Phyto • Huile De Ales • Treatments

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reveriex on 10/16/2012 10:30:00 AM more reviews by reveriex

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Other, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Other    

This product didn't work for me as a conditioning treatment, so I can't recommend it for that. **However, I DID follow the instructions to add it to my hair prior to color, and that absolutely made my hair more shiny and soft!! Wow!


Also, I had no problem with the glass vials.. I lived in France for a time, and got used to their "ampoules," where you break one side, tip the ampoule over the mouth of the container you wish to fill, and then break the top side, to commence the flow. The liquid only flows when both tips are broken, not with one. They use this packaging a lot - I, personally, think it's a great way to preserve natural ingredients (no risk of air exposure = no degradation) in addition to being cost-effective **and** green (no plastic taking up the landfills). I have no problem breaking the ampoules with my bare hands. Practice does make perfect in this instance..

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ktex on 4/8/2012 10:06:00 AM more reviews by ktex

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I found this treatment to work so well for my coarse dry hair. I have medium length hair which I color and blow dry straight, and as a result I often have dry hair which can get really frizzy on the top layers. This treatment totally eliminates the frizz and gives my hair incredible shine.

Like others, I did my own thing and did not follow the directions. I sprayed on my dry hair, put on a shower cap, wrapped my hair in a towel and left it in for a little over an hour. When I shampooed my hair I did a light shampoo and then rinsed and shampooed again. I followed with a hydrating conditioner and styled as usual. Amazing results for me. I use this every week or two -- it is an expensive luxury for sure.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lindsayloohoo on 8/15/2011 11:20:00 AM more reviews by lindsayloohoo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I actually liked this product. I have a lot of fine, wavy hair that is completely natural - no colour. My hair is normal, with dry ends (it's long - halfway down my back or a bit passed my bra strap) that can get oily near the roots. I only shampoo my hair about twice a week max. (less if I can get away with it). I don't use a lot of hair product on a daily basis (no heat styling) because I haaaate the feel of build up in my fine hair, and I don't like to shampoo it too much. Given the nature of my hair (no colouring), I need hydrating products that lack the proteins found in colour-treated hair products since these can dry out my hair more if used with reckless abandon. This piece of info is essential for knowing what hair products are right for you!


I regularly use oils in my hair. I have a spray bottle with jojoba, hazelnut, grapeseed, and sweet almond oils, also supplemented with panthenol and olive oil squalane. I add this to conditioners, use it as a pre-wash scalp/dry end treatment, etc. This Phyto treatment does give me better results than these oils do by themselves. I've tried each by themselves, but prefer to use them in conjunction with one another (mostly because my hair is long, I feel like I get more coverage).


Usage: It is not cosmetically elegant in the least. It comes in glass vials. I snap off one end in a towel, then snap the other end (in towel). With my finger held over one end, the product doesn't leak out the other side. The ends can be sharp. You transfer the vial into a spray tube that comes with the packaging, and spray throughout hair. If your hair isn't particlarly long, you can get two uses out of one vial. I usually use the whole vial for one use. This stuff also stinks. It smells medicinal, which is the eucalyptus I think. That smell can linger a bit in the hair. I don't mind it TOO much, but I can see it being a dealbreaker for some.


I apply this to dry hair before I wash/condition my hair. I've tried following the directions, but my best results were doing my own thing. I use this treatment, put on a shower cap, use my hair dryer with a diffuser (low heat) over that for at least 10 minutes. IF I'm time-crunched, I'll wait for my hair to completely cool down on its own (not using cool setting on dryer) before I wash. My preferred application (and the only way I do it now that I get the best results this way) is to sleep overnight and wash in the morning. At the very least, I've always left this treatment sit for at least twice the suggested time, but I do this with all treatments of the hydrating variety. With oils, my best results are always with an overnight treatment. Sometimes in the morning I'll wet my hair a bit and add a hydrating mask over this, repeat the shower cap/blow dryer with diffuser combo, and then wash. This overnight method also makes the hair more stinky (that medicinal thing it's got going), which sucks. I usually shampoo TWICE after this treatment, especially if left on overnight.


This will not make your hair feel nice during, or immediately after application (while hair is wet). After shampooing, hair can feel a bit tangled (typical with oils, I find). I use a moisturizing (not protein) deep conditioner, and add a leave-in treatment after use. Since this stuff is more expensive (+$6 per vial CAD), I tend to use it only once a month for an extra pick-me-up. With the overnight method I feel it's better worth the money.


