If you’re a NUXE enthusiast, you’ll likely be familiar with Hair Prodigieux, the renowned hair care range known for its use of fermented pink camellia oil.
This range made such a significant impact that within the second year of its launch, it was already ranking among the top ten hair care brands in Europe – no small feat!
But it’s not just the Europeans that love Hair Prodigieux; South Africans have taken to the collection too, and now, NUXE has expanded the range with the launch of two new products: LE BAUME Intensive Repair Hair Mask and LE LAIT Detangling Leave-In Hair Milk.
Our editor has been putting these two new products, along with the rest of the Hair Prodigieux range, to the test:
“Whenever someone asks me for a hair care recommendation for dry, dull or damaged hair, Hair Prodigieux always comes to mind. Whether you battle with split ends, breakage, dehydration or lacklustre hair, this botanical oil-inspired range offers a solution that’s as kind on your hair as it is on the environment.
The key ingredient is pink camellia oil, a centuries-old ingredient obtained by cold-pressing Camellia Japonica seeds. Known for its ability to repair and protect, pink camellia oil’s nourishing benefits are boosted by the process of fermentation, which was not only discovered by NUXE, but this process is also now patented and exclusive to Hair Prodigieux.
With the recent addition of the luxurious Repair Mask and Leave-In Milk, the range has grown to six phenomenal hair care products. I was really excited to put the new launches to the test, but did not try them in isolation – this was a lovely opportunity for me to use the entire Hair Prodigieux range again.
The first step is the Pre-Shampoo Nourishing Mask, which is a luxurious oil treatment applied to dry hair about 10 to 30 minutes before shampooing. Its blend of nourishing oils repairs and protects the hair fibre, leaving it soft and silky. You may have already guessed it, but this oil has the most incredible fragrance, a signature scent that’s prevalent in all other products in the range. I have an oily scalp, so I don’t apply this to my roots. Instead, I massage a couple of pumps into my lengths and ends, and leave it on for around 15 minutes before I get into the shower.
Next up, I cleanse using the High Shine Shampoo, which is sulphate-free and contains four natural surfactants to remove impurities without causing irritation. It has a luxurious consistency and doesn’t cause any drying; in fact, it adds moisture to my hair.
The High Shine Conditioner has a thick, balmy texture and is free from silicones. It is enriched with Panthenol (provitamin B5) to strengthen hair and leave it feeling silky. If you have an oily scalp, I’d recommend only applying this to your lengths and ends, as it is very, very nourishing. When I rinse it off, my hair feels noticeably softer and silkier.
At this stage of the hair care routine, you have a couple of options regarding which leave-in product to use next. If your hair is normal to dry, you can apply the Intense Nourishing Leave-In Cream, a repairing concentrate enriched with quinoa extract. You need one drop to spread over your lengths and ends for brilliant shine and easier styling.
If your hair is on the finer side, then the new Detangling Leave-In Hair Milk is the perfect last step in your routine. This milky mist feels lightweight and does not weigh hair down. Just a few spritzes on towel-dried hair offers effective detangling, added softness and additional shine. I love this new addition to the range. While my hair looks thick (because I have a lot of it!), my strands are actually fine and easily get weighed down. This is light and effective and smells heavenly. Sometimes I’ll spray a little into the palm of my hands, rub it together and gently pat it on my dry hair as a serum or finishing product. It also goes a long way, as the nozzle disperses a fine mist that ensures you don’t waste any product.
The other new addition, the Intensive Repair Hair Mask, can be used in place of your conditioner as often as required. I use mine once a week. After shampooing and rinsing, I take a dollop of the mask and massage it into my lengths and ends. Again, this is a very nourishing formula, so don’t apply it to your scalp if you get oily roots. It has a lovely, rich texture thanks to the addition of shea butter, which gives it a melting butter feel. Despite the luxurious consistency, it rinses out easily (you only need to leave it on for 3 minutes – how convenient!) and once it’s rinsed, your hair does not feel heavy or oily. In my opinion, this is probably the most nourishing product in the range, and does wonders in restoring dryness and weak or brittle hair. With regular use, it also restores the hair’s elasticity, making it more resilient to damage.
The whole collection is fragranced with notes of orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla, an intoxicating blend that lingers into the next day. Like all NUXE products, Hair Prodigieux is cruelty-free and has a clean formula free from potentially harmful ingredients (and the majority of the ingredients used are derived from natural-origin).
If you’re already a Hair Prodigieux fan, you have to try the two new products as they’re the perfect complement to your existing regimen. If you’re new to Hair Prodigieux, I hope this article gives you some insights into the products and what you can expect from them. It’s been a real treat using the range again, and for me, the new products are like the cherry on the cake – they round the collection off beautifully.” Anien – Editor
NUXE Hair Prodigieux is available from select Woolworths, Truworths & Foschini stores and online from Superbalist and Orleans Cosmetics.
