Meet Patrick Alès, Founder of Alès Group
Back in 1967, Mr. Patrick Alès created a concept called PHYTOTHÉRATHRIE. Phyto, or φυτό, means plant in greek (pronounced fee-toe), théra means care, and thrie means hair. This ground-breaking concept of treating your hair through plants has always been the core of his brand: PHYTO Paris.
Before this concept came into play, Mr. Alès revolutionized hair care all the way back in the 1950s. At that time, little research had been done regarding the consequences of using chemically-loaded hair products. However, Mr. Alès created a line of hair care products made predominantly from plants by doing his own research, long before what you might remember as the emergence of environmental awareness and not to mention the Internet.
It all started when Mr. Alès was working as an apprentice at a hair salon in Paris. He noticed how the chemically-loaded products basically burned the skin on hairdressers’ hands as well as the scalp and hair of the clientele and since he was passionate about his profession, he began looking for a gentler, less harmful way to work with hair.
“The ecosystem of the hair and scalp is alive and precious. PHYTO Paris’ mission is to treat them with care and respect.”
After purchasing a house in the countryside of southern France, he noticed that the previous owner, an herbalist and healer, had left old glass jars filled with essential oils and dried plants in the attic. Mr. Alès then began to research the therapeutic benefits of plants and that’s when he discovered how powerful they were. After experimenting in his own kitchen, mixing plant extracts in an old baker’s kneading-trough, Mr. Alès created his first hair care product: Huile d’Alès, an intense hydrating oil treatment.
He introduced his brand PHYTO Paris in 1967 when he opened his own salon near the Champs-Elysées. The salon is still open today and French actresses such as Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve; and former first lady of the United States Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, have all been styled by Mr. Alès and thereafter became loyal to his botanical hair care brand.
Four years later, Mr. Alès packed up all of his plants and equipment from his kitchen and created his own laboratory in Paris named PHYTOSOLBA Laboratories, where all of his products are manufactured by a team of professional researchers and scientists.
Since the inception of the brand, every little detail from the selection of plants to the ink on its packaging, have been carefully selected to minimize the harm not only to your scalp and hair but to the environment as a whole. PHYTO Paris was born from one man’s vision and we’re proud to share this story with you.
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