Introduction to Hair Care with Dr Naomi Boulay Pesenti
In our ongoing exploration of the most effective solutions for more beautiful, longer and stronger hair, we had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Naomi Boulay Pesenti, Doctor of Pharmacy and hair care expert.
Dr. Blay sheds new light on how Madame la Présidente diverse product lines meet the needs of all hair types.
In this exclusive exchange, she gives us her valuable advice and her expert approach to maintaining splendid, healthy hair.
Understanding Your Hair Type
My expertise was born from the desire, when I was younger, to take care of my natural hair. Indeed, as a mixed-race French-Congolese, my hair is curly and like many middle school or high school girls, I straightened and smoothed my hair regularly. So I had to learn to accept it but above all to enhance it naturally. To do this, I had to understand:
- my hair's needs and the duality between nourishing and moisturizing it
- the porosity of my hair to select treatments with suitable textures
- the different stages of care to successfully define my curls
Subsequently, I wanted to enrich my knowledge in order to be an expert in hair problems such as hair loss, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. To do this, I completed internships with dermatologists in Martinique and Senegal in order to be trained on all hair types. As a Doctor of Pharmacy, I also have expertise in micronutrition in order to help the patient select the shampoo or food supplement best suited to their needs.
My goals today, as a pharmacist and hair expert, are to support patients in choosing their hair routine but also to help them treat their condition with first aid care or follow-up drug treatments.
Hair loss and hair care
Hair loss is one of the main hair problems encountered in pharmacies. It is important to understand that hair growth, breakage and hair loss are linked to various internal and external aggressions. It is therefore important, as a pharmacist, to ask the patient about the following elements in order to provide them with complete support for their hair goal:
- Health status : It is always interesting for hair growth purposes to carry out a biological assessment (iron, zinc, folic acid or vitamin B9, etc.) and hormonal assessment (estrogen and androgen). This allows us to highlight any possible hormonal deficiency or imbalance.
- Stress level : Stress impacts the hair cycle and promotes hair loss. It also influences the appearance of inflammatory hair problems. It is therefore essential to limit periods of high stress or being in chronic (daily) stress
- Balanced diet : diet is essential because it provides the nutrients necessary for your hair to grow through the bloodstream. It is recommended to favor foods rich in protein, iron, vitamins or even omega-3.
- Use of suitable hair care products: It is best to limit hair care products containing active ingredients such as sulfates, silicones and parabens.
- Limit mechanical or thermal aggressions: To maximize a growth objective, it is recommended to limit hairstyles with significant traction force and repeated heat sources.
It is from this investigation that I can share expert advice on hair growth. It will consist of hygiene and dietary advice adapted to the patient's life context and the presentation of an IN & OUT hair routine (a hair food supplement and a growth serum).
Here are my 3 tips for getting more beautiful but also stronger hair.
Adopt an IN & OUT routine
Having an "IN & OUT" hair routine means taking care of your hair both from the inside (with a balanced diet and food supplements if necessary) and from the outside (with appropriate hair care). This complete approach contributes to a better synergy of active ingredients thanks to a dual internal and external action on the scalp. In the case of hair loss for example, the active ingredients present in food supplements and cosmetic care will act simultaneously and in a complementary manner on blood circulation but also on the formation and strengthening of the hair fiber.
Choose chemical-free care
In this quest for hydrated, nourished, shiny and perfectly defined hair, it can be difficult to select the brand or treatment that is adapted to the needs and types of our hair. Among the selection criteria, the naturalness of hair care is important. A natural product is defined by active ingredients from plant extracts, organic ingredients or vegetable oils. Its formulation must not contain chemical substances such as sulfates, parabens, silicones or certain preservatives that can be irritating and harmful to the health of the scalp and your hair.
It is also best to limit mineral oils from the petroleum industry (paraffin, vaseline) because they suffocate the scalp and hair fiber. In addition, they have very few nutrients that are beneficial for hair, such as essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants. Furthermore, the presence of these non-natural active ingredients can be the source of allergy.
The choice of quality care is one of the main reasons why I am particularly fond of Madame la Présidente. Their formulas are at least 95% natural ingredients and demonstrate the absence of harmful active ingredients through logos. I appreciate their transparency towards consumers .
Incorporate a hair massage ritual into your routine
Consider applying hair care while performing a scalp massage might seem like a harmless and meaningful gesture! Hair massage has been known for thousands of years through traditional Chinese and Indian medicines. It stimulates blood circulation, which increases the supply of essential nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles.
It also has a relaxing and soothing effect as it reduces stress and tension accumulated in the scalp and facial muscles. Finally, among its many other actions, it also helps improve the absorption of hair products. To maximize this, I recommend applying them in sections on the hair and scalp
How do Madame la Présidente products specifically work to stop hair loss and stimulate hair growth?
To stop hair loss and stimulate hair growth, it is at the level of the anagen phase of the hair cycle that we must be particularly attentive. This is the growth phase of the hair. It is through this that the hair follicle regenerates and draws from the bloodstream all the nutrients essential for the formation of the hair shaft. Lasting between two and five years, it is the longest phase of the cycle and constitutes more than 80% of the hair.
