Leonor Greyl's Huile De Palme - Tips For Maximum Benefit

When I started HairBoutique back in 1996-1997 I promised myself I would continue to try all the products that HairBoutique.com sells in their Renee Rivera.  With that promise in mind I recently did some user testing of Leonor Greyl's fabulous Huile De Palme.

(Image of Leonor Greyl's  Huile De Palme - Courtesy of HairBoutique.com and Leonor Greyl - All Rights Reserved).

HairBoutique.com has been carrying the complete Leonor Greyl line for some years now but I tend to get lazy and not want to swap out from my regulars that I have been rotating through for many years which are cherry picked from Phyto, Rene Furterer, JF Lazartique, Paul Mitchell and L'Oreal.

Yes, there is a recession right now and I am watching my pennies like almost everyone else but because my own hair is naturally wavy/curly and naturally dry, I have been diluting or Conditioning Only (CO) washing my hair for many years now.

I also do regular oil treatments but when one of my faves was discontinued I decided to create my own - HairTopia oil - which I used on a daily basis alternating the oil with the mist.  I love jojoba oil for my hair but it is not for all hair types and textures.

Which brings me to the Leonor Greyl Huile De Palme.  I love all the Leonor Greyl packaging because it is clean and pristine.  Even before Gwen Stefani the No Doubt group made Leonor Greyl product line their hair care of choice for their 2009-2010 concert tour, I loved the company, their customer care and the results the product delivers.

The Huile De Palme has the same great packaging and it has the same great aroma of all the other Leonor Greyl products.  However, this product is best suited for hair like mine which is naturally wavy/curly and tends to be dry.  I would not recommend this product for anyone with fine/thin hair since it might be overly moisturizing.

What Is Huile De Palme?

Huile De Palme is a beautifying oil which helps to detangle, soften and protect dry tresses, lengths and ends. A pre-shampoo treatment, this famous hair pre-treatment is formulated with botanical oils that help nourish strands.  This product is designed to be used specifically for dry, very dry or damage hair.  However, it can also be used on all hair types if the product is distributed appropriately.

For example, someone with fine/thin strands might use this product but only for specific areas of dry or damaged hair.

This product should never be applied directly to the scalp or the roots unless specifically recommended by a professional hairdresser or in other unique circumstance.

This product is very effective at providing protection against the damaging effects of sun, seawater and chlorinated pool water. It's the perfect blend to protect and restore damaged length and ends as well as your color.

Other benefits include:

Waterproof

While swimming the hair is protected from contact with water to a temperature of about 77°F. Thus Huile De Palme stays on the hair in low water temperature.

Prevents Dryness

Water moisturizes keratin, sun strips natural moisture.  Hair becomes dry, dull and split ends appear.

Regenerates And Softens

The oils formulated in this product have been selected for their softening and regenerating properties. Before shampoo it detangles and softens the hair. Combined with "Creme aux Fleurs", this oil can be used as a conditioning treatment to restore health to the most damaged hair.

How To Use

Pour a small amount (dime size or smaller) into your hands. Using your fingers brush through your dry length and ends. For optimal distribution, brush hair with a 100% all natural boar bristle brush (Mason Pearson, Kent).

Use more oil if needed.

Leave oil on your hair for up to 10 minutes or all night for a deep conditioning treatment.

Wash out with a shampoo or treatment suitable for your hair type.

This oil prolongs the life of your color and provides superior protection against the damaging effects of sun, seawater and chlorinated pool water. Reapply after three or four immersions in water.

Huile De Palme Removal Tips

Even with Huile De Palme I would not recommend this product be combined with a highly moisturizing shampoo, rinse-out or leave-in conditioner.  Why?  Huile De Palme is very moisturizing.  If you combine the fabulous Huile De Palme with conditioning shampoo without diluting or do a CO wash where you cleanse with moisturizing conditioners you may find too much moisture.

Yes, too much moisture can definitely be a bad thing, especially for some hair types.  Even mine, which tends to be dry, dry, dry from the shape of the cuticle and the fact I have quarterly highlights applied by my hair colorist Rose Zuniga.

My Own Secret Results

My best success with the Huile De Palme came when I applied it from the ears down to the ends, which special attention placed on those dry ends.  I allowed the Huile De Palme to soak into my hair for 30 minutes while I removed nail polish, did my Karin Herzog facial scrub duties and did the loofah trick all over my body.

I applied a diluted amount of shampoo directly onto my Huile De Palme treated hair without first wetting it.  This is key to cut the oil.  I let the diluted suds gently roll down through the oiled strands and patted them through the tresses.  This breaks up the oil for easy removal.

Once the diluted shampoo had been completely patted through my oiled tresses I turned on lukewarm water and rinsed really well.  At this point after the diluted formula was removed I finished with a cool/cold water rinse.  I towel blotted my tresses and then applied my favorite Phyto 9 to the ends and the dry middle.  But just a little bit.

Wet Bunning & Air Drying

I also applied a little of my favorite Rene Furterer leave-in and detangled slowly from the ends up with my Mason Pearson detangling comb.  I wrapped my hair into a wet bun and let it air dry.

The results were fabulous. When my hair was completely dry I unpinned it and have soft waves without a hint of dry ends or tresses anywhere.

I believe the biggest confusion surrounding using a product like Huile De Palme is combining it with heavy moisturizing shampoo or other products.  However, I do not recommend using a clarifying shampoo with Huile De Palme because it can remove all the great oil you just added to your tresses.  I strongly recommend a dilution cleanse.

How To Dilute Shampoo

My own dilution recipe is 1/8 (use more or less shampoo and/or water depending on your hair type, texture, length and condition) teaspoon to 1 quart of lukewarm water and shaken to form a sudsy mix.  My own hair is a few inches below my waist and is medium thick with natural S waves and curls near the nape of the neck.  Depending on which expert you talk to my hair would fall into the 2B/2C/3B categories.

Huile De Palme Recommendation

Do I recommend Leonor Greyl's Huile De Palme oil?  Yes, for the right type, texture and condition of hair.    I actually like the Leonor Greyl line of hair care.  I think it provides a great value for the money.

Note: This product can be used by men, women, teens, tweens of all races and ages.  This product works very well for smoothing the dry strands which can accompany grey tresses.

How to finish up Leonor Greyl Huile De Palme.  Why not show off those gorgeous shiny tresses with a lush hair accessory.  Don't ask me my favorite brands.  HairBoutique.com has been providing luxury hair accessories for over 10 years nonstop on the Web.  However, I do love Jennifer Behr, Renee Rivera, Susan Daniels, Linda Levinson and Tarina Tarantino.  I actually wear hair accessories from all of these great designers (all of whom I have personally met and spoken with).

More Information

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