The House of Balmain was founded in 1945 by Pierre Balmain. Back in the day, it was renowned for its feminine, elegant styles. Nowadays – thanks to the appointment of Olivier Rousteing as its creative director – Balmain is better known for their edgy, sculptural, sexy looks and diverse aesthetic. Today, the brand is hotly coveted by celebrities, models and influencers alike.
But, did you know that Balmain has a world renowned, (verging on cult status) haircare line too, headed up by master hair designer Nabil Harlow?
Nabil Harlow – Master Hair Designer for Balmain Paris Hair Couture
When asked what his vision is for Balmain hair, Nabil had the following so say:
“The vision for me is a woman who is very natural. I don’t like things when they’re too done. I like beautiful texture, and I think it’s very important to have healthy hair. So many girls want to keep their hair very long, but the hair is damaged and they don’t take care of it properly. I like hair when it’s full. I don’t like hair that’s too layered—we’ve seen that a lot the last 10 years, and I think to have very thick, nice hair is the thing right now. We don’t care about the length—the length is about how you feel—but to have some very graphic, full hair is the best right now. Like a long bob touching the shoulders. I think that’s very sexy.”
I was lucky enough to receive a Balmain Hair gorgeous press pack with three highly covetable products to test out.
BALMAIN PARIS DRY SHAMPOO (R545) BUY
I LOVE a dry shampoo – always have, always will. Because I don’t wash my hair daily anymore (hello drought), I turn to dry shampoo formulas to absorb any excess oil and keep my locks smelling fresh. The Balmain Dry Shampoo certainly lived up to my expectations and more!
The smell is incredible – more like a fragrance than a dry shampoo. The formula contains silk protein and Argan oil that stimulate optimal moisture retention within the hair cell, to help repair and protect it. It worked very well at eliminating any greasiness and oil, while making my tresses smell gorgeous. I also like how it effectively can be used to create volume in the hair – simply spray onto the roots, lift with fingers and blast with a dryer. It can also be used if you’re looking for a bit of matte texture. I tried this out on my daughter who has short hair, and it worked perfectly. We simply spritzed some product onto her hair, and roughly rubbed it using the palms of my hand.
BALMAIN PARIS SILK PERFUME (R595) BUY
It was the Balmain Silk Perfume that I was most excited to try, and I wasn’t disappointed.
In essence, this is a finishing spray that can be used on all hair types to leave the hair looking shiny and silky. It works to detangle and condition, and has a glorious, long lasting fragrance that includes notes of jasmine, rose, raspberry, apricot, gardenia, white musk and sandalwood. The formula is infused with pure Argan oil and Silk proteins, but unlike a lot of other serum formulas I’ve tried, it didn’t weigh my hair down as it’s super lightweight.
BALMAIN PARIS LEAVE-IN CONDITIONING SPRAY (R545) BUY
I use a leave-in conditioner when I allow my wavy hair to air-dry, or when I’m at the beach and need to rehydrate my locks after a swim in the sea (the salt really dries my hair out).
I found this one was excellent at detangling – and not only conditioned my hair, but my scalp too. I battle with dry, itchy scalp and after using this, the itch is FAR less severe and there are fewer dry, flaky bits (gross, i know – but I have to be upfront here). I was also impressed at how the formula minimizes frizz because it works to smooth the hairs cuticle (thanks to the Silk protein and Argan oil). It gives my hair body and volume and ensures my curls are bouncy. I also like that it contains UV filters that protect the colour of my hair from the sun’s damaging rays. The formula is Paraben and sulfate free, and like the other products in the line, contains Balmain’s stunning signature scent.
You can view the full Balmain Paris Hair Couture collection on glamit.co.za
Balmain Paris Hair Couture is also available to purchase in-store or online at Foschini beauty HERE
