Alfaparf Milano Review: The Little-Known Hair Products With an Underground Cult Following
Alisha Bhojwani is a Sydney-based digital strategist and content specialist. When she's not reminding her friends to wear SPF, you can find her drenching her face in Vitamin C and consuming copious amounts of peanut butter. You can find her on Instagram here @alishabhojwani_.
As someone who has spent her entire 20s bleaching and bringing her hair back to life, I consider myself a hair expert.
Whilst I’m not an actual hairdresser, I do know a thing or two about how to keep your hair in the best shape whilst heat styling it weekly.
The secret?
Your shampoo and conditioner. It’s as simple as that.
Just like your skin needs the right products to glow, your hair needs the right products to grow.
I look at 3 key things before I purchase a haircare product:
- Consistency - This is extremely important, because let’s say you have fine hair but are using a mask that has high density. All that will do is weigh your hair down making it lifeless. Now for someone like myself, who has naturally frizzy hair, thicker products balance out my natural volume.
- Scalp care - Healthy strands start from the scalp and if a product doesn’t cater to this, it’s a waste of your money.
- And finally, affordability - As someone who has a LOT of hair, I need something that is both effective and doesn’t drain my bank account because the reality is I go through my hair masks each month. If I’m spending $100 on haircare I’ll either end up broke or use it sparingly which means either way I suffer.
With so many brands launching on the scene, I wanted to pay homage to one brand that has seen me through thick and thin (literally): Alfaparf Milano.
What Is Alfaparf Milano?
For those who are new to the brand, let’s revisit their history.
Alfaparf Milano was the brainchild of Roberto Franchina in 1980 who began to create products for the hairdressing industry.
Fast forward a few years and the Semi di Lino line was launched (the range with the green packaging) that course corrected how damaged hair was treated.
In the '90s they expanded their brand internationally and now 40 years later the products are available across Latin America, Australia, UK, Europe and USA.
From damaged to fine, sensitive scalp or curls, Alfaparf’s range has a product for every hair type at a wallet-friendly price point ($28-$75) and are considered one of leaders in hair innovation.
I was introduced to the brand back when I first started getting keratin treatments (which sidenote are one of the best I’ve tried) and since, I’ve cycled through almost all their products.
Alfaparf Milano products.
There are five categories in the core Alfaparf Milano range that Adore Beauty stock and each of them are designed for treat various concerns:
- Illuminating (white) - This range is the low maintenance (can’t relate ha) woman or man. If you’re looking for gloss and shine, add to cart.
- Smoothing (purple) - For those who have chaotic hair (iykyk) then the smoothing range will be your BFF. Designed to smooth out the unruliest of manes, this range has seen me through some frizzy days.
- Moisture Nutritive (pink) - Are you a serial bleacher? The pink range has been formulated to add nutrients and moisture back into damaged, dry hair.
- Rebalance (green) - If you’re prone to dandruff, the green range helps to revitalise the scalp, encouraging healthier hair growth.
- Volume (blue) - And for my curly hair guys and gals, the blue/indigo range will leave your hair locks even more defined and lush.
Alfaparf Milano Reviews.
I know that’s a lot to digest, so I’ve picked my four favourites across all the ranges.
1. Alfaparf Milano Semi di Lino Sublime Cristalli Liquidi Oil.
- Alfaparf Milano Semi di Lino Sublime Cristalli Liquidi Oil 50 ml is a rich hair oil designed to tame flyaways, smooth frizz and leave a glossy finish.
- Contains vitamin E to promote healthy hair growth and flaxseed oil to nourish each and every strand.
- Apply on damp or dry hair and watch the shine take over.
Review:
Now you can use this on damp or dry hair, but my preference is dry, for a few reasons:
- Firstly, to add extra gloss to my hair and to give my ends that extra TLC. And secondly because it has the most gorgeous floral scent that leaves me in citrusy heaven.
- It also doesn’t leave a residue like some hair oils do, it just leaves your feeling soft and looking like you’ve walked out of salon.
- A little does go a long way, so make sure you don’t overdo it!
2. Alfaparf Milano Semi di Lino Scalp Rebalance Gentle Exfoliating Scrub.
- Alfaparf Milano Semi di Lino Scalp Rebalance Gentle Exfoliating Scrub 150 ml helps to buff away any residue product buildup.
- It’s a granular texture and has a blend of probiotics and prebiotics to ensure the scalp microbiome is intact.
Review:
- The instructions say to use this one on damp hair. I use this one before I shampoo to lightly exfoliate and clarify the scalp. It’s got a light, floral scent and starts as a gel texture that lathers into a cream base with water.
- I’ve been using scalp products since before they were cool, so you can trust me when I say this is one of the better ones. It’s gentle and does exactly what it promises.
3. Alfaparf Milano Semi di Lino Moisture Nutritive Mask.
- Alfaparf Milano Semi di Lino Moisture Nutritive Mask 200 ml does exactly what it says. It adds a whole lot of moisture back into your strands.
- Perfect for those locks that are severely damaged.
- The mask has a blend of nutri-sugar molecules, meadowfoam seed oil and omega-9 fatty acids to impart softness, shine and hydration.
Review:
- This has been my recent hair saviour. Technically, you’re supposed to use a nut-sized amount – however, considering the length and amount of my hair I use a fair dollop and work this into my mid-lengths to ends specifically.
- It’s got a floral scent, and high product density – which means it’s a thick but velvety texture.
- Anyone who has colour treated hair, words can’t do justice how much this has helped my hair.
4. Alfaparf Milano Semi di Lino Smooth Smoothing Shampoo.
- Alfaparf Milano Semi di Lino Smooth Smoothing Shampoo 250 ml is meant for chaotic hair.
- It has a blend of colour fix, shine fix, urban defence pro and an anti-frizz protein complex to essentially tame the unruliest of locks.
Review:
- I am OBSESSED with this shampoo. At the worst of times, I look like Hagrid in the mornings – at the best of times I have split ends up to my chin.
- Each and every hair wash I wonder if my hair will ever bounce back (dramatic I know), but this shampoo never fails to disappoint.
- It’s got a rich texture than turns into a creamy consistency when applied to hair.
- Typically, I avoid using shampoo on my mid-lengths to ends to avoid drying it out further, but this helps to detangle, soften, and leaves my hair vibrant and bouncy.
Even though there are fancy schmancy new haircare brands popping up all over my socials, Alfaparf Milano will always have a place in my heart and in my shower caddy because if there’s one thing the Italians know how to do right, it’s hair (and the men).
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