I Tried Kérastase’s New Haircare Range That Promises to Soothe Flaky Scalps
Gerard may still be an Adore Beauty baby, but he’s a beauty veteran! As Adore’s self-appointed Luxury Correspondent, Gerard lives and breathes luxe beauty must haves – from foundation to haircare, he’s got an opinion! When he isn’t playing with product, you’ll find Gerard strolling through shops, complaining about his dating exploits and always with a cappuccino in hand.
Dandruff - it’s one of the more visible ailments we face. Whether it be white specks on your shoulders or visible redness in the scalp, it’s one of the more uncomfortable skin conditions, or rather scalp conditions.
It’s become more of a focus over the last couple of years as haircare brands start to take learnings from skincare and research into the health of our scalps!
I have suffered with dandruff for many years now and have tried a fair few products.
I used to think that it was from all the styling products I was using, but really, I have seborrheic dermatitis - a form of dermatitis that flares up across my body including my scalp.
In exciting news, and in the making for years, luxe haircare brand and Adore favourite Kérastase is coming to the rescue of our scalps.
The new Symbiose range is a collection of four products targeted at the scalp, specifically designed to help control dandruff through a simple three-step routine.
I have been secretly using this collection for months after being lucky enough to use some of the few samples available in the country earlier this year.
I have tracked my progress with the collection and I am soooo excited for you to see the difference these products have made to my scalp - read on for the new anti-dandruff products you need.
What Is Kérastase Symbiose?
Put the Head & Shoulders down right now. Forget everything you know about anti-dandruff products - chemical, smelly and stripping.
Enter, a collection of products that take the quality and quite simply, the bougieness of luxe shampoos and merge it with ingredients that work i.e. the symbiosis, or the 'coming together of two things'.
The Symbiose collection is made of four products that promote up to seven weeks of anti-dandruff efficacy.*
Step 1. Kérastase Symbiose Micro-Exfoliating Cellular Treatment.
Straight off, this is my favourite product of the routine.
Think of it as a gentle exfoliator for the scalp with acids and plant-based beads to remove dead cells and flakes. This soothes the scalp and starts to take away the discomfort or itchiness often felt with dandruff.
You might think the inclusion of 1.9% salicylic acid would sting - I can confidently say, nothing of the sort to report and I had a pretty bad outbreak, made worse by my usual haircut which inflamed it more.
I used this just like an exfoliator on my face - all over my scalp but particularly on the parts that were the worst, which was the back of my head.
There is a slight cooling feeling that helps with the discomfort so I did tend to leave it on for 20 seconds or so.
I definitely thought I would feel a tightening of my scalp and extra dry hair after, but again, that luxe vibe that Kérastase is all about, seemed to counteract it.
Step 2. Kérastase Symbiose Moisturising Anti-Dandruff Cellular Bain Shampoo.
As with nearly all Kérastase collections, there are two shampoos for you to choose from based on your hair or scalp type - dry or oily. I opted for the dry version due to my coarse and thick hair.
The shampoo once again has salicylic acid to support the removal of flaky dandruff on the surface while its creamy texture (and unbelievable smell) hydrates.
It’s this step I think that makes sure you don’t have that dreaded soapy and squeaky feeling you get with so many other targeted shampoos.
I did tend to leave this on for a minute or so too - it has that soothing quality all helping to reduce the redness and calm the scalp.
Here's what my hair looked like after just one wash...
Step 3. Kérastase Symbiose Intensive Anti-Dandruff Cellular Night Serum.
While there isn’t a conditioner in the Australian collection, I would recommend you go in with your favourite conditioner before you finish.
Once you’re out of the shower, it’s time for a serum.
My bathroom shelves currently look like a Kérastase showroom. So. Many. Serums. I have quickly become obsessed - one for the scalp and one for the hair.
I have been swapping in this serum a few times a week, which is the suggestion.
Designed to be used at night, similar to your skincare, this serum goes in after the exfoliator and shampoo that helped with giving immediate relief. The serum provides a cooling feeling while supporting long-lasting efficacy.
As with the others, salicylic acid makes an appearance with Bifidus (a prebiotic) to help maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Using the full collection restores essential hydration to hair and the scalp after 4 weeks of use*.
My recommendations:
- Alternate: For me, I have pretty tough dandruff. With this, I have found myself reaching for the Symbiose range pretty regularly. However, I am sticking to the suggestions and only using it a few times a week - I like to swap it in for other Kérastase collections including the Genesis Homme and Nutritive range. It’s a similar story for the serums.
- Leave it on: It’s not mentioned in the instructions, but I do find that leaving the products on the scalp for 30 seconds or so really does give some instant relief to the discomfort that you can feel. I noticed the itchiness was gone and the flakiness reduced with the exfoliator in particular.
- Stick to it: For this one - follow the instructions and the routine. It really does make a difference. In the pictures, you can see how the continuous use calmed my scalp down and reduced the flakiness.
Final Verdict...
This range has quickly risen in the ranks as one of my favourite ranges from Kérastase, although it’s a tough decision between Nutritive and Genesis.
While it’s at a higher end price point, I definitely have confidence in recommending it because of the different types of steps - exfoliate, shampoo, serum - it’s very similar to your skincare routine.
Above all else, it’s just a nice experience to use it… all those supermarket brands are pretty tough on the hair and smell anything but good. Think of it as a targeted haircare solution that you mix in and out of your existing regime to support your scalp.
If you’re struggling with dandruff and tired of the supermarket options, it’s worth picking up these three as your next try - I really don’t think you’ll regret it.
You will need the full range for the best results, but if you were looking for a trial, I would opt for the Micro-Exfoliator.
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