The past year has been a revelation for me when it comes to hair styling and hair care. Born with quintessential thick, wavy South-Indian hair means that I was always been on the receiving end of compliments, though secretly I have felt my hair doesn’t exactly thrive – it is frizzy and I have an oily scalp. But I couldn’t exactly complain, right? Well that changed when I went to Paris at the start of the year and saw Parisians whose hair moved like it had a life of its own. They weren’t heavily styled or tactfully curled – they were just healthy, super glossy, and well taken care of. Post Paris, a quick google search and an Instagram hashtag took me to René Furterer, a cult hair label from France that is now in India. The René Furterer hair treatment, or ritual as they call it, is already known for its long-lasting, amazing benefits. The label from Provence, a fixture in all Parisian pharmacies, is the gold standard for healthy hair rooted in botanics and essential oils.
René Furterer, the label
René Furterer, the founder, was also the first to create French plant-based hair care products that are luxurious and ultra-effective. He selected rare and precious essential oils that are connected to a sensory experience; today these ingredients continue to get processed at their Gaillac centre in southern France. The goal of the label is to respect, protect, and preserve the plant world, and the result is the power of these essential oils harnessed in highly personalised in-salon hair rituals. And of course, let’s not forget the French staple – dry oils – that are part of body and hair finish, a product intrinsic to René Furterer cult Complexe 5.
In 1957, René Furterer also created a method he called Etheirology, an original philosophy built around healthy scalp and hair. It uses the ‘Prepare, Cleanse, and Treat’ method, an custom treatment based on sophisticated preliminary diagnosis of the scalp and hair texture. Then the prep begins – a stimulating shampoo wash suited to the scalp’s specific condition, followed by a deep treatment for the scalp and hair with natural, rich, and custom-made products. It might seem simple but is extremely effective, especially for working women who can do with a quick 40-minute ritual.
The Process
I tried this treatment at their Mumbai salon, and post understanding its pitfalls, the following 6-step ritual began.
Step 1: The expert at René Furterer did a fair diagnosis – she said I needed a good cleanse, and the scalp and hair needed different approaches. We first needed to tackle the oiliness, and then a nourishing routine for the dry ends was in order.
Step 2: After a small dry massage to stimulate the roots, a neat pre-shampoo routine started, using Astera Fresh Soothing Liquid, a miraculous oil to stimulate the scalp and reduce oiliness (it also gives instant relief to irritated scalp). It was left on for 10 minutes, which helped it soak into the scalp.
Step 3: A shampoo with Curbicia Purifying Clay Shampoo, containing a blend of thyme, rosemary, orange, and clove essential oils, for the scalp followed. Never use it with hot water – warm water and a gentle wash do the trick. A good scrub, massage, and wash later, we moved to conditioning.
Step 4: The Karite Hydra Hydrating Shine Mask for very dry hair was applied and kept on for 10 minutes. It rehydrates dry, fragile hair with the help of shea extract combined with a restructuring complex. It also comes with natural coating agents that smooth the keratin fibre and soften dried-out hair.
Step 5: Then a last minute spray with Lumicia Shine Rinse – perfect for making hair glossy and manageable.
Step 6: The final touch came via the iconic 5 Sens Dry Oil. This cult product has a unique blend of five natural plant oils and is at the top of the botanical expertise chain at René Furterer. It gives perfect shine, and a non-sticky, satiny feel.
Results and verdict
The ritual took an hour and the expert consultation helped me zero in on the right products. A clay shampoo, something I don’t naturally gravitate towards, cleansed my oily scalp thoroughly while the shea butter conditioners added softness to dry ends. My hair was silky, healthy, and without that weighed-down look that most hair styling or hair care products create.
A René Furterer hair ritual works best for 2-3 weeks so make an appointment once a month. To know more about the products and rituals, go to René Furterer India