Leonor Greyl

Recently, I was invited to the Carmichael Salon in San Francisco for a customized Leonor Greyl Parisian HairSpa scalp and conditioning treatment. The natural hair care line is a favorite of French women, as well as celebrities like Jessica Alba and Penelope Cruz. It's even what Gwen Stefani's stylist plans on using on the songstress throughout the No Doubt 2009 world tour.

As for my deep conditioning service, four different treatments were applied to my dry hair and scalp after a brief consultation: The Huile de Palme ($42) to detangle and nourish; the Regenerescence Naturelle ($42) oil to increase scalp circulation; the Masque Quintessence ($137.50) for deep conditioning; and Crème aux Fleurs ($37) to cleanse and hydrate. I have to admit that with the myriad oils and creams that were slapped on my hair and scalp, I feared my finer-textured locks would wilt under the rich intensity. Did they? Find out when you read more

Leonor Greyl Masque Quintessence ($137.50 for 7oz) is the only hair product I've seen come in one of those cubic cartons where the top and sides lift off to reveal a heavy-duty glass jar, sitting firmly on a built-in platform, much like being presented with an engagement ring, but the only commitment you're making is to spending a fortune. Careful opening it, though — the texture is not as thick as products like Terax Crema or Kérastase — lest you spill roughly $25 worth of it on the sink (like I did). The instructions say to smooth it on sparingly, so I did, focusing on the roots and ends of my hair. The scent has notes of Mock Orange and Linden, which is strong but pleasant.

Forty years ago, before most products claimed to be "organic" or "natural," Leonor Greyl started a line of products including ingredients like Wheat Germ Oil. The large line now has many almost unusual products, like a milky banana shampoo (Lait Lavant à la Banane), and an anti-dandruff shampoo including "propolis combined with a cocktail of botanical active ingredients [to] prevent the development of microbial flora and itching sensations."

To find out how I liked Masque Quintessence, read more

The other week I was lucky enough to meet Stèfanie, a Leonor Greyl haircare representative, at a salon for a professional treatment. The experience was a blissful hour of hair pampering and great conversation. It began with an analysis of my scalp and to my surprise, I learned that it was dry and that I had a lot of new hair growth. Stèfanie believed that even a small bit of dandruff could have resulted in hair loss—which completely shocked me.

The first thing she did was apply Regenerescente Nautalle, (an oil) to my scalp to help stimulate, purify and encourage regrowth. After rubbing it in well, she applied Huile de Palme to the lengths of my hair as a pre-shampoo treatment and left it on for about ten minutes. Next, she mixed Creme Aux Fleurs, a nourishing shampoo with some Bain Traitant à la Propolis (dandruff shampoo), and carefully applied it with a color brush.

After rubbing it in for a while (without water), she took a few fingers-ful of Fleur de Jasmin Masque and applied the deep conditioner to the lengths of my hair.

After waiting another five minutes we went downstairs for the washing and rinsing process. Tthis is where all the magic happened. About every 15 seconds, she applied a little bit of water to my hair to completely emulsify the shampoo. The wash lasted for five minutes and the rinse was undeniably the most thorough I've ever experienced—my hair actually squeaked when she was done!

The next day my hair felt like it had a new lease on life! It was shinier, bouncier, softer and my scalp was constantly tingling. The only concern I have for people who use these products is that for proper use, they take an exceptionally long time. To follow the regimen, you need a recommended minimum of 25 minutes. That's a heck of a long shower, not to mention a waste of water. So I guess for all of you LG lovers out there, these products are a perfect for bath time. I can't say that they are totally unrealistic because the results are well worth the time investment!

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I've said it once and I'll say it again: the French can make anything seem fabulous, even getting rid of dandruff. Thanks to the chic (and discreet) packaging of the Leonor Greyl Bain Traitant à la Propolis ($32)—a.k.a. gentle treatment dandruff shampoo—your hair and scalp get the attention they need for a healthy recovery and balance.

This shampoo removes any existing flakes from your scalp, prevents further microbial flora from forming and stops itchiness. Your head and hair follicles receive the proper botanicals necessary to condition and calm your irritated scalp.

It's gentle enough for daily use and it happens to also smell like a beautiful bouquet of flowers, unlike lots of other brands which tend to make chemical-smelling dandruff shampoos.

To use, shampoo hair twice. The first time washes away grease, oils and impurities and the second time helps treat your scalp. Be sure to shampoo hair for a total of five minutes and finish with a cool and thorough rinse.

For two more dandruff shampoo suggestions, click here.

Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme ($39) is a before-shampoo treatment oil for dry hair. It helps to detangle and soften hair as well as deliver much-needed nourishment to ends that have been damaged by coloring, bleaching, perms or straightening.

It is made from an all-natural blend of concentrated botanical oils that help to restore full vitality and shine to dry hair. This is an amazing product for your summer beach bag because it coats and protects hair from the damages that sun, salt water and chlorine can cause.

To use, cover hair with a small amount of oil and brush it through, paying close attention to the ends. Leave it on for at least ten minutes (but it can stay on all night too as a treatment for stressed hair) and follow with a shampoo best suited for your hair type. Notice the difference in texture, elasticity, softness and shine. Sounds amazing, doesn't it?

Leonor Greyl is a favorite hair care brand of French women, demanding beauty professionals and models. Just ask Jessica Stam what drugstore products she can't live without, and she'll tell you: Leonor Greyl. (But Jess hon, upscale French pharmacies aren't exactly the types of drugstores we had in mind. Leave it to a model to only have the best—can you really blame her?)

What's great about Leonor Greyl products is that not only do they smell just incredible, but they correct, restore, nourish and pamper the specific needs of your hair type, never weighing hair down or altering the color. To date, there are over 30 products in the collection. All have been created from natural and high-quality ingredients. I can't wait to learn more about this line and experiment with a few of their treatments.

The philosophy of Leonor Greyl is based around the idea that healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp. She believes there are five basic steps that everyone can follow to attain a healthy head. For a detailed description of each of the steps, read more