Results: My hair is particularly shiny, soft, and volumized. I love the volumizing effect (actually I love the whole effect haha). Depending on your preferences and how you style your hair (I use some product, air-dry, and go with a natural wave/curl day-to-day to reduce heat damage), you may or may not like this. I find my hair is softer, which can equal enhanced unmanageability without the aid of extra product (especially if you have frizz problems). Think - waaaay opposite of dirty hair. You'd have to really 'dirty' your hair to hold a style (if opposite from natural state of hair). For me - if straightening, the effect is lovely. Volumized, soft, shiny, sleek hair. My hair holds a curl quite well, and though I've never tried, I think I'd have to use extra product to keep the curl if I tried curling after this treatment - I think it would fall more easily. I get a super lovely natural curl when air-drying after this treatment (with help from extra products like mousse to control the softness). My hair lasts longer between shampoos after using this.


I do not experience any frizz after using this product, even though I find my hair feels much softer.


I get better results from this than from a natural oil mixture. It's expensive for what it is and annoying to apply. I do always notice a difference after using this - which I can't say about every treatment/deep conditioner. For that, I will repurchase but only to use sparingly. I went through my last 5 ampoules and haven't repurchased for about a year, but I will repurchase since my hair needs some TLC (July-September are always hardest on my hair for breakage, split ends, etc. over any other time of year).

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ukskincareguy on 12/12/2010 2:53:00 PM more reviews by ukskincareguy

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This is a great oil for colored hair. I use it the day before I henna my hair and sometimes leave it on overnight. I'm not sure if doing so enhances the results, but it certainly does not cause any problems. The glass vials are a bit fussy, and the packaging for this brand is hideous (sack the marketing department!), but maybe that's part of the charm...you decide. Either way, if you have dry hair that needs a bit of tender loving care you could do far worse than this.

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IWEARMAKEUP on 9/15/2009 2:06:00 PM more reviews by IWEARMAKEUP

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I purchsed this product yesterday at Sephora for $30. It comes with 5 vial, and a empty glass stray bottle. The packaging is unique and interesting. Takes a little more effort to open it, but isnt difficult to do. The application is simple, you break the vial (both ends) and drain the oil into the stray bottle. The product smells amazing.. doesn't feel like oil and not greasy. feels little like areosol water (like evian or HTO face mist) but felt sticky on my hair. I left it in for 45 minutes (instructions advise to leave for half an hour).

My hair is super damaged especially at the roots, its been colored at least 5 times, and bleach twice + curl/straight iron on a regular basis.

After washing this product off, it didn't leave me a silky soft finished like most hair mask and oil treatment does ( but are usually temporary) it sorta of made my hair more stiff and provided more body and added a little shine. I can't tell if its working at this moment, and not sure if stiff-ness is a good thing but does feel that my hair is stronger. I will continue to use this product just because it seems to be giving me different results from other similar products...

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*TOP REVIEWER* hippodeem on 8/10/2009 2:33:00 AM more reviews by hippodeem

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

it works, it is great. my hair feels so much smoother and it smells so relaxing.
i dont like the packaging nor the high price so much but it works wells so i will continue to use it.

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czkone on 5/26/2009 8:42:00 PM more reviews by czkone

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I love this product, although I used it in a strange way. I had purchased Phyto Color, and that particular package had a free sample of Huile De Ales with it. I had lightened my hair too much, and I wanted to color over it. Anytime you try to put darker hair color over all ready lightened hair you can run into problems, the main one being that your ends will absorb way too much color, and so the results are uneven-and nearly impossible to correct unless you go to a skilled professional. You usually have to put a "filler" of some kind on your hair before you apply the color. I decided to use this as a filler. So, I washed my hair, conditioned it, and rinsed. Then I broke open the vial, and applied this to my hair (concentrating on about three inches of the ends of my hair), and combed it through. I applied the color over this. When I was finished, and had rinsed it, and was drying it, I was SOOOOO happy with the results. My color came out totally even, and very healthy and shiny. I figured that the peroxide developer was going to open up my hair shaft, and that this oil is something that I would like to penetrate the hair shaft (sort of forcefully conditioning my hair) along with the color. I loved the results. I have never used this oil any other way though, only as a pre-color filler. I love it, and highly recommend it if you are coloring your hair, and are worried about damage, and making sure that your hair color comes out evenly. The only thing that I did not like is that it comes in a glass vial that you have to break open. I do not like this. The end of the vial becomes really sharp once it is broken, sharp enough to cut you if you aren't careful. Other than that the product is great.

