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Coily, curly, wavy or frizzy hair? This blog is for you!
Discover our best tips, routines and natural secrets to pamper your texture, boost your volume and love your hair every day.
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Honey, a natural and magical ingredient for radiant hair!
Honey, that sweet delight produced by bees, is not just limited to enhancing our meals. It also possesses extraordinary properties for our hair. Here is how it can bring softness and radiance to your hair in a natural and effective way. 🍯✨1. A Natural Humectant:Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it has the ability to retain and seal in moisture. When applied to hair, it draws moisture from the surrounding air and locks it into the hair strands. This makes hair incredibly soft and hydrated, eliminating the feeling of dryness and roughness. 💦2. Beneficial Enzymes:Honey contains natural enzymes that have antibacterial and antifungal properties. When applied to the scalp, honey can help prevent infections and maintain a healthy environment. A healthy scalp is essential for strong and vibrant hair. Furthermore, these enzymes help remove dead skin cells, thus promoting new hair growth. 🦠🌱3. Honey Hair Masks:There are many ways to enjoy the benefits of honey for your hair. A honey hair mask is one of the simplest and most effective methods. Mix raw honey with ingredients such as olive oil, mashed avocado, or plain yogurt to create a nourishing hair mask. Apply this mixture to your hair, focusing on the ends and the scalp. Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with lukewarm water. This moisturizing mask will leave your hair incredibly soft, silky, and shiny. 🍯🥑4. Dandruff Treatment:Honey can also be used to treat scalp issues such as dandruff. Its antibacterial nature helps eliminate dandruff while soothing an irritated scalp. Gently massage honey diluted with water into your scalp, leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse. Repeat this treatment once a week for optimal results. 🎯In conclusion, honey is a treasure from nature for your hair. By incorporating it into your hair care routine, you can enjoy its moisturizing, softening, and revitalizing benefits. Your hair will thank you by becoming soft, silky, and radiant, all while benefiting from a healthy scalp. 🌟
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Behentrimonium methosulfate: friend or foe to my hair?
What is behentrimonium methosulfate? Behentrimonium methosulfate (also known as "BTMS" to those in the know) is a cosmetic active ingredient that is very common in conventional, as well as natural and organic, hair care products. Do you use products for dry, damaged, or kinky hair? Take a look at their ingredients: there is a high chance you will find BTMS in them! Behentrimonium methosulfate is a wax, somewhat like beeswax or carnauba wax. If you come by to visit us at the LAB, you will see that it comes in the form of small, whitish pellets. We then melt them in a bain-marie at a minimum of 55°C before incorporating them into the fatty phase (vegetable oils and the like) of our preparations. By the way, where does BTMS come from? Behentrimonium methosulfate is actually composed of two substances: a quaternary ammonium (or "quat" for short) + a fatty alcohol (cetearyl alcohol). This is the reason why you will find it on the INCI list of your care products under the following name: cetearyl alcohol and behentrimonium methosulfate The good news is that BTMS is of plant origin. It most often comes from rapeseed oil. But beware of misconceptions: it cannot be considered a natural ingredient. The reason is simple: it undergoes some so-called "chemical" modifications before it can be used in cosmetics. But what is this behentrimonium methosulfate used for? Technically, behentrimonium methosulfate belongs to the large family of surfactants. Basically, it allows the aqueous phase and the oily phase of your care products to bond well together and form what is called an "emulsion." Without a surfactant, fat and water would not be able to mix! It also has the benefit of being self-emulsifying. In other words, it is sufficient on its own to create beautiful, stable emulsions. Normally, you would need to add other additives to get a decent result (co-emulsifier, stabilizer, acidifier, etc.). Choosing BTMS thus allows us to avoid long, drawn-out formulations with "empty" ingredients that contribute nothing to your hair. What is the benefit of BTMS for my afro hair? Behentrimonium methosulfate generally plays the role of a conditioning agent in products like conditioners, masks, or leave-ins. If we love it so much (and our customers do too!), it is because its benefits for kinky hair are undeniable. It is antistatic: it prevents your hair from becoming electric and frizzy. It has a lubricating action: it facilitates detangling and prevents breakage. It is beautifying: it smoothes, coats, and adds shine to the hair fiber. It is softening: it leaves the hair silky. Behentrimonium methosulfate vs. silicones: does it weigh my hair down? Behentrimonium methosulfate is often compared to silicones. Like them, it forms a film around the hair. This is precisely what allows it to trap moisture in the heart of the fiber, reduce its porosity, and improve the appearance of the hair. It is thus called "occlusive" and replaces the