Do you really need perfume for your hair?
WHEN it comes to refreshing hair between washes, there is only so much dry shampoo you can use before your strands end up being on the chalky side.
So for an emergency revival, could a spritz of hair perfume be the answer? On the face of it, maybe not. If you’ve skipped a shampoo, you’re more likely to worry about frizz or greasy roots than whether your hair smells.
Yet unlike your regular eau de toilette — which would leave your locks dry due to the high alcohol content — a new crop of hair perfumes claim to contain nourishing ingredients to lightly condition hair, tame frizz and leave you smelling shower fresh.
They’re gaining traction, with millions of views on the hashtag #hairperfume on TikTok. Luxury haircare brand Gisou is a favourite; videos of their original hair perfume have 348 million views.
So are they worth all the fuss? Here, BETHAN KING puts them to the test . . .
TIKTOK’S TOP CHOICE
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume Floral Edition — Wild Rose, €40 for 50ml, brownthomas.com (second left) I’M SCEPTICAL of viral trends, so was pleasantly surprised to discover this rosy hair fragrance not only smelled gorgeous and lasted well, it left my hair feeling silky, too. Apparently, it’s all down to the honey-based formula, which acts as a natural humectant, attracting moisture to the hair.
4/5
BUDGET BUY
Moroccanoil Brumes du Maroc Fragrance Mist, €26.85, millies.ie LIGHTLY fragranced with the same signature scent with notes of amber as Moroccanoil’s haircare range, this perfume lasted well.
Laced with hydrating argan oil and vitamin E, it tamed flyaways and added softness to the ends of my hair, without making it greasy.
3/5
PRICEY PERFUME
Diptyque Fleur de Peau Hair Mist, €58 for 30ml, brown thomas.com (second from right) THIS hair mist is designed to be layered with Diptyque’s eau de parfum and body products by the same name. So it’s probably for that reason that the fragrance is quite subtle — it reminded me of cotton sheets and didn’t overpower my existing perfume.
But it doesn’t have much staying power and required top-ups throughout the day, worth considering as there’s only 30ml in a bottle. 2/5
LUXURY OPTION
Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Hair Mist, €52 for 30ml, jomalone.eu (right) THIS smells as luxe as it looks. The fragrance is sophisticated and fresh, without being overpowering. Added ingredients provitamin B5 and argan oil claim to condition and add shine to hair, too. While I didn’t notice much difference to the softness of my hair, this smelled good enough to wear without my usual perfume.
4/5
CRAFTED FOR CURLS Ruka Hair Perfume, €32.99 for 50ml, rukahair.com
CREATED for Afro hair, this perfume is designed to scent, define curls and nourish hair. It smells like summer in a bottle — think coconuts and sun lotion.
It’s designed to hydrate as well as scent, with vitamin E and omega-6 oils to add a protective film over hair. Since this perfume is designed to be re-applied during the day to keep curls looking fresh, the fragrance is light.
3/5
STAYING POWER
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 40 Hair & Body Fragrance Mist, €20.45 for 90ml, lookfantastic.ie (top left) ON FIRST spritz, the heady blend of black amber and vanilla woods is quite sweet, but I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly this mellowed to freshen my hair. The 90ml bottle is great value and the scent has serious staying power; it lingered the following morning.