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Burningacid on 3/18/2009 9:45:00 AM more reviews by Burningacid

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I have not notice a great change when I have used this. It has a horrible smell, but I can stand that. It is really sticky, but that was not a problem. Well for the price I will probably not repurchase. But I`m not so shure, because I like to give my hair everything that I thing it might help. I`m not sure if that helps in a long term, I have used only 5 ampules for 2 months.

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naatje on 7/25/2007 2:29:00 AM more reviews by naatje

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

If used correct,this product can be very very good.I agree after the first time using it hair does tend to feel different.It's a different product and does not compare to others.I love this product, living in the Netherlands it is harder to find then in the USA.I also know the price in Europe is a lot cheaper.(safe money if you are ever on vacation in Europe).For all first time users, give this product a change.Second use , you will feel and see the change your hair is making.The glass is not the most ideal, but for the quality of this product it is necessary.I use it right before going to the hairdresser,I wear it overnight and let my stylist rinse it before treating my hair.I book an extra 15 minutes for the wash,and my color will look FAB.I have never let her mix it with the dye.I would be to worried something will go off with the color.I would suggest if you use it for the first time at home, dont do it right before a night out.Do it the week before and with second time washing your hair will shine like the stars.

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Spacemonkeylover on 6/23/2007 9:28:00 AM more reviews by Spacemonkeylover

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

With summer almost around the corner and harmful uv-rays, the drying heat of the sun and cholrinated waters we call swimming pools, I really needed a good old oil treatment for my abused hair.

I torture my precious locks every day with a hair dryer and my GHD's and although I have my ends trimmed, wear my hair in "protective styles" and deep condition with really good hair care products, my hair gets terribly dry and breaks off easily.

So, I needed something that made my hair feel like hair again. I bought this from my trusted online haircare shop at half the original price, something around 16 Dollars.
The product itself is called "Huile D'Ales" which is french for Oil of Ales, reffering to the oils contained in this hair treatment : Lemon, sage, rosemary, juniper just to name a few.

The oils comes in a small glass vial with a little pump-bottle to distribute the oils in the hair. This is what the fun part of this product is, you need to break the small vial open on both sides and pour the oil into the small pump bottle.

I feel like a mad scienstist when I do this, is much fun and I had no trouble at all opening the vials, all you have to do is to take a kleenex, fold it and wrap it around the vial, then break of the ends.

When I used the oil on my hair (pre-shampoo), it had a strange coated feeling, but I guess thats normal when using natural oils. The smeel is nice, a pleasant herbal smell. I don't think it horrible at all, it is natural and a pick-me-up scent.
Rinsing was easy, and after shampooing and conditioning my hair was really smooth, lusterous and light.

I think I will also use this as a scalp treatment because the scent is helping with headaches and the oils will better penetrate the hair follicle, helping hair growth.

A good product. Thanks Phyto. <3

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*TOP REVIEWER* Angeline on 11/20/2006 7:03:00 PM more reviews by Angeline

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Loved the concept although its extra work breaking the vials and pouring into the little spray bottle (which I like), but its interesting,no? And I LOVE PHYTO!
However, this didn't work for me. Bah.
My fine, long hair needs a lot of conditioning before it looks presentable and I had high hopes for it. Unfortunately after using this treatment, my hair stuck together in lacklustre bunches and was impossible to comb.End Result? No revitalizing, conditioning and restoration of shine....next....

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*TOP REVIEWER* queenisabelle29 on 7/6/2006 3:39:00 PM more reviews by queenisabelle29

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

i have very thick, curly, color treated hair that i blow dry and flat iron everyday. when i saw that this product promised intense hydration, i was willing to give it a shot. i left it on my hair for 30 minutes with a warm towel over it the first time but i got better results the second time when i aimed a blow dryer on the towel every few minutes to keep the towel warm. this really rehydratyes my hair, but i have noticed that the day after i do this, my hair is kinda sticky. however, after the next time that i shampoo, my hair is soft and shiny. i would buy this product again even though i'm not really a fan of the glass vials.