protective function of natural sebum, which kinky hair tends to lack. Did you know? No ingredient can "suffocate" your hair. Neither BTMS, nor silicones, nor anything else. Because hair, like all integuments, is by definition dead. Therefore, it does not breathe! However, behentrimonium methosulfate has a major advantage. While silicones deposit themselves on the entire surface of the hair (potentially making it heavy and greasy), BTMS is smart. It adheres only to the most damaged areas. This is because it is cationic, meaning it is charged with positive ions. The weakened parts of your hair are charged with negative ions. And you know the saying: opposites attract. Result: your hair remains supple and light! BTMS vs. sulfates: is it irritating? You have probably noticed: "behentrimonium methosulfate" contains "sulfate." Yet, sulfates have a bad reputation. They can indeed be irritating. However, BTMS is not a sulfate like the others! As you now know, it is a conditioner, not a detergent: at no point will it strip the fiber at the risk of damaging it, because that is not its role. But that's not all! Behentrimonium methosulfate has the advantage of not being an ethoxylated compound. Ethoxylation involves producing a surfactant using a very toxic and carcinogenic gas: ethylene oxide. Ingredients obtained via this process sometimes contain residues of aggressive substances, especially for the skin. It is for this reason that BTMS is infinitely less irritating to your scalp than most "classic" sulfates. BTMS vs. environment: is it polluting? Unfortunately, everything is not perfect. The process for obtaining behentrimonium methosulfate is not the most environmentally friendly. The REACH program (which regulates the use of chemical substances) considers that it poses a risk of ecotoxicity for aquatic environments. Despite this, some of our compositions include a low concentration of behentrimonium methosulfate. Simply because we do not want to make any compromises regarding your health and that of your hair. This is why we prefer it to other ingredients with similar properties, but with a significantly more concerning health and environmental impact. And that doesn't stop us from offering you safe formulas with a maximum of natural ingredients! For info: Unlike the majority of quats, such as behentrimonium chloride, the cosmetic use of BTMS is not subject to any European restrictions. Want to make up your own mind about behentrimonium methosulfate? Find behentrimonium methosulfate in 6 cult Kalia Nature products: Hibiscus Cream Coconut-Spirulina Mask Sapote Conditioner Hibiscus Solid Shampoo Stinging Nettle Solid Shampoo
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Shea butter: where does it come from?
What is shea butter and where does it come from? Shea butter, or by its botanical name Butyrospermum parkii, is the result of the valued work of Burkinabe women. It is raw in quality and handcrafted, which preserves its richness in active ingredients. Shea butter is extracted from the fruit of the shea tree, a tree that grows only in the wild in the wooded savannas of West Africa. It can reach over 12 meters in height and its trunk can measure 2 meters in width. The fleshy fruit resembles a small avocado. Its sweet, edible pulp contains a nut in its center which, once pressed, yields shea butter. This butter has been widely used for its many virtues for centuries in certain regions of Africa. The harvest is then transported to the manufacturing center where the nuts are washed and dried using an ancient traditional technique, before being crushed. A mill is used to produce a paste which is then pressed and filtered several times. Its deodorization process, through simple sun drying using a traditional and ancestral technique mastered by the village women, uses neither solvents nor steam. Thus naturally rid of its sour odor without any increase in temperature, the shea butter retains all its benefits. Main constituents Yellow in color, with a sweet, nutty scent with almond notes, this raw shea butter is very rich in active ingredients (terpene alcohols, phytosterols, latex, vitamins A and E...) which give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and UV-protective properties. It also contains monounsaturated fatty acids: 40 to 45% oleic acid (Omega 9), polyunsaturated: 5 to 7% linoleic acid (Omega 6), and 35 to 45% stearic acid, 2% to 5% palmitic acid. Properties Shea butter has the particularity of being naturally film-forming. It contains nourishing and protective properties that deeply nourish every curl, from root to tip, by sealing in moisture. Shea butter, rich in essential fatty acids, is able to penetrate the hair fiber deeply. This will make your hair soft and silky. Used as a preventative measure, shea butter will protect the hair and nourish it. It will also limit the appearance of split ends. The scalp can sometimes itch and cause an unpleasant feeling of tightness. To regain a soothed scalp, there is nothing like raw shea butter. The fatty acids contained in its formulation, which are anti-inflammatory, healing, and restorative, soothe the skin, which regains all its softness. A damaged scalp can cause flaking and then dry dandruff. In this case, shea butter is the ideal companion to reduce this discomfort and restore healthy hair!
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Mango butter: where does it come from?
