I talk about hair a lot on this blog, more than skincare I think. It’s not just age (or illness) that changes and thins our hair, it’s all those years of damage from highlighting, chemical processing, and heat styling.
Makeup to an extent can temporarily disguise facial ageing, but hair is always on display and it’s crushing when it starts to naturally thin. But it’s essential we look after it because healthy hair can be any length – at any age. Gorgeous hair just makes you feel better. Fact.
Scalp care to encourage stronger, healthier hair growth is a ‘big thing’ at the moment. Now, I don’t want to blow my own trumpet, (goes on to do exactly that) but this is something I mentioned a couple of years ago on this blog when I said.
Think of your scalp as a lawn. When the ground is attended to, free of weeds, watered regularly, and fed nutrients, new grass will eventually grow.
Do nothing, and while you might get the odd patch growing here and there, it’ll never amount to much and a lot of areas will remain bare.
Haircare brand MONPURE was created to treat everything hair and scalp-related, on the basis that scalp health equals hair health – and thicker, fuller hair at that.
I was sent a selection of products from MONPURE to review. But don’t let the luxe packaging fool you, this is serious scalp and hair care. 
MONPURE
We are a collective of experts, from dermatologists and scientists, to established beauty editors and award-winning journalists, all of us wanting to find real solutions to common issues such as hair loss and thinning.
A range of results-driven yet gentle vegan formulas, developed to meticulous standards in our German labs, made with recycled and recyclable packaging.
100% vegan with no silicones, sulphates, formaldehyde, microbeads, mineral oil or talc.
MONPURE Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo 200ml £36.00
This Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo effectively lifts away dirt and debris without stripping the scalp and hair of moisture. Vegan silk peptides create a breathable ‘second skin’ on both the scalp and hair, protecting (by more than 35%) against the effects of pollution, irritants and bacteria, all of which are known to compromise hair colour.
REVIEW
Take a strand of hair and stretch it. If it breaks as you begin to pull it, you need a moisturising treatment. If it stretches then breaks you need protein to restore strength.
If you haven’t used a protein shampoo before then be aware that your hair will feel a little strange after rinsing it out. It’s as if every drop of moisture has been sucked out of your hair and it’s one big tangly mess, but don’t panic, it means it’s working.
The shampoo has a lovely but not overbearing herbal scent and even though it’s sulfate-free you can still work up a little bit of lather which I always prefer. I’ve used some protein shampoos that don’t lather up at all which I’m not keen on because hair never feels properly clean.
Monpure Strengthening Essence-Conditioner 200ml £36.00
An ultra-lightweight conditioning ‘essence’ to soothe and hydrate the scalp-skin and strands, locking in moisture without feeling greasy or weighing the hair down.
REVIEW
This is a very different conditioner from what you might be used to. It’s thin and milky but rinsed hair laps it up and it’s transformed. Hair is silky smooth again.
I was about to describe the scent (a lighter herbal fragrance than the shampoo) when I’ve just realised these products are in fact, unisex. The smart, but non-girly gold and green packaging, the herbal, not floral, fragrance, plus the fact that hair loss and thinning affects 40% of women, but a huge 70% of men in their lifetime. Mark would love these products, it’s a shame he’ll never get to use them. My only complaint is that there are four products to smuggle in and out of the shower.
Monpure Hydrate and Soothe Scalp Serum
An intense, anti-inflammatory solution for quenching very dry, irritated scalp-skin, as well as soothing rough patches. Can help calm symptoms of redness, acne, eczema, sun damage and general stress on the scalp.
Created to give dry, irritated scalps some much-needed care and attention. This calming concoction features redness-reducing witch hazel, protective Pro Vitamin B5 and allantoin – a renowned humectant, which draws and retains moisture like a sponge.
HOW TO USE
Gently massage in a few drops into your roots morning and night to soothe stressed scalp-skin and deliver a good dose of moisture in the process – over time you should see an improvement in scalp health too. Used sparingly (a little goes a long way), the lightweight yet hardworking formula won’t weigh hair down.
REVIEW
This calming concoction features redness-reducing witch hazel, protective Pro-Vitamin B5, and allantoin – a renowned humectant, which draws and retains moisture like a sponge.
The serum has a faint medicinal scent, cut through with a hint of orange peel oil. It’s light and easily absorbed, which is a bonus because some hair serums just sit on the hair and you don’t feel like using them every day because they ruin your hairstyle. This one I can happily apply every morning and lightly massage in knowing my hair won’t look greasy or flat.
