Cotillard and Audrey Tatou showed the world that a pixie crop or cheek-skimming bob can look both understated, elegant and sweet all at the same time.
The Secret to Attaining ‘French Hair’
A good haircut is essential when it comes to achieving hair that looks French. Yes, women like Vanessa Paradis may rock bedhead hair so well but that’s because the foundation is beautifully groomed. Go to a hairdresser you trust and, if you’re not going short, ensure they just snip off your split ends. Ask for some invisible layers that don’t make a statement but just give the hair a little of that sexy movement.
If you want your hair to look very French, then ask for curtain bangs that part in the middle. They are shorter in the middle, skimming your brows, and then waterfall down to your jawline. A fringe like this beautifully blends into your hair when it’s down, but adds softness to your face when your hair is pulled into a chignon, bun or ponytail.
Lastly, French women tend to honor their natural roots whether they’re blonde, brunette or otherwise. Color tends to be natural - think balayage that imperceptibly grows out and just gives you a sun-kissed look as if you’ve spent the summer in St. Tropez. Whether your hair is colored or au naturel, the other secret to achieving French hair is that it should be kept in beautiful condition.
French hair, at its best, is incredibly shiny and healthy looking. Start using a Kérastase hair oil to feed your strands with nutrition, to protect from heat styling and to boost shine…
If you’re leaving your hair to air-dry (for that true bedhead look) apply Chronologiste Parfum en Huile that adds a touch of softness and shine to strands. It has a beautiful perfume of Tea Rose, Light Woods and Musk with an oleo-extract of Myrrh, that envelopes the strands for delicately scented and visibly radiant hair.
Blond Absolu Cicaextreme L’Huile is ideal for anyone with faux blonde hair, whether it’s balayage or all over color. The Edelweiss oil smooths and softens the strands. With heat protection (up to 450°F), this oil seals cuticles and dramatically reduces split ends, nourishing the fiber from deep within. Hair is left instantly strengthened by up to 91% and is six times shinier.
Finally, there is Elixir Ultime L'Huile Originale - our iconic French hair oil. The oil offers heat protection (also up to 450°F), deep nutrition and melts into hair leaving beautiful floral scents of Violet leaf, Freesia and Mandarin, woody scents and Musc extract. Expect split ends to sealed, frizz to be tamed frizz control and long-lasting shine.