Mango butter: where does it come from? The mango tree is a tree native to India and Burma, which can reach up to 40 meters in height. Today, it is grown in all tropical countries, mainly for its fleshy fruits. The juicy and fruity flesh of mangoes is highly appreciated for its pleasant sweet taste and its high energy content (it is particularly rich in vitamin C). At the heart of the mango is a flat pit containing a seed (or kernel) which, once pressed, produces a butter much less well-known than the rest of the fruit. Yet this butter provides an unparalleled texture. Rich in isostearic acid, it is the ideal ingredient for your hair care: a true ally for damaged hair, Mango butter provides a coating action to the scales, shine to the hair and helps prevent the formation of split ends. The properties of mango butter It is particularly rich in fatty acids but also in sterols and polyphenols, which give it antioxidant as well as emollient and protective properties. Mango butter is softening and leaves the hair supple. By strengthening the hair cuticle, it provides radiance and shine. Nourishing and emollient, it repairs and softens the hair fiber and maintains hydration. Finally, it prevents the formation of split ends.
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Essential Oils: From Superheroes to Supervillains
Essential oils are the queens of natural cosmetics and the healthy trend. We love them on our faces, on our bodies, and (obviously) on our hair. To get the best out of them without any nasty surprises, use them according to the rules of the art: with caution and consideration. The Kalia Nature team explains it all! What exactly is an essential oil? Did you know that essential oils… are not really oils? Unlike vegetable oils, these are not fatty substances, but rather volatile substances. They are extracted from flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, roots, or even bark through distillation. It takes a huge amount of raw material to create a few drops of essential oil. That is why they are so precious. For example, the production of 1 L of neroli essential oil requires… 1 ton of flowers (wow!) Why are essential oils so effective? Essential oils have been widely used since Antiquity. Today, they are used cutaneously, orally, and by inhalation. If they have been acclaimed for millennia, it is because they have the unique ability to concentrate the noblest part of aromatic plants. Their chemical formula is, moreover, very complex. An essential oil can be composed of more than 200 different molecules! It is all these components which, taken individually or in synergy, give it super-powerful cosmetic and therapeutic properties. What do essential oils do? This richness in active molecules is an essential oil's calling card. Depending on its content, it can have a very specific action: soothing, rebalancing, anti-wrinkle, detoxifying, etc. Some have such a complete composition that they are even versatile! Good to know: when applied to the skin, all essential oils have the ability to stimulate the renewal of your skin cells. Pretty cool, right? But it doesn't stop there! Essential oils have a kind of superpower. When applied externally, they are able to migrate directly to the weakened area that needs them most. A bit like two magnets attracting each other! This is called electivity. Essential oils: are they dangerous? Beware of overgeneralizations! Just because essential oils are natural does not mean they are safe. They are, in reality, so concentrated in active ingredients that they can present a risk of toxicity in high doses. In short, they are your friends… provided you avoid excess. Indeed, they are among the rare natural substances to be absorbed at lightning speed and to penetrate the layers of the skin deeply. They even manage to pass into the blood. In normal times, this "privilege" is reserved for medicines… not cosmetics. So yes, this is what makes them so effective. But it is also the reason why you have every interest in not handling them lightly! In what cases are essential oils not recommended? Are you pregnant or breastfeeding your baby? Then forget about essential oils, both for external and internal use. Do not use essential oils on your children if they are under 3 years old. Some remain strictly contraindicated for little ones under 6 years old (eucalyptus globulus, sage, peppermint, etc.). Check with a professional before attempting anything! If you suffer from a neurological disease (epilepsy or other), you must absolutely ask your doctor for advice before integrating essential oils into your routine. What are the usage precautions to know? Never apply a pure essential oil to your skin. You risk ending up with irritation. You must always dilute it in a vegetable oil (jojoba, avocado, argan, etc.). Some essential oils are photosensitizing, meaning they make your skin vulnerable to the sun. This is often the case for citrus essential oils (lemon, grapefruit, bergamot). Avoid exposing yourself to the sun for 12 hours after their application. The majority of essential oils contain allergens (linalool, citral, geraniol, etc.). The trick to spotting them: they are listed at the very end of your cosmetics' INCI declaration. Always perform a tolerance test before using a new product containing an essential oil. Apply a small amount to the inside of your elbow. If your skin hasn't reacted after 24 hours, you have the green light! Kalia Nature's recommendations Do It