I have been the very lucky recipient of having a session (two in fact) with uber hair colourist Christophe Robin in Paris. His eponymous product line is very cultworthy and his client list is a veritable who's who: Catherine Deneuve, Tilda Swinton and Léa Seydoux.
Here he reveals his hair tips for nonchalant Parisian hair.
![Lea Seydoux is one of Chrisophe Robin's clients.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170617004456im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/p/q/x/p/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwnbjq.png/1497273541228.jpg)
What is the chicest hair trend for the season?
Chestnut hues and natural browns are so elegant and very Parisian, just like the little black dress. To restore an original brown and revive colour and shine, try my Shade Variation Care in Ash Brown. For me, the absolute French blonde is Catherine Deneuve. Chic red is also very on trend, in fact, I define it as the new blonde! Red is such a sensual shade: it warms and enhances faded complexions and when used in highlights it spices up dull colours. Although it should be avoided on skins with rosacea.
What are the styling tips for undone French hair?
It is very important to care for your hair. To keep a hair colour looking fresh and to create a nice texture, it is important to dedicate time to applying masks and natural oils. Having healthy hair is the secret to spending less time styling.
![Christophe Robin with Tilda Swinton.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170617004456im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/n/7/x/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwnbjq.png/1497273541228.png)
How often do your clients have their hair coloured?
Every four to eight weeks. In Paris, women tend to space out more and more their colouration process; they opt for home colour care that can extend the vibrancy of their colour.
What are your top tips for caring for hair?
For all round cleansing, I recommend my moisturising Hair Oil with Lavender and the Cleansing mask with Lemon, which nourishes the hair fibre, protects the colour and gives incredible shine.
French girls try to keep hair washing to a minimum to keep it looking healthy hair and for longer-lasting colour. For a gentle wash, never use aggressive shampoos and avoid products with silicones, SLS and paraben.
The night before shampooing, I recommend putting some of my Moisturising Hair Oil with Lavender or Almond Oil onto the ends for a natural pre-shampoo treatment. Then brush it in with a natural boar bristle hairbrush that will not stress out the hair.
When washing your hair, don't use water that's too hot. Use a little amount of shampoo once just on the roots and emulsify with a good massage on the scalp. Then slide the product along the entire length of the hair, there is no need to rub it.
Most of the time, girls never rinse enough when they wash their hair, hence the scalp can't breathe and it becomes greasy again very quickly. My advice is to always rinse hair very well and use some cold water at the end. Cold water is going to lock the pores of the scalp and lock the hair cuticule. Then, dry it very gently with a towel. After the blow dry, you should moisturise your hair on the ends. Try my Moisturising Daily Cream. It has a very light texture and won't grease your hair.
A lot of your ingredients are sourced in Morocco …
It is a country where they have some of the best ingredients: argan oil, prickly pear seed oil, rhassoul clay. I have discovered lots of beauty secrets there too. I remember when I found out about the prickly pear seed oil it was in the mountains and they use it to heal scarring. When I got back to the lab in Paris they said it's not produced anywhere yet and it's so expensive. But we did it and it's one of our biggest successes.
Who is your hair icon?
Catherine Deneuve, she is a legend for blondes and the most iconic French actress. She is my most inspiring client for her wonderful hair type, her grace and career. She was one of my first clients when I opened my salon in 1995. One day, I got a telephone call: "Hi, this is Catherine Deneuve." That day was a turning point in my career. My heart was pounding as I heard her say: "I saw Claudia Schiffer's hair at a dinner party. My colour isn't working for me, so I'd like to make an appointment." Today, I'm still taking care of her hair.
What is your hair routine?
"I wash my hair with my Cleansing Scrub with Sea Salt. After the shower, I spray my Purifying Hair Finish Lotion with Sage Vinegar and then my Intense Regenerating Balm with rare prickly pear oil, on wet hair. I put a lot of my balm in my hair. If I didn't, it would be out-of-control curly.
What is your favourite fragrance?
I change a lot. I adore Gypsy Water from Byredo and there's another one, called Bois D'Ascese by Naomi Goodsir. It's smoky, strong and sexy yet very agreeable and pleasant. I also like Pour le Matin by Francis Kurkdjian, the morning one. It's a refreshing and dynamic perfume that is perfect for daytime wear. It always puts me in a good mood and I like how it can be worn equally well by men and by women - and Melograno by Santa Maria Novella."
What is your cleansing routine?
I wash my face with Joelle Ciocco Creme Emulsionnante. I really like it. In the morning, just cold water. For shaving, there's only one thing that works on me because my beard is very thick: it's a very old shaving cream from Palmolive. I moisturise my face with Joelle Ciocco Regulateur Actif day cream and I mix it with Dr. Hauschka Emulsion Teintee to give myself a little tan.