I felt a difference after just three minutes.
It’s taken a staggering six months (not a hyperbole — I literally started the process in October 2023) and 30-plus hours in a salon chair, but I finally have the blonde hair I’ve pined over for years. Though it could have been done in one go, that would have destroyed my curls which would render the whole project moot. Thankfully, my curls are still intact (although they are suffering) and I’ve been using a slew of products to restore them to their former glory. One of the most impressive of which is Kérastase’s Blond Absolu Cicaflash Conditioner.
I have very few curly hair celebrities to pull inspiration from. It’s a niche complaint and something you probably haven’t thought about if you’re not one of my curly hair brethren. It’s a piece of the puzzle as to why Carrie Bradshaw (in the early seasons of Sex and the City) has remained top of mind even though the show premiered 25 years ago. The other reason is that her blonde hair is so seemingly low-maintenance. Her roots are showing and dark strands peak through the blonde. I’ve wanted to replicate the look with my 3A curls but was fearful. Thanks to a great colorist (Juliana Ohlmeyer) and smart products, I have the hair of my SATC dreams.
Buy on Amazon $25
My hair is at its worst the week following a bleach session; it feels like straw and is impossibly knotted. I initially took a look at the dozen products waiting to be tested and reached for this after getting the sign-off from Ohlmeyer. Contrary to popular belief, she says that opaque traditional purple shampoos and conditioners “can be really drying and make blonde hair look darker and duller.” This Kérastase pick works because it “has a sheer violet tint, is easy to control, and hydrating for fragile blonde hair.”
I felt the benefits after three minutes. The knotted dry mess that was my hair had seemingly untangled itself. It was so soft to the touch and I wasn’t afraid that the strands were going to shatter like glass when I ran my brush through them. My hair was immediately silky, and that texture didn’t disappear when I rinsed the conditioner out. I decided to skip a leave-in product altogether and see how my hair dried. The results were in a word: incredible. My curls? Bouncy and full of life. My frizz? Tamer than it had been in months. And my blonde? Still bright and vibrant.
Even when I eventually tire of the blonde, I will keep Kérastase’s Blond Absolu Cicaflash Conditioner in my repertoire. It’s too transformative not to. Shop it on Amazon for $25.
Kérastase Blond Absolu Lumière Illuminating Shampoo
Buy on Amazon $42
Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaextreme Strengthening Hair Oil
Buy on Amazon $58