Want Hair Like a French Girl? The Secret is in Your Scalp

Great hair is at the top of every woman's hit list, and something seemingly impossible to achieve. We invest copious amounts of time and money into what has become one's ultimate accessory — and still your hair is too thick, too thin, too oily, too dry, too dull, too bright, too light right now, really dark right now, it won't grow fast enough, it grows too fast to maintain your blunt bob, blowdrying takes too long but you desperately need it, you'd be a frizzy mess without your flat iron but it's slowly frying every precious strand... should you just cut everything off? Probably.

Amidst these list of woes, there's one integral part of your hair care that goes almost entirely ignored. If you're not battling dandruff and/or a deep shampoo fanatic, your scalp is generally forgotten. Crucial error. For anyone inspired by 2006 instant classic Aquamarine, and has done a deep dive into growing long hair, fast, they'll know the scalp is exactly where you should be focusing much of your attention. While it's all very well to do a weekly deep condition and go light on the heat (these are very good things), hair stylist and manager of Manhattan's ,Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa Frederic Moine, says it's time to shift our focus — and the salon is leading the charge with hair & scalp therapy treatments.

The chic Upper East Side location, Moine says, is perhaps the only salon in New York that offers new technology created by Parisian brand, Biologique Recherche, which focuses on revitalizing the scalp (subsequently promoting hair growth and keeping your hairstyle fresher, longer). The key to unlocking your best hair is in the stimulus and sebum (hair's protecting agent) control of the scalp. Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 Capillaire hair and scalp treatment is actually the famous beauty company's famous skin treatment adapted for hair and includes highly activating/purifying ingredients such as horseradish, lemon, sage, myrrh and burdock extracts and witch hazel. Recommended for women with oilier hair — that is, the entirety of New York women contending with the subway and erratic weather conditions on the daily — Paul Labrecque offers a luxurious 60-minute treatment and blowout, which will actually leave your hair more manageable and glossy for weeks to come.

Six different products are used throughout the process, and trust me, this is pampering at its peak. The hair is wet, while an initial lotion that balances the scalp's pH is applied to every part of the scalp; the hair is quite literally divided section by section and the Lotion P50 Capillaire is pressed into each part of the skin. Moine says it's rare that the scalp ever receives this kind of affection and it works wonders in restoring the scalp. Next is the Biologique Recherche Oxygenating Shampoo that protects fragile hair, followed by a balm that restores shine, before an anti-aging mask is applied to the hair and activated under a heat lamp for 20 minutes; this is followed by a deep conditioner, but let's not forget the generous scalp massage that also comes with the treatment. After the hair is blown out a final serum is applied. For 6-8 weeks, your hair will be infinitely easier to style and will look and actually be healthier, with each fiber more resistant to damage and improved texture and shine.

If you repeat the treatment regularly, as you would with a trim, your hair is also likely to grow exponentially faster and stronger. Sweet dreams are made of these. Of course, well the full treatment is rare and the price of an expensive haircut (the two-hour process will set you back $150), you can, in fact buy each Biologique Recherche product and perform the regime on yourself, once every few weeks, at your leisure. Of course, if even that is too much of a commitment for you, than take Frederic Moine's advice and give your scalp a little more loving — take time to really massage when you shampoo, or give yourself head massages regularly, your hair will thank you for it.

Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa is located at 171 E 65th Street, New York, NY 10065. Call 212-988-7186 or email appointments@paullabrecque.com to schedule your appointment.