Which Kérastase Range Is Right for You? A Stylist's NZ Guide

Kérastase makes a range for almost every hair concern — which is brilliant, until you're standing in front of the wall with no idea which one is yours. Here's how a stylist actually matches you to a range.

The trick with Kérastase is to pick by your main concern, not by the prettiest bottle. Find your line below — and if two apply, go with the more urgent one first.

Match your concern to a range

• Damaged / over-processed / breaking → Résistance. Rebuilds strength for hair that's been through colour and heat. If it's snapping, start here.
• Dry / dehydrated / lacks softness → Nutritive. The everyday nourisher for normal-to-dry hair — softness and slip without weight. (More in our dry-hair guide.)
• Blonde / lightened / brassy → Blond Absolu. Violet-toning to keep blonde cool plus deep repair for lightened hair. Pairs with our brassy-hair fix.
• Thinning / shedding / lacking density → Genesis. Strengthens at the root and reduces breakage-driven loss. (Full Genesis guide.)
• Coloured (not blonde) / colour fading fast → Chroma Absolu. Protects colour vibrancy and seals shine — for brunettes, reds, coppers and fashion colour.
• Oily, sensitive or flaky scalp → Spécifique. Balances the scalp while keeping lengths comfortable.
• Curly / wavy → Curl Manifesto. Feeds and defines curls without weighing them down. (See curly guide.)
• Mature / stressed / wanting a luxe treat → Chronologiste. The regenerating luxury line for hair that needs everything at once.

How to build a routine (not just buy a shampoo)

The bain (shampoo) does the concern-specific work; the fondant/masque locks it in. For most people the sweet spot is: your concern's bain + its matching conditioner + one weekly masque. If you have two concerns — say blonde and damaged — you can mix ranges: Blond Absolu to shampoo, Résistance masque weekly. We do this pairing all the time; just ask.

The two upgrades worth adding

• A heat protectant if you use hot tools (Chroma Thermique or Genesis Défense Thermique).
• Première Décalcifiant if you're on hard water — it stops mineral buildup undoing everything else.

Still not sure?

Bring it to your next appointment — we'll feel your hair and tell you honestly which range earns its place in your shower. Kérastase is salon-only in NZ; here's how to buy genuine Kérastase, or shop the range heroes below.

11% off your first UKIYO order with code WELCOME11. Free NZ shipping over $75. Genuine salon stock, shipped from our Wānaka studio.