We have all been guilty of trying to extend the life of a hairstyle we love—in some cases, much longer than we should. For me, it’s a bomb blowout. I struggle silk pressing my own thick, butt-length hair, so whenever I get it professionally catered to, I make it last for as long as possible. Unfortunately, my other struggle—an extremely dry, dandruff-prone scalp—is only worsened by neglecting to shampoo regularly. And, of course, trying to keep my curls at bay means I’m skipping multiple wash days.
A hair care range that focuses on scalp health is essential when the time comes to finally get my hair to snap back to its natural state. That overdue wash day must not only restore moisture and reproduce luscious waves and curls, but it’s got to rid my scalp of itchiness, flakes, and even dry patches. So, when I was gifted the complete Kérastase Symbiose Anti-dandruff Deep Treatment Hair Care set, I was incredibly ready to spend some time catering to my neglected scalp with this extensive range of dandruff-specific products.
Symbiose Scalp Renewal Exfoliating Antidandruff Scrub
A micro-peeling cellular for sensitive scalp prone to dandruff.
Symbiose Bain Crème Antipelliculaire Antidandruff sulfate-free shampoo
Moisturizing anti-dandruff sulfate-free shampoo for hair & scalp prone to dandruff
Symbiose Fondant Apaisant Essentiel Hydrating Conditioner
Detangling soothing cellular conditioner for sensitive scalp, prone to dandruff.
Symbiose Revitalisant Essentiel Hydrating Hair Mask
Intense hydrating hair mask for damaged hair & scalp
Symbiose Serum Nuit Antipelliculaire Antidandruff Night Serum
Anti-dandruff night serum for scalp & hair prone to dandruff
So, is Kérastase good for the scalp? Keep reading for my Kérastase Symbiose review, where I put the five-piece collection to the test.
Does Kérastase get rid of dandruff?
Kérastase Symbiose is formulated with star ingredient, pyrithione zinc. So, how does pyrithione zinc help dandruff? Pyrithione zinc has antimicrobial properties known to attack some root causes of dandruff. The collection also includes several doses of salicylic acid spread throughout the products. Salicylic acid helps remove hyperkeratotic skin, otherwise known as scaly dry patches commonly found in dandruff-prone scalps.
While Kérastase Symbiose includes medical-strength properties and can be recommended by a doctor, the line takes a non-medicinal approach to scalp treatment as it also features a variety of oils known for nourishing your tresses. This line is aggressive enough on dandruff yet gentle on your scalp and incredibly kind to your hair.
Symbiose Scalp Renewal Exfoliating Antidandruff Scrub
A micro-peeling cellular for sensitive scalp prone to dandruff.
Kérastase Symbiose Scalp Renewal Micro-Exfoliating Scrub
The Scalp Renewal Micro-Exfoliating Scrub has a formula you can feel thanks to a minty tingle produced by the active ingredient, salicylic acid, plus it creates a soothing lather your scalp will certainly thank you for. Wet hair and apply the exfoliating scrub to your scalp with your fingertips, massage, and then rinse.
Symbiose Bain Crème Antipelliculaire Antidandruff sulfate-free shampoo
Moisturizing anti-dandruff sulfate-free shampoo for hair & scalp prone to dandruff
Kérastase Symbiose Bain Crème Antipelliculaire
For best results, Bain Crème Antipelliculaire, aka your sulfate-free shampoo infused with salicylic acid and pyrithione zinc, should be used twice a week. You simply apply to hair, massage, and then rinse. There’s no immediate tingle but expect a tingling after-effect. After use, towel dry your hair ahead of applying the conditioner.
Symbiose Fondant Apaisant Essentiel Hydrating Conditioner
Detangling soothing cellular conditioner for sensitive scalp, prone to dandruff.
Kérastase Symbiose Fondant Apaisant Essentiel
Fondant Apaisant Essentiel has got several oils, including soybean and two sunflower oils, to condition strands. It also gives your third dose of salicylic acid without any of the tingles. It is applied to shampooed and towel-dried hair, then massaged through the scalp, lengths, and ends. Leave it on for two to three minutes before rinsing.
