Hair care goes green

MANILA, Philippines - The global effort to raise environmental awareness, which gained early attention back in the ’80s, may soon be reaching its tipping point, if it hasn’t yet.

“Natural” and “organic” are buzzwords that have become both common and chic. It has crept into the collective lifestyle and is now a global trend. Green is in — green buildings, green cars, green health and beauty products. Manufacturers worldwide have recognized this and have become accountable for the ecological impact their products make. More and more consumers seek eco-friendly products from companies that demonstrate social responsibility.

Now, from Europe, comes a hair-care line that has “gone green.”

“The Essensity line is Schwarzkopf’s response to the global trend towards environmental consciousness and a green mind-set,” said regional technical director for Asia Robert Seah, “by developing a full-range hair-care line with naturally derived ingredients and some of the finest organic essences.”

Schwarzkopf is well known for its breakthrough formulations and market-driven innovations in the field of hair care and enhancement. It is a legacy that can be traced back to its founder, Hans Schwarzkopf, with trend-setting products such as the world’s first liquid shampoo, cold wave perm, liquid hairnet, and crème shampoo in a tube. Now in its 111th year, Schwarzkopf is a star company under the mantle of global consumer conglomerate Henkel Dusseldorf.

Schwarzkopf’s innovative Essensity hair-care line was first launched in Europe, where it was received with much success. “Now we’re bringing it to Asia, and the Philippines is the first in the region to experience this product,” Seah said.

“Essensity is the first color, care, and styling brand offering a high degree of naturalness without compromising performance,” Seah noted. “All products contain natural ingredients and specifically chosen pure, certified organic essences. To ensure the purity of the organic essences, we use efficient, innovative extractions such as freeze-drying, filtration, and fermentation. The fragrances are composed of only the finest 100-percent natural essential oils. Synthetic ingredients are replaced wherever they are substitutable without compromising performance. All Essensity products are free from artificial fragrances, silicones, paraffin, mineral oils, and parabens.” 

The Essensity Colour line formulation is more than 90 percent naturally derived and free from artificial colorants and formaldehyde derivatives, which are common in other hair coloring products.

“There is no sting,” Nikki Bacay of Nikki Bacay & Co. Salon, observed. It does not have that offensive pungent odor commonly associated with hair coloring products. Naturally. Essensity is the first ammonia-free and fragrance-free hair color. With 20 intermixable shades, it boasts finely filtered natural beeswax, well-known for its ability to provide suppleness and natural shine to the hair and skin. It also contains gently fermented ectoin, which protects against environmental aggressors. 

The Essensity Care collection is a range of gentle shampoos, conditioners, and treatments that address the needs of a variety of hair conditions and boost the hair’s natural defenses through the power of nature’s strongest antioxidants. For fine, normal hair, Light Cleansing Shampoo contains calcium and organic cranberry, which acts as an antibacterial agent as well as an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C.

Lightweight Milk, a rinse-off conditioner, maintains the hair’s natural condition and strength.

For dry, coarse hair, Moisturizing Shampoo provides intensive moisture, leaving hair soft and manageable. This is best used in tandem with Brushing Elixir, a rinse-off conditioner that supplies a daily dose of moisture to smooth and help control unmanageable, coarse hair.

Hydrating Paste, a rinse-off treatment that intensely saturates your locks with vital moisture, contains aloe vera, which acts as a moisturizer and anti-inflammatory agent.           

Essensity’s Restoring Shampoo provides gentle and effective cleansing that replenishes damaged, color-treated hair. Follow up with Sealing Lotion, a rinse-off conditioner that seals the cuticle layer and helps protect color-treated hair from free radicals and fading.

Intense Curing Mask is an intense rinse-off treatment that strengthens and repairs the internal and external hair structure, while Replenish Balm replenishes the inner hair structure and smoothens the cuticle layer for long-lasting vibrancy.

“The active ingredient, goji berry, helps provide very deep, intense care and repairs damaged hair while delivering antioxidant benefits,” Weng de Guzman of Bench Fix Salon explained. “Goji berry contains more vitamin C than orange.”

Essensity’s Clarifying Shampoo removes product residues and leaves the hair and scalp feeling fresh and purified. Its active ingredient, eucalyptus, has a calming and soothing effect on the scalp.

Fragrance Free Shampoo cleanses the hair gently and helps ease the symptoms of irritated, sensitive scalps. Its active ingredient, calendula, acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and helps in healing skin irritation.

Whether for light, natural style, control, or firm fixing, Essensity’s Styling collection promises hold, shine, volume, and texture so that hair can be styled in any fashion. The vacuum-dried essence of ash tree bark in Sculpting Mash allows better styling control without residue or stickiness, while the cold-pressed organic essence of tapioca in Texturising Mud acts as a natural thickener and fixative, which makes hair more pliant as well as provides a non-greasy finish. Red vine bud provides instant volume and lift that is easy to control, while the cold-pressed essence of sesame in Smoothing Cream acts as an antioxidant while nourishing and smoothening hair.

“If we are environment- and health-conscious and choose natural and organic products for our body, why not also for our hair?” remarked Ino Amoyo of David’s for Rever. Amoyo, together with de Guzman and Bacay, speaks passionately about the benefits of using the “super-natural” Essensity color, care, and styling line.

“As Schwarzkopf Professional’s ambassadors, they are sent abroad for training so they can speak about the products with authority,” said Cora del Rosario, president and general manager of exclusive distributor Top Style Marketing Inc. In turn, they also teach and train hairdressers in their salons.        

As part of Schwarzkopf’s commitment to health and the environment, “we endeavor to replace synthetic ingredients wherever possible without compromising performance,” Seah remarked. “Essensity uses formulas that are predominantly biodegradable. It uses raw materials which are synthesized from plant-based material using renewable resources. Essensity supports tropical reforestation by sponsoring the replanting of an annual minimum of 70 hectares in order to increase biodiversity and habitat for wildlife, create local employment, and sustainable use of forestland.”

It is not all vanity. With Schwarzkopf’s Essensity, there is social responsibility, too.

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Top Style Marketing Inc. is located at Unit 27B Wynsum Corporate Plaza, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City with tel. nos. 438-2401 to 04, 706-2260 and 706-2871.