Patrick Ales and the History of PHYTO

Read Time:3 Minute, 17 Second

Some History

Patrick Ales is the creator of PHYTO hair care products. As a hairdresser for many years, he began to notice how the chemicals used in everyday products damage hair. Ales’ love and enthusiasm of plants lead to the creation of an uncommon plant-based hair product line. It began at the age of 25, when Patrick Ales purchased a home in the Haute Provence region of France. Plants, leaves, and roots that had been dried or reduced to powder form were left behind by a healer. Ales became fascinated with the botanical world and wanted to know everything about them. His main goal was to use plants natural curative properties to create hair treatments.

Patrick Ales and his wife, along with a few other scientists, created the first PHYTO 7 creams in their garage. In 1967 the first cosmetic brand with the PHTYO prefix was created, PHYTOTHERATHRIE. Phytotherathrie is a special line of therapeutic hair products that treat your hair with natural properties and is identified by a blue leaf.

In 1967 Patrick Ales founded the PHYTOSOLBA Laboratory, where he then developed more brands and companies that offered plant-based products. Ales has always strived to create and improve his products surrounding himself with a team of scientists to research his products. He knew the importance of scientific proof for the effectiveness of his products. Today, over 200 clinical studies, carried out by independent laboratories, doctors, and hospitals have tested the different products of the group. PHYTO also has many patents and trade names have also been registered. PHYTO is now also known as the Ales Group. Today, Patrick Ales continues to work with family and friends, testing his products on them and discovering new plants to develop products that incorporate both nature and beauty. PHYTO products are not tested on animals.

The Products

In the sixties the Ales Group launched an array of new hair products exclusively for his clients including HUILE D’ALES, PHYTO 7, PHYTOPOLLEINE, the PHYTODEFRISANT hair balm, PHYTOMOUSSE and PHYTONEUTRE. Although these products were initially created as treatments for his clients, dermatologists began to take an interest and wanted to prescribe them to their patients with skin conditions that also transferred to the scalp. Soon after; clients were also asking to buy the products.

The PHYTO product line has grown significantly throughout the years. With products that are designed specifically for the needs of each hair type, PHYTO is divided into color-codes categories to help you identify a program that will treat both your hair and scalp.

PHYTO is Eco-Friendly

Because each PHYTO product is formulated with plant extracts that work together to ensure maximum results, they are uniquely packaged in glass bottles and aluminum tubes to preserve their botanical formulas. The boxes also protect the products from light and heat. PHYTO products are meant to have a rather pharmaceutical appearance.

PHYTO has made many appearances in magazines including ELLE, Allure, People, Cookie, WWD Salon and The Oprah Magazine. The Phytodefrisant was featured in