I appreciate the work of Madame la Présidente research and development team, which, beyond the naturalness of their formulas, offers us for each of their treatments, compositions with a synergy of active ingredients known for their effectiveness. Their expertise is more advanced in the field of hair growth and fortification.
In fact, Ginkgo Biloba is an active ingredient present in their exclusive complex: Capillum Fortis. It is known for its veinotonic action (action that improves the tone of the venous walls) which activates blood microcirculation and thus the supply of nutrients to the hair bulb.
For a better synergy of action, food supplements also contain nutrients essential for hair growth. Their main action is to participate in the constitution of the hair fiber. This is composed of more than 95% keratin. This protein is naturally made from various minerals such as copper, zinc, calcium and iron but also amino acids including cysteine and methionine. This is why minerals and amino acids are mainly included in the formulation of care.
For hair fortification and density, collagen has demonstrated its effectiveness on the length and thickness of hair. Biotin is a key active ingredient in the composition of Madame la Présidente's food supplements. Also known as vitamin B8, it is naturally present in our body and plays a key role in the metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids. It therefore actively participates in the synthesis of keratin.
Finally, Madame la présidente products are also interesting because they act on actions complementary to hair growth. For example, the intake of zinc, vitamins A, C or E induces an anti-oxidant action. This will limit the impacts of oxidative stress which are defined in particular by the fragility of the hair and the accentuation of hair loss. In addition, to reduce the hormonal impact, using an ingredient like nettle is very judicious because of its inhibitory effect on alpha reductase. Alpha reductase is an enzyme that plays a key role in the metabolism of hormones. Nettle helps to reduce the activity of this enzyme, thus reducing the harmful effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can contribute to hormonal hair loss. DHT is a form of testosterone which, when present in large quantities, can accelerate hair loss.
What advice would you give for incorporating Madame la Présidente products into a daily hair routine to maximize their benefits?
The most important thing when it comes to hair care is compliance. It refers to a person's ability to follow the instructions for using the supplement as advised, particularly regarding dosage, frequency and duration of treatment.
To understand, it is not a question here of questioning the targeted action of the food supplement that we wish to take but rather on the form in which it is presented. This can be a tablet, a capsule, a gummies or even an ampoule in the context of food supplements. Its choice strongly impacts the observance of the treatment and thus its effectiveness for the intended objective: strength, growth, anti-hair loss action, volume or density.
If there is no difficulty in swallowing a tablet every day, I could easily go for Resolution #1, Strength and Growth or Volume and Density. However, if this proves to be challenging, it is better to go for a gummy form. Hair gummies such as Hair Boost have a relevant formula and a red fruit flavor that makes it easier to take on a daily basis.
As a hair care expert, why do you recommend a Madame la Présidente routine over another brand?
There are indeed many other hair brands on the market. I select the brands I work with according to different criteria.
From an ethical point of view, it is important for me, as a Doctor of Pharmacy but also a patient with textured hair, to feel considered through the history of the brand and respected by its values. The slogan: “Today, more than ever, we are all Presidents!” allows me to feel understood and thus to be particularly interested in the Madame la Présidente brand. Of course, I also analyze the composition of the ingredients of the products, the naturalness of the formulations and their effectiveness through clinical studies. It is through these elements that I can support my scientific discourse and reassure the patient about the desired future results.
Furthermore, I also enjoy reading consumer reviews, observing their hair developments through photos and videos and finally, attesting to the brand's reputation thanks to the numerous awards received with the Victoires de la Beauté
It is for each of these elements that I recommend Madam President rather than another brand.
Focus on the three products elected Victoires de la Beauté
Resolution #1, the most complete tablet on the market
Resolution No. 1, formulated in the laboratory, it contains in particular a complex of vitamin B, stinging nettle leaf extract, MSM (Methyl Sulphonyl Methane) and marine collagen. Thanks to its composition, Resolution No. 1 of Madame la Présidente: strengthens the hair, stimulates growth, stops hair loss, makes hair healthier and less brittle. Suitable for all hair types (straight, wavy, curly, frizzy, kinky), it is the food supplement you need to boost growth and strengthen hair.
Resolution n°4 Elixir Booster, the solution for baby hair
Resolution No. 4, thanks to its composition and mainly the Capillum Fortis anchors the hair bulb, promotes growth, influences blood microcirculation. The booster elixir brings more density to the hair. Suitable for all hair types, its practical format allows precise targeting of the areas to be treated.
Resolution No. 6 Hair Mask, the 3-in-1 treatment for distressed hair
Resolution No. 6 , is a nourishing mask designed to bring shine and hydration to the hair. It is a deep and revitalizing treatment that protects and repairs the hair from the roots to the ends. It is gentle and specially formulated for brittle, dry and or damaged hair.
Its rich and creamy formula contains natural ingredients (cinnamon, ginkgo biloba and kigelia) to strengthen hair. In addition, its velvety texture allows easy application and rinsing. It is suitable for all hair types: straight, wavy, curly, frizzy and kinky. Your hair will be soft, shiny and healthy!
