Christophe Robin's Guide to Healthy Summer Hair + A Game Changing product for your strands

Christophe Robin has an infectious love for hair. I was fortunate to be able to meet him in person when he came to New York to unveil his pop-up shop and salon in Tribeca.  We chatted about how to keep your hair color in tip top condition during the summer, the pitfalls of using to much dry shampoo and his game changing new product, hint, you have to get a little dirty before you can really get clean.  

On Summer Hair Color

'You should not change your hair color for the summer! During this season most people say ‘Oh I am going to go blonder’ wrong, because at the end of summer your hair will be white. If you want to go blond, just go two shades lighter because you have the sun to do the rest. One common mistake people make is changing their hair color right before a vacation.  You have paid too much money for it to run away into the sea!'

'One common mistake people make is changing their hair color right before a vacation.  You have paid too much money for it to run away into the sea!'

- Christophe Robin

PRE-Sun Exposure Advice

'Before sun exposure you should apply products for your hair not to be porous.  If it is, it will absorb the water and chlorine from the pool, which will lead to breakage and damage.  I recombine that you apply my Moisturizing Hair Oil with Lavender, which has essential oils that will restore your hair and create a film around it.  Also, my Cleansing Mask with Lemon because it has an acid PH and it is going to mechanically lock the good lipids into your hair.'  

Your Post-Ocean, Post-Pool Hair Ritual

'Again apply my Moisturizing Hair Oil with Lavender! Some people are concerned that putting oil on your hair will fry it, but that isn’t true.  It is best to moisturize your hair like crazy before the summer.  Each time you swim, rinse with water and add more oil.  I recommend that you add about 1/2 teaspoon and put it all over from below the root to the tip.  It will not only moisturize but it will help detangle too.  At night you loose color for brunettes never use soap, wash it with tinted mask that takes away brassiness. no brushing at night when you are holiday before dinner.  use lavender oil and do a chignon you don’t have to style your hair at night. '

ON ABSTAINING FROM OVER DOING IT WITH DRY SHAMPOO

'Dry shampoos are such a trend, but they shouldn't be the substitute for shampoo. Dry shampoo can go inside of the pores of your scalp and make it even more greasy, which can lead to dandruff, which can lead to hair loss because the scalp doesn't hold the hair anymore.'

ON HIS GAME CHANGING NEW PRODUCT

'I am not usually very trendy, but here I am with my new Cleansing Volumizing Paste with Pure Rassoul Clay. This type of volcanic clay can only be found in Morocco and it contains many beneficial minerals. It helps to regulate the oils of your scalp and seals the pores of the hair.  It also contains rose water, which adds a dose of hyaluronic acid that adds volume. It is so simple, as are most of my formulations.  I spent a while developing it because by itself it is a natural soap, without harmful sulfates.   The French don’t like to wash their hair everyday, so this does the job by keeping your hair clean. '

Thank you Christophe!

Photography by Alison