Symbiose Revitalisant Essentiel Hydrating Hair Mask
Intense hydrating hair mask for damaged hair & scalp
Kérastase Symbiose Masque Revitalisant Essentiel
The Masque Revitalisant Essentiel is a conditioning mask that acts as your fourth dose of salicylic acid in a thick and creamy product that smells as luxe as it looks. It’s applied to your lengths and ends after another towel dry and is meant to sit for three to five minutes before rinsing. Its purpose is to help eliminate any residue left on strands, not to mention quench thirsty strands with even more moisture.
Symbiose Serum Nuit Antipelliculaire Antidandruff Night Serum
Anti-dandruff night serum for scalp & hair prone to dandruff
Kérastase Symbiose Serum Nuit Antipelliculaire Intensif
The Serum Nuit Antipelliculaire Intensif is to be applied to affected areas up to four times daily to soothe and hydrate the scalp while providing hair with shine overnight. No need to rinse this one off, but do expect a more intense tingle thanks to the highly-concentrated formula made with salicylic acid.
My Kérastase Symbiose Review
There are plenty of dandruff collections from your doctor-prescribed formulas housed inside medical brown bottles to your grocery store key players; I know my scalp has felt them all. The thing they all have in common is burning sensations and very distinctive, unpleasant smells. What many of the brands lack, however, is being friendly to all hair types. I’m a thick-haired, wavy/curly girl who needs moisture regularly, not just when my dandruff comes out to play. So, you can imagine that when it’s time to whisk away dry patches, I want something cleansing, moisture-retaining, and detangling. A great-smelling product also doesn’t hurt (neither does an aesthetically pleasing one).
At first whiff, Kérastase Symbiose amazed me with its floral notes, not to mention the millennial gray bottles evoked a calm shower experience instead of a clinical one. The five-part system starts with an exfoliating scalp scrub and ends with a daily use serum. Beginning a hair care routine by exfoliating is genius. I’ve never exfoliated my scalp before, but it was such a fun experience feeling the little beads on my fingertips and rubbing them into my scalp. I was initially concerned as my hair felt a little knotted after rinsing the product out, but the conditioner, later in the process, relieved all that worry.
After a towel dry, the next product—the Pyrithione Zinc Antidandruff Shampoo—doubled down on dandruff with a tingly aftereffect. This shampoo has a thick and creamy lather. My hair felt kind of sponge-like during this part of the progress, but again, the conditioner relieved it. Another towel dry later, I applied the Intense Revitalizing Mask, specifically for dehydrated hair, as the final part of the wash process. It massaged effortlessly into lengths and ends and detangled my strands. It was at this step that my scalp started to seem like it was retaining moisture. Although my problem patch in the back remained through every step, it would soon meet its demise. This part of the process produced minimal shedding, more likely due to wearing my hairstyle longer than necessary as opposed to the line itself. After towel drying my hair again, I added a few drops of the salicylic acid-infused Kérastase Symbiose Serum and went to bed. That problem patch hanging out in the back of my head didn’t make it to the next morning.
Using Kérastase Symbiose was an incredibly pleasant process of loving my hair and caring for my scalp. I initially thought the process would be more time than I’d want to spend washing my hair, but how my hair looks and feels has changed that mindset. I regret that I didn’t bring two towels to dry my hair in between products since you are to towel dry in between the shampoo and conditioner and again between the conditioner and hair mask. My one-towel experience is courtesy of not reading the directions fully until I was ready to use everything, which leads to a bit of a misunderstanding I had using the exfoliating scrub. The directions simply state, ‘apply to hair,’ so there I was, rubbing it into dry hair before thinking maybe they meant wet hair. It was a quick fix, though, and didn’t steal any of my joy. My only true con is that the serum is in a glass bottle, and I’m very clumsy, so I do worry I might break the bottle.
Overall, this is the best hair care collection for dandruff, especially if you want your wash day to feel like self-care. I was left with a cleansed and moisturized scalp, combable loose curls, and a smile. Even after adding my curl cream and letting my hair airdry, I woke up to the same beautiful look and feel.
Shop Hair.com for the entire Kérastase Symbiose range and more products from the salon-trusted hair care brand. To see these products in action, tune into HDC TV where we host regular livestreams with industry pros.
