Why you should put bananas in your hair

We've said before that we don't take a minimalist's approach to stocking our showers. Beyond your standard body washes and shampoos, we also love cramming our shelves with skin-smoothing oils, scrubs, and exfoliating towels. That said, we've definitely never considered our bathrooms a place to store produce. At least, we never thought about it until the fateful day when we first stumbled upon a hair milk filled with banana extract. World, meet your new strand saver: Lait Lavant a la Banane.

Fruit is obviously a common ingredient in many beauty products; your favorite all-natural brands place them in everything from body lotions to lip tints. We've even heard of mashing up bananas and applying them to our strands as a moisturizing mask. But the idea that throwing the fruit into a daily rinse could actually cut down on oil and boost volume? That was entirely new to us. Our initial skepticism quickly wore away when we discovered that the brand behind the delicious concoction is cult French fave Leonor Greyl. Their under-the-radar line is the secret behind the red carpet 'dos of celebs like Lily-Rose Depp and Emilia Clarke, and we can personally attest that their launches live up to the hype. So while we might have been dubious about any other brand advising us to pile on the produce, we took this one in stride — especially after we discovered the facts behind the fruit-infused rinse.

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"The inspiration for this product came from the need to have something extremely gentle in the line that could be used for multiple purposes — like rinsing the sweat out of your hair after exercising, washing a delicate scalp," says David Thomas Brooks, director of R&D at Leonor Greyl.

The team decided to make bananas the star of the formula when they considered their long list of beneficial qualities. "They're rich in vitamins A, B, E, potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese," David explains. "These ingredients are all essential for healthy hair, and the fruit also has amazing moisturizing properties."

When combined with reparative extracts from wheat, hibiscus, and seaweed, the result is pure mane magic. "It's very effective for dry or thin hair that needs a boost," says David. Uncap the elegant squeeze bottle, and you'll discover a thin liquid that can easily be worked through the hair. The brand recommends applying it to wet lengths and adding more water to emulsify. "It's more of a rinse than a shampoo," he explains. "There are very few washing agents inside, which makes it very gentle."

In other words, while you shouldn't swap out your go-to shampoo for this bottle, it can be used to extend the time between your regular washes. We love it for its ability to counteract oil without stripping your scalp, and the scent alone will win you over. David particularly recommends using it after a workout to rid your strands of sweat, particularly if you go to the gym on a daily basis. It's even gentle enough to use several times a day. How do we know? "It's excellent for makeup removal," he said offhand when we asked if the superstar milk had any additional uses. "It won't dry out your skin at all." Now that's bananas.

Why you should put bananas in your hair

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