We all know that French girls have that special je ne sais quoi (so much so that it’s inspired countless essays on this very site). When it comes to their hair, the style is nonchalant—and yet, somehow also skillfully cultivated. It’s hair that’s air-dries, falls just right, and retains that slightly tousled movement that gives no hint of effort or styling. So how exactly do Jeanne Damas, Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, and more do it?
Hairstylist and French girl herself Daphné Narcy has an idea: It all starts how you wash your hair. “You may be damaging your hair without even realizing it while in the shower,” Narcy says. “When you’re hair is wet, it’s at its most fragile. But habits like washing hair too quickly, scrubbing too hard, or using water that’s too hot may be causing breakage and frizz.”
She offers up eight simple shower-time adjustments to turn your hair into a French girl dream.
Focus on the scalp
The first—and by far the most common—mistake: People wash their hair instead of their scalp. “We rub the lengths against each other, which damages them, and we neglect the roots, where sebum, pollution, and residue accumulate,” says Narcy. Her philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: A healthy scalp is the foundation of healthy hair. It’s also what determines how light the roots feel once the hair is dry.
Water temperature should be exactly this
The heat from a scalding shower lifts the hair cuticle, which can be bad for shine. “The hair loses moisture, becomes more porous and duller, and the color fades faster,” Narcy says. Hot water hurts the scalp, too, making it drier and more irritated. “Water that’s too hot also softens the hair follicles, which can lead to hair loss.” Your new rule of thumb here is disarmingly simple: “If the water feels pleasant on your wrist, without feeling hot, it’s the right temperature for your hair.”