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azusa on 5/8/2006 1:25:00 PM more reviews by azusa

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

VERY pleased with this oil treatment, which has greatly improved the quality of my hair. I have long, wavy, very thick hair with a sprinkling of wiry grey hairs. As of about a month ago it was showing signs of heat damage, due to weekly flat ironing: dryness (especially at ends), dullness, an irritating Brillo-y quality. No more!! I've gone through a box of this (5 treatments), and there's been a perceptible, cumulative effect: hair shiner, much softer, less billowy/rough. I actually like it unstraightened now--for my "nature girl" moods. Applying it does feel a little like chemistry lab, but I enjoy the ritual--and also the intense herbal scent. I leave it on for several hours (the SA even suggested doing it overnight, but I think DH would object). Have already repurchased. Until now the only Phyto product I liked was the Phytosylic shampoo, but now that this has been such a success I've ordered some Phyto 9 to see how that works... stay tuned.

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thaliath on 4/12/2006 7:46:00 AM more reviews by thaliath

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

i love this!!
i mix it with terax crema and leave it for two hours, it makes my hair incredibly glossy!!!(but then i dont use any heatstyling or color my hair).
it is too expensive forme to use weekly, but i do it before going to parties.
even guys comment my glossy hair:)

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*TOP REVIEWER* cinnamongrrl on 3/17/2006 7:19:00 PM more reviews by cinnamongrrl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

The colourists in the salon where I get my hair cut mix one vial of this product into the actual hair dye. I colour my own hair at home, so I purchased the box of 5 vials at my salon, and use it with my home hair colour kit. I simply break open the vial and empty it into the hair colour bottle. Verdict - it really works. My hair colour seemed to fade less, and was even softer than it normally is, post-dye. At $25 per box of 5, this works out to $5 per use, which isn't that bad. I do dislike the packaging, however (it's tough to get the glass vial open.) Phyto products are really hit and miss for me - but I like this one greatly and will continue to use in this manner every time I colour my hair. :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* colleen_co on 12/18/2005 11:48:00 PM more reviews by colleen_co

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

This is the worst hair treatment ever! It made my hair dryer and more tangled than when I began! My hair dresser breaks the capsules into my dye when she dyed my hair and claimed it added moisture and made my hair soft. It was an extra $20 at the salon. SO I bought them ($26 for 5 treatments) to use at home and was just so disappointed. I even left it on my head for 30-60min! Do not waste your money on this - it is crap! I returned them.

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Cuties on 10/23/2005 1:38:00 PM more reviews by Cuties

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Very disappointed in this product. It was suppose to hydrate and smooth but worked just the opposite for me. I have fine, thin color-treated hair and this just created a tangled mess and didn't hydrate in the least. My hair actually felt like straw unless I used a deep conditioner after shampooing. The treatment is sealed in glass vials which you snap open, transfer to the little spray tube and apply to dry hair prior to shampooing. I like the fact they're packaged in glass as it preserves the botanical oils from spoiling. I thought I had kept the box to list the ingredients in my review but unfortunately I must have thrown it away. I finished all 5 ampoules although I was considering just tossing the last one because it was absolutely useless.

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*TOP REVIEWER* doree_001 on 10/5/2005 8:12:00 PM more reviews by doree_001

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

HUILE D'ALES is an intense hydrating oil treatment (a *beauty elixir* for dry hair), recomended to be used prior to a hair color or permanent. It protects and treats the hair fiber. Water-soluble oil, easily rinses out with water, very light in consistency, so it won't weigh even the finest hair. Contains essential oils, both purifying and protective (Castor plant oil, essential oils of Sage, Rosemary and Juniper berries).
Glass vials were a bit problematic for me - hard to break, so I always asked my husband to open it for me... This oil is not the top quality Phyto product IMHO: it is OK but not especially rehydrating or nourishing. It leaves hair smooth and slightly rehydrated but I think it is not rich enough for seriously dry or damaged hair. I would also like to see it packed in something more practical than those horrible glass vials - then I would maybe repurchase it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* beautifulscorpio83 on 6/15/2005 10:53:00 AM more reviews by beautifulscorpio83

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This oil is meant for dry hair, and you apply it before you shampoo, it comes in 5 glass vials and a dispenser pump bottle, you have to break open the glass vial it comes with a plastic handle thingie that you use so that you don't hurt yourself. The smell of this is very herbally, it dosn't bother me at all, it left my hair softer and shinier i would def. use this again! :)

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