Yourself (DIY) is on the rise. It must be said that it is very nice to make your own cosmetics, cleaning products, and everything else. We support the initiative, which helps with recycling and fighting against overconsumption. However, we advise the utmost caution, especially for products intended to come into contact with your skin. The recipes you find on the Internet are not all written by cosmetologists (far from it…). When deciding to incorporate essential oils into a formula, there are very specific conditions to respect, particularly in terms of concentration. At Kalia Nature, we scrupulously measure all the essential oils we add to your hair care products. Our goal: to ensure both their safety and their effectiveness for the beauty of your hair. Our favorite essential oils for hair We are aware of the incredible properties of essential oils. And it would be a real shame to deny yourself them! We have selected some of the best of them to take care of your hair. Grapefruit: strengthens hair and prevents hair loss. Bay Saint Thomas: encourages hair growth and helps eliminate dandruff. Cinnamon: stimulates blood circulation and strengthens the hair fiber. Lavender: regulates excess sebum and soothes skin irritation. Ravintsara: tones and relieves scalp discomfort. Ylang-Ylang: provides shine and invigorates limp hair. Find essential oils in your Kalia Nature products! Good news: these little bombs of benefits are already present in some of your Kalia Nature care products! You will generally find them in our products intended to be applied to your scalp. (Because yes, that is where you need to act to promote healthy growth.) Stinging Nettle Shampoo Bay Saint Thomas Shampoo Stinging Nettle Solid Shampoo Coconut Oil Hair Milk Gourmet Coconut Oil Balm Murumuru Serum Prefer to avoid essential oils? Head over to our Hibiscus range!
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Sapote oil
Generally used to stimulate hair growth, this oil is an exceptional ingredient for the care of dry hair. It is also known for soothing even the most sensitive scalps. It is known to curb hair loss, soothe the scalp, nourish and detangle, and provide shine and a soft touch. Where does sapote oil come from? Traditionally used in Santo Domingo to stimulate hair growth, sapote vegetable oil is a choice ingredient for the care of textured hair. Its subtle almond scent will beautifully fragrance your hair. The "true" sapote is the fruit of the Pouteria sapota, which grows only in Central America and the Caribbean. Belonging to the Sapotaceae family, it is a large fruit, about fifteen centimeters long, round or oval, and can weigh up to 2 kg. Its pinkish-orange flesh contains 1 to 4 seeds that are rich and have the sweet scent of bitter almond. Sapote oil is extracted by first cold mechanical pressing of the seeds. The main constituents of sapote oil Sapote oil is a truly precious oil. Rich in vitamins (A, C, calcium, potassium, iron, carbohydrates), vegetable proteins, omega-6 (linoleic acid), omega-9 (oleic acid), and saturated fatty acids (stearic acid, palmitic acid), it is clearly an ally for textured hair. Like coconut oil, sapote oil may solidify. Simply melt it in a bain-marie to return it to a liquid texture. The properties of sapote oil This oil stimulates hair growth, slows down hair loss, nourishes and detangles, soothes the scalp, and adds shine and a soft touch to the hair. Finally, it helps regenerate dry and brittle hair. Find all the benefits of sapote in our sapote conditioner.
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Coconut oil, discover its benefits!
Where does coconut oil come from? Belonging to the Arecaceae family, the coconut produces an oil rich in essential nutrients. It originates from certain tropical regions, notably Polynesia and Southeast Asia. Today, it grows naturally in most countries with a tropical climate. This quintessential exotic fruit grows on coconut palms. Coconut oil is therefore naturally extracted from the coconut through pressing, without the addition of any other ingredients. The benefits of coconut oil Cold extraction of the oil preserves all the nutrients of the coconut without altering their quality. Vitamins, minerals... Its components give it extraordinary properties. Coconut oil nourishes and strengthens the hair. Lauric acid, a fatty acid with a light molecular structure that has a high affinity for hair proteins, penetrates the scalp easily and nourishes the hair fiber, giving it shine and strength. Furthermore, its film-forming effect acts as a protective veil on the surface of the hair, thereby limiting dehydration and helping to smother lice. It is also an excellent anti-dandruff treatment. Common misconceptions about coconut oil Oils are generally used to moisturize hair, yet when hair is dry, it is thirsty and needs to drink. In reality, oil and water do not mix. Oil repels water: it either pushes water out of the hair or prevents water from entering it. In short, the oil will not penetrate the hair to repair it, but will instead form a barrier between the hair and what it needs. Coconut oil is therefore suitable for porous hair with open cuticles, as the oil can penetrate quickly, unlike low-porosity hair, which will struggle to absorb hydration. And at Kalia Nature? We have 3 products based on coconut oil: The coconut-spirulina mask, the coconut oil hair milk, and the coconut oil gourmet balm.
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