Kérastase runs more ranges than most "guide to Kérastase" articles actually cover, from everyday hydration through to scalp health, colour protection and ageing hair. Several of those ranges solve genuinely similar-sounding problems, which is exactly where most guides get vague. Here's Hairhouse's breakdown of every Kérastase range you can buy, what each one actually does, and how to tell apart the ones that overlap, like Spécifique versus Symbiose, or Genesis versus Densifique.
How Many Ranges Does Kérastase Actually Have?
Kérastase currently runs sixteen distinct ranges, and that breadth goes all the way back to how the brand started. It was founded in 1964 by scientists at L'Oréal's Advanced Research division in Paris, built on the idea that hair deserves the same level of structured care as skin, not just a wash and rinse. Sixty-plus years later, that's grown into a genuinely large catalogue, and the brand has kept adding and consolidating ranges over that time, including folding its older men's Densifique Homme line into the newer Genesis Homme for men's hair fall. That constant evolution, plus several ranges that address closely related concerns, is exactly why "just buy Kérastase" is close to meaningless advice on its own.
What Does Each Kérastase Range Actually Do?
Expert Tip: Hairhouse stylists recommend picking one range based on your single biggest hair concern right now, rather than combining shampoos and masks across very different ranges. Kérastase ranges are built to work as a system, so pairing, for example, a Blond Absolu shampoo with a Genesis mask dilutes what either one is actually formulated to do.
Kérastase Nutritive: best for dry, dull, lacklustre hair with no specific damage or colour concern. The Nutritive Masquintense ($92.00) is the range's signature weekly mask for fine to medium dry hair.
Kérastase Résistance: best for weak, brittle or over-processed hair that needs reinforcing at the strand level, rather than just moisture.
Kérastase Première: best for genuinely damaged hair needing deeper, bond-level repair. It's built around rebuilding keratin bonds specifically, a step further than Résistance's general reinforcement. The Masque Filler Réparateur ($102.00) is the range's intensive weekly treatment.
Kérastase Genesis: best for thinning hair and hair fall caused by breakage in women, supporting the scalp environment hair grows from rather than just coating the strand.
Kérastase Genesis Homme: best for thinning hair and hair fall in men, Kérastase's current men's fortifying range now that Densifique Homme has been folded into it. The Serum Fortifiant Anti-Chute ($102.00) is a daily leave-in scalp serum for more targeted hair fall concerns.
Kérastase Densifique: best for fine hair that's lost density and body, a bodifying formula distinct from Genesis's focus on breakage-related hair fall. The Fondant Densité ($76.00) is a lightweight conditioner built to restore body alongside it.
Kérastase Symbiose: best for dandruff and a dry, sensitive scalp specifically. The Purifying Anti-Dandruff Bain ($62.00) is the same range's version for oily, dandruff-prone scalps instead.
Kérastase Spécifique: best for broader scalp balance, oily roots, scalp sensitivity or stimulating a thinning scalp, distinct from Symbiose's dandruff-specific focus. The Argile Équilibrante ($84.00) is a purifying clay formula built specifically for an oily scalp.
Kérastase Curl Manifesto: best for curly and coily hair, built specifically for curl patterns rather than adapted from a straight-hair formula.
Kérastase Gloss Absolu: best for frizz and flyaways, taking a shine-first approach to control rather than leaning on heavy silicones.
Kérastase Blond Absolu: best for blonde, lightened or highlighted hair specifically, using purple-toning to neutralise brassiness. The Masque Ultra Violet ($99.00) is a deeper, non-staining violet treatment for a more intensive colour reset.
Kérastase Chroma Absolu: best for colour-treated hair generally, regardless of tone, unlike Blond Absolu's blonde-specific focus. The Masque Chroma Filler ($99.00) targets sensitised, colour-treated hair needing extra care.
Kérastase Chronologiste: best for mature, ageing hair, pairing scalp care with an anti-ageing hair treatment that goes a step beyond Première's general damage repair. The Chronologiste Masque ($118.00) is the range's rich, restorative weekly treatment.
Kérastase Discipline: best for frizz control and smoothing, though currently only stocked at Hairhouse as gift trio sets rather than individual bottles.
Kérastase Elixir Ultime: best as a universal finishing oil for shine, layered over any of the ranges above rather than replacing a shampoo or mask routine.
Kérastase Soleil ($55.00): best for after-sun hair care following UV exposure, relevant for an Australian summer, though currently only stocked in very limited quantity, so check availability before building a routine around it.
How to Build a Routine Across Kérastase Ranges (Pro Tips)
Choose one range as your core shampoo-and-mask system based on your primary concern, dryness, damage, colour or thinning, rather than mixing bains and masques across ranges.
Layer a universal finishing product like Elixir Ultime over any core range instead of treating it as a replacement for one.
For scalp concerns, match the specific problem rather than the general category: dandruff calls for Symbiose, while oily roots, sensitivity or scalp stimulation are better matched to Spécifique.
Revisit your range choice seasonally. Colour-treated hair that's fine through an Australian winter can turn brassy and sun-damaged over summer, which may mean switching from Chroma Absolu to Blond Absolu, or adding Soleil, rather than sticking with one range year-round.
If you're unsure whether your concern is breakage-related hair fall (Genesis) or a general loss of density and body (Densifique), ask a Hairhouse stylist to help pinpoint the right range rather than guessing between the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Genesis and Densifique?
Genesis targets thinning hair and hair fall caused by breakage, supporting the scalp environment hair grows from. Densifique is built to add density and body to fine hair that's lost thickness, a different mechanism even though both address thinning-adjacent concerns.
What's the difference between Kérastase Résistance and Première?
Résistance is built for general hair weakness and reinforcement. Première goes a step further, rebuilding keratin bonds directly for hair that's genuinely damaged from colour, heat or over-processing, making it the more intensive of the two.
What's the difference between Blond Absolu and Chroma Absolu?
Blond Absolu is built specifically for blonde and lightened hair, using purple-toning to control brassiness. Chroma Absolu protects colour-treated hair of any tone, without the toning function, so it suits colour-treated hair that isn't blonde.
What's the difference between Spécifique and Symbiose?
Symbiose is formulated specifically for dandruff, in both dry and oily scalp versions. Spécifique covers broader scalp balance concerns, including oily roots, general scalp sensitivity and scalp stimulation, without being dandruff-specific.
Does Kérastase have a range for ageing or mature hair?
Yes, Chronologiste. It pairs scalp care with an anti-ageing hair treatment and is available at retail, going a step beyond Première's general damage-repair focus for hair that's ageing rather than just damaged.
Not sure which Kérastase range actually matches your hair? Visit Hairhouse in-store and our team can match a range to your specific concern, especially where a couple of ranges seem to overlap.