In partnership with Kérastase

For the past few decades, skincare has maintained a science-first approach. We know about actives, clinical percentages and collagen degradation. We understand that over time, our barrier function weakens, facial structure slackens, and most importantly, the choices we make early on shape long-term skin health. It was only a matter of time before that same rigour turned its attention to hair. 

This new wave of thinking has been referred to as ‘the skinification of hair’ and we’ve now arrived at a point where haircare brands are thinking less about immediate finish and more about function; they’re focused on holistic hair health over the course of a lifetime. 

It makes sense. Hair health begins with scalp health (it’s an extension of our complexion, after all), while our actual hair fibres are prone to wear, tear, damage and much change over the course of our lives. This includes intrinsic damage (biological ageing) as well as extrinsic factors like colouring and heat styling. Hormonal fluctuations also play a part – pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and menopause especially. 

Underneath this, an emotional element also exists: hair, like skin, is deeply entangled with identity and how we feel about ourselves. A bad hair day is rarely just about hair. A good one can carry you through a week. As we move through life, and as hair genuinely does change – thinning, drying, dulling, shedding, slowing in growth – the need to care for it holistically only gets more important. 

"It's about treating hair with the same level of intention we've started giving our skin," Kirby Lago, founder of Sydney salon Pélo and Kérastase professional ambassador, tells me. "It's not about reaching for one product and hoping for the best. It's understanding the scalp, the hair's needs and taking a long-term approach." 

Typical hair ageing can be linked to several factors, including structural, metabolic, and signaling issues that lead to hair health decline over time. These include things such as epigenetics, scalp microbiome changes, cellular senescence, mitochondrial function, and chronic inflammation that can influence how the hair looks, feels and ages.  

“This reframing is important because it moves away from the idea of singular ‘bad hair days’ and closer to how we think about our skin: damage is cumulative and concerns are worth addressing early rather than reactively.”

Long-term hair longevity involves a combination of working with these biological processes to both prevent damage, and repair what’s already occurred. The Kérastase Chronologiste range works in this way to reverse the visible signs of ageing while also boosting scalp activity, targeting the invisible root causes that compromise strength, shine and resilience. These concepts are not necessarily new, but they are being better understood by consumers. 

"The first thing clients tend to notice is texture,” Lago tells me. “Hair that used to feel thick starts to feel finer; the ponytail is not quite as full, and it does not hold a style the way it used to. Colour can start to grab differently or fade faster. And a lot of it actually shows at the scalp first – dryness or sensitivity people did not have before." 

"From what I see in the chair, it is all three working together," Lago further explains. "The scalp changes as we get older, the follicle can start producing finer hair over time, and then you layer years of colour, heat and lifestyle on top of that. Hair ageing is never just one thing… it's the scalp and the hair both changing while external damage adds up." 

This has triggered a genuine shift in priorities when it comes to what people expect from their haircare, and according to Lago it's noticeable in her salon. "It has happened quite quickly," she says of the shift in her own clients. "They will ask what a treatment is actually doing, rather than just wanting it to feel or look nice. It has made consultations so much richer, because people genuinely want to understand their hair now, not just leave with a colour." Again, it relates to a deepened understanding that our hair benefits from holistic care. “Once someone understands their skin, they can’t un-see that their hair deserves the same treatment,” Lago adds. 

This reframing is important because it moves away from the idea of singular ‘bad hair days’ and closer to how we think about our skin: damage is cumulative and concerns are worth addressing early rather than reactively. And for so long, people have approached hair through a cycle of damage and emergency repair. "Preventative haircare to me is looking after the scalp before there is a problem, being clever with heat and colour, and staying consistent with the right care at home," says Lago. "It's so much easier to protect good hair than to rescue hair that's already struggling." 

It's this exact philosophy that drew Lago to Kérastase Chronologiste when the range first crossed her chair. "It fit straight into how I already think about hair, which is exactly why I loved it," she tells me. "I've always talked to my clients about the scalp and about the long game rather than quick fixes, so a range built around hair longevity made complete sense to me. My first impression was that it treats the hair like it matters over time, not just for one wash or one appointment." 

Central to Chronologiste is the ethos that our scalp and hair strands are a single connected system. It's a shift Lago describes as one of the more clarifying moments in how she now talks to clients about ageing hair. "The scalp is where the hair actually begins, so it makes sense to look at the health of both together. If the scalp isn't healthy, the hair coming through is never going to be at its best. Treating them as one ecosystem means you're caring for the source, not just the lengths, and that's what supports the hair over the long term." 

Chronologiste works by focusing on the hair’s internal structure, specifically the fibre and the root. The formulas include two hero ingredients – or a duo called the caviar of longevity: Pro Xylane and Ochrophyta Algae. These work to support the hair’s internal structure, enhancing scalp health while creating an environment where hair is able to regenerate and flourish. Interestingly, our hair follicles aren't infinite; it's believed that each only has, on average, 25 growth cycles per lifetime. Chronologiste protects and strengthens these follicles, so the health span of the 25 cycles is as long as possible. Within the range, there's a regenerative shampoo, mask, oil, and serum. 

For Lago, the range didn't introduce a new idea so much as provide an effective solution for real problems. "It's actually how I've always approached my consultations, so Chronologiste simply gave me the products and technology to support a philosophy I already believe in." In-salon, that philosophy is backed by tools like Kérastase's K-Scan, which lets stylists examine the scalp closely and personalise recommendations accordingly (think of it as the haircare equivalent of a skin diagnostic). 

“If the scalp isn't healthy, the hair coming through is never going to be at its best. Treating them as one ecosystem means you're caring for the source, not just the lengths, and that's what supports the hair over the long term."

At-home hair care forms the foundations for healthy strands, but it doesn’t work in isolation. Salon appointments and lifestyle choices also carry a huge impact. "I always tell clients it's a partnership," Lago says. "I can do beautiful work in the chair, but I have them for a couple of hours every six or eight weeks, and they have their hair every single day. So realistically, the home routine matters just as much, sometimes more. My job is to set them up properly and make the part they do at home simple enough that they will actually keep it up." 

And like skincare, it’s the same fundamentals that underpin long-term hair health. "It's often the simple things we already know are good for us: sleep, hydration and managing stress. Protecting your hair from the sun, limiting heat styling and looking after your scalp all make a difference too. Diet plays a role as well, as hair can be one of the first places to show when something is out of balance. It doesn't need to be a complete overhaul – small, consistent habits really do add up over time." 

On styling, her advice is similarly restrained. "Heat is the big one. Always use protection, work at a lower temperature than you think you need, and give your hair days off where you can. Be gentle when it's wet, because that's when it's most fragile. And honestly, embrace your natural texture a little more. The less we fight and overwork the hair to create a look, the healthier it stays." 

This shift is an important one, and brands like Kérastase are doing the work when it comes to putting out formulas that are science-backed and proven to be efficacious, while also focusing on education (another important aspect). Our hair can be so integral to our identity and sense of self; it can be a shield, a statement, a nod to our background, culture, or personal style. Concerns like thinning, shedding, breakage, dullness or slowed growth shouldn’t be overlooked as frivolous. And more importantly, they shouldn’t be something we are just expected to accept. With proper care, our hair can remain vibrant, full, and healthy for most of our lives – it just needs the right products, environment and care to thrive. 

Find out more about the Kérastase Chronologiste range on the Kérastase website.