The category of hair fragrance is growing—during the month of April, views for the term rose an astounding 35-percent, according to Spate—and shoppers are taking note. “Consumers are deciding to choose different fragrances to add to their personal perfume library, depending on the occasion,” says Sacha Mitic, co-founder of Sachajuan, who adds that a simple spray to the strands isn’t “so simple” and cannot be categorized as a perfume (he also, successfully, launched a hair perfume in May). “You have to look at hair perfumes more like a refresher,” Mitic stresses. “Hair refreshers, overall, are also becoming a trend, as consumers move away from washing their hair every day, so hair refreshers support their lifestyle.”
Where it came from
We’re going to turn this one over to Mitic to share the story: “The XVIIth century saw the world of hair evolve, with an increased use of wigs that were powdered or perfume to keep fresh,” he explains. “We developed our original Protective Hair Perfume after many consumers gave us lots of compliments on the signature fragrance we use in our hair products and asked us to create a perfume. Because we are hairdressers, it was important to create a perfume product relating to hair, so it was a very natural extension to develop a hair perfume that not only has a lovely fragrance, but also has performance when being used in the hair.”
What it means in the modern world
It sounds so simple (and a rather unexpected connection), but Mitic tags this one as compliments of the chef: “We’ve seen an increase of open kitchens in restaurants, and if you just recently washed and styled your hair, you’d be able to smell food embedded into porous hair after leaving the restaurant,” he says. “We developed our hair perfume so consumers could refresh their hair without having to wash it again.”
Why spraying regular perfume doesn’t quite do it
Also categorizing hair perfume as “a timeless tradition and a staple part of beauty routines from many different cultures,” Gisou founder Negin Mirsalehi says she used to use standard, spray-on perfumes regularly on her hair—until she began to realize they were drying and damaging her strands. Her solution: Creating an everyday hair perfume. “Our Honey Infused Hair Perfume is enriched with Mirsalehi Honey from my family bee garden. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants that deeply nourish, moisturize and repair the hair. I love it because it not only adds moisture, but it’s paraben free and contains a UV shield, so I can use it to refresh and scent my strands while also hydrating and protecting my hair.”
How to use it
“Having hair stylists and consumers regarding the product as a finishing product, when really there are so many added benefits to the product including anti-odor technology and UV protection,” Mitic says. “You spray it evenly on to dry hair, to capture odor molecules, while adding shine and protection.” Mirsalehi adds this move that she recommends for her Gisou option: “I usually have at least one of them in my purse and reapply it throughout the day. For best results, I recommend spraying it evenly from an arm’s length throughout dry hair, then flip or shake your hair to activate the scent.”
Ones to Try:
