This Celebrity Hair Stylist-Approved Shampoo Made My Hair Healthy

For over a decade, my go-to hair stylist, Sean James of The Matthew Preece Salon in Santa Monica, California, has raved to me about Kérastase’s hair care products. And stupidly, it took almost that exact amount of time (and several hair colorings) later for me to listen. About a year ago my hair experienced serious damage after a balayage hair coloring went wrong. Overnight, my thick and shiny hair dehydrated into brittle and dull strands. After doing some research, and remembering James’ recommendation, I finally splurged on a bottle of Kérastase Bain Satin Shampoo, and it was worth every benny. 

“Kérastase Bain Satin is a hydrating shampoo and has been my favorite since 1986,” James tells InStyle. “It's perfect for normal to dry hair, gently cleansing, moisturizing, and nourishing hair, leaving it soft, shiny, and easy to manage. For a first time user of the brand this is a great introduction to the broad-spectrum of their nutritive line of products.”

The science behind the shampoo lies in two key ingredients that feed your hair the nutrients needed to lock in hydration and promote scalp health, according to James. Plant-based proteins help repair the damaged hair cuticle, while niacinamide, a less common ingredient in shampoo, helps treat the scalp. "It's part of the vitamin B complex and is used in facial skincare products as a calming agent to help address inflammation and redness," Branden Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology, previously told InStyle about how niacinamide is calming for the scalp. "It has appeared in shampoos because of its similar effect on scalp skin to address irritated, sensitive scalps." The vitamin B3 also helps strengthen hair fiber and lock in nutrients. 

It didn’t take long for the shampoo to work its magic. Upon the first wash, my unruly, tangly hair, which had become almost impossible to comb through even after conditioning, was surprisingly detangled. After using the shampoo regularly for a few weeks, my hair health improved dramatically. The brittle strands started feeling nourished and shining once again. The number of hairs accumulating on the shower drain started dwindling, so I knew the formula was getting the job done. 

James recommends using the shampoo with either the Lait Vital, a hydrating conditioner from the same Nutritive collection, or the Masquintense Riche, an intense, weekly five-minute treatment for desperately dry hair. I opted for the latter, as my hair needed extra hydration, and later purchased the Lait Vital for more regular use. 

After falling in love with the collection, I also started using another product from the collection, Nutritive Nectar Thermique, a heat protecting leave-in cream that does a great job at eliminating frizz. Another bonus? All three products smell amazing — sort of a salon fresh aroma — without overpowering the senses. 

A 250 milliliter bottle (about 8.5-ounces) of Kérastase’s Bain Satin Shampoo retails for $38; while an investment, I remind myself that regular hydrating treatments at the salon end up costing significantly more. Snag your own bottle and see the results for yourself.