Oui, get beautiful hair the Dessange way

Jacques Dessange is an icon in the hair industry. The French hairdresser artfully tousled the locks of stars like Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly, and popularized the disheveled look before “bedhead” was even conceived of.

So when Rustan’s The Beauty Source brings his haircare line to the Philippines, you pay attention. Even more so when his international makeup artist, trainer and designer at Dessange International, Christopher Picault, is in town to introduce his product ranges, and train the stylists at Emphasis Salon in Rockwell how to use them.

Dessange’s concept of beauty at its 450 salons in 40 countries is the same: “Every woman coming in the salon needs to have her hair and makeup done,” says Picault. “They work together.”

Though Dessange’s makeup is not yet available in the Philippines, Rustan’s carries the company’s three main haircare ranges.

Dessange Blond Signature

The Dessange difference: Author Therese Jamora- Garceau after Picault’s makeover with Phytodess haircare and Dessange makeup.

What it is: Dessange’s luxury hair care range contained in elegant black packaging.

Who can use it: All hair types, especially those with colored and damaged hair. Though initially formulated for blonds, the range has also proven itself excellent for brunettes and Asians with heavy, coarse dark hair. 

Key ingredient: Black pearl, which fortifies, re-mineralizes, fights aging, and gives light to dark hair.

Must-try products: Blond Signature Luminosity shampoo, conditioner and mist; Elixir Capillaire Shine; Inspiration Douceur nourishing mask.

Dessange Phytodess

What it is: Dessange’s natural treatment range meant to repair various hair and scalp issues.

Who can use it: Those with color-treated, dry, limp and damaged hair.

Hair apparent: Camille Albane, an affordable haircare brand for the young generation, is numbered and color-coded for easy use.

Key ingredients: Precious stones and metals (gold, silver, pearl, copper, malachite), clays, essential oils, sea and plant extracts to beautify hair.

Must-try products: Phytodess Bamboo or Ylang Ylang shampoo; Crème de Palme Ultra-Restorative cream; Gold Shea Day Cream; Honey Mask; Symbio Sun Water Lily Mist for color-treated hair; Symbio Sun Fondant Protective Gel; Trichobiol Fortifying Concentrate

Camille Albane

What it is: Camille Albane, named after a French hairstylist, colorist and makeup artist, is a different brand altogether, featuring affordable hair care and styling products for the young generation; the numbered and color-coded products are easy to use and smell wonderful.

Who can use it: Young people who don’t have the time or money for treatments.

Key ingredients: Argan oil, henna, orange, honey and pomegranate extracts

Must-try products: Beautifying shampoo and conditioner with citron; Curl Revealing shampoo and fluid with mango; Shine Booster set; Radiance Spray with henna and citrus zests; Wet-Effect Fondant Gel Orange Fragrance.

After Picault had acquainted me with the products, it was time for a Dessange-style makeover. He sat me down in a chair, saying, “When you come into the salon, we always do the shampoo in the chair on dry hair. Because it has been proved at Dessange that when you take care of dry hair with the shampoo, you have a better result. And with the humidity outside, your hair is going to stay more beautiful longer.”

He instructed an Emphasis stylist to apply Phytodess Crème de Palme, an ultra-restorative mask, all over my dry hair. You’re supposed to leave it in for five to 10 minutes (a scalp massage is encouraged), then apply the appropriate Phytodess shampoo (Ylang Ylang for my parched, frizz-prone locks) and rinse it off twice.

“Your hair’s going to be more strong, and all the dryness will disappear,” Picault assured me. “Phytodess also has lots of mists with oligo elements to give energy to your hair. Just spray it on top of your hair — it’s really easy.”

Once my hair had been blow-dried, Picault tousled it a la Dessange and I was amazed. Even if I had washed and blow-dried it the night before, it looked nothing like this: shiny and bouncy with soft waves, the old coloring job gleaming under the lights. I was sold.

As the artist-designer who created Dessange’s entire makeup range, cosmetics are Picault’s forte, and he brings with him his 17 years of experience working for Yves Saint Laurent. “All the makeup I create, my inspiration comes from Yves Saint Laurent,” he says. “I try to create makeup at the highest level.”

Based in Singapore for Dessange for 10 years, Picault is also very familiar with the Asian market and with what works for them, color- and texture-wise. For his summer makeup collection, the trend is sunny pastels and bronzy nudes, “because women all over the world are busy and have no time to do the makeup.” Picault had the idea to create the ultimate on-the-go product: an eyeshadow in pencil form that you could carry in your bag, apply in a jiffy and would never break or spill in your purse. Brilliant.

Not just for blonds: Dessange’s Blond Signature range has proven itself excellent for beautifying brunette and Asian hair. Dessange is available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source.

I also love his Correct Touch, a corrective product he applied with a sponge before liquid foundation. “It makes your skin smooth and mattified,” he says, “and you can use it all day long when you’re a little bit sweaty or oily.”

After he’d swiftly and expertly applied my makeup, Picault led me to a mirror and once again I was wowed. His makeup just had this glow, and the golden and bronze tones enhanced my Asian features naturally.

Though Rustan’s already carries almost every makeup-artist brand you could want, it made me wish they would carry the makeup line as well to complete the Dessange look you get from the dreamy haircare lines.

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The Dessange Paris Blond Signature, Phytodess and Camille Albane haircare collections are exclusively available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source.