VS’is an institution. An address handed down from generation to generation to treat damaged hair and scalps. A safe bet so essential that one hardly dares to sing its praises (again). And yet.
Installed on the first floor of a building on rue Tronchet, between the Madeleine and the department stores, the institute has lost none of its old-fashioned charm. The welcome is warm, personalized, almost family. Some of the practitioners have worked for the brand for more than twenty years, and if the Greyl couple are no longer there to monitor the procession of customers, the relay is provided by their daughter, Caroline, who runs the house while her husband, a chemist by training (like Mr. Greyl!), improves the formulas.
READ ALSOParis here and there – The big bath
Magnifiers and suction cups
It all starts with a diagnosis. Head to the treatment room where a magnifying glass (x30) and connected to a screen allows you to closely observe the quality of the scalp, the bulb and the lengths. After a few freeze frames comes the moment of confessions: frequency of washing, nature and needs of the hair, styling routines… Everything is scrutinized. It is clear that the most frequent gestures – and therefore impacting – on the quality of the mane are not always well practiced. But good news, the art of moisturizing, rubbing and shampooing correctly has been passed down here for more than 50 years. During the explanations, the practitioner hydrates the lengths with the famous house oil. Its formula composed of 97% vegetable oils of palm, coconut and mongongo, with highly nourishing and regenerating properties, acts as a protective sheath around hair abused by aggressions of all kinds. “In summer, its waterproof texture fights against the aggressions of salt and chlorine… In winter, it is used as a firewall against repeated brushings and to protect against colourings”, recall the hairdressers.
Then comes the time of the care ritual, prepared before our eyes, with natural products, mainly freeze-dried plants. It is then applied with a brush to the scalp. Then we let it sit for a relaxing moment, under a steam helmet. This allows the products to penetrate deep into the hair. A massage of the neck, trapezius muscles and hands completes the feeling of relaxation. After a few minutes, it’s time to rinse and move on to the most invigorating step of the protocol: suction cups that activate microcirculation and ultimately hair regrowth. Final step: drying and styling. The result is final. The scalp observed under a magnifying glass has changed color, soothed by the right treatments, as have the lengths, which are more supple and shinier. Should we go there? Yes, without hesitation.
Leonor Greyl Institute. 15, rue Tronchet, Paris 8e. €100 per session for short hair, €120 for mid-length hair and from €140 for long hair. www.leonorgreyl.com