I was sent this particular one because I explained that my hair is very fine and I’m looking to strengthen it. If my hair was thinning which I know happens to a lot of us over 50 for all sorts of reasons then I would have gone with scalp food, aka Monpure’s Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum. The idea behind both Monpure serums is that you should think of them in the same way as your skincare, a necessary daily step for your hair.
Monpure Nourish and Stimulate Scalp Mask 120ml £63.00
Our Nourish and Stimulate Scalp Mask works to improve scalp health by ‘feeding’ hair follicles and skin cells with essential vitamins and nutrients, creating the optimum environment for hair growth. Invigorates an itchy scalp and relieves redness, discomfort and sun damage.
HOW TO USE
Either leave on for 15 minutes as a deep treatment before going into the shower or use in the shower after shampooing – massage into the scalp and let it work for 10 minutes before washing out.
REVIEW
The zingy peppermint and eucalyptus oils really stimulate the scalp, especially after applying the scrub first. It makes your whole head tingle.
UPDATE
Lisa Eldridge is a fan of this mask and put it in her Travel Bag Beauty Favourites video.
Monpure Clarifying Scalp Scrub 120ml £63.00
This Clarifying Scalp Scrub sloughs away flaky dead skin and helps alleviate symptoms of dandruff and psoriasis, while rejuvenating the scalp-skin with healing shea butter and argan oil.
HOW TO USE
For best results, use one to two times a week and follow with shampoo and conditioner.
Apply it as part of a relaxing scalp massage – or get a willing partner to oblige. (Mark gave me a head massage once, his hands felt like they were crushing my skull. Never again).
REVIEW
This is the product I really wanted to try above all others – the ‘star’ player, although after using the serum, I now think both of them are equally important.
I apply this in the shower to wet hair and massage in. The scrub is made from biodegradable jojoba beads and admittedly, it does feel quite scrubby at first until you’re used to it. The beads buff away dead skin cells and product build-up on the scalp.
Because my hair is so fine and flat, I have to use at least three styling products after washing it, so I’m well aware of how vital it is to remove residue and cleanse the scalp.
Stearic acid helps dislodge dead skin cells and argan oil adds essential fatty acids and vitamin E, vital components of healthy shiny hair. It also contains shea butter, a swiftly-absorbed healing moisturiser – perfect for calming down a reactive scalp.
My hair has changed a lot over the past couple of years. You would think that with only two chemical processes ie highlights, in 12 months and minimal use of heat appliances, that my hair would be the healthiest and shiniest it’s ever looked – and yes, sometimes it is, but more often, much more often it’s dull and lifeless.
The texture, in particular, has altered a lot and I was shocked to discover that grey silver strands now run the whole length of my hair and some of them are *deep breath* COARSE AND WIRY! This has only occurred in the last year.
Grey, of course, means loss of pigment and that’s one thing I cannot tolerate even if it means I have to have my hair highlighted more often and if I want to do that, my scalp needs to be supremely healthy to take all the bleach I’m going to throw at it. That’s probably not what Monpure had in mind for this review and yes, scalp health will undoubtedly create the right environment for hair to grow healthy and strong, but I just want to kill that grey!
November 2020
SHOPPING
This is a good time to try Monpure, there are lots of offers at the moment on selected hair bundles depending on your scalp and hair needs.
If the offers disappear it’s because they’ve sold out!
MONPURE Website
*Affiliate links
UPDATE 27/3/21
I’ve been using the Monpure products above for three months now.
My hair has not been highlighted since October 2020. My intention is to prepare my hair for forthcoming new colour, highlights etc and get my hair back into tip-top condition.
There are a lot of coarse grey strands now running the length of my hair and as there’s no pigment in grey/white hair, it was looking very dull. The top three or four inches (my hair grows fast) is dark brown which morphs into a dirty black shade peppered with grey, on day 3 after washing.
I use the Monpure Silk Protein shampoo and conditioner sparingly now because my hair has become stronger. I’m saving the Clarifying Scalp Scrub for after my hair is coloured to prevent product build up. I use the Nourish & Stimulate Scalp Mask more often as a deep treatment and the Hydrate and Soothe Scalp Serum every other day.
I’ve thrown everything I can at my hair to make it look and feel healthy. I’ve also been using Olaplex number 3 on my hair on a monthly basis. Look out for a review of Olaplex, 0, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 coming soon. Spoiler Alert! You only need No 3 for your at-home treatment.
Getting a shine on blonde hair is notoriously difficult, but practically impossible on grey peppered hair. Yet here it is. I hope you can see how my hair looks stronger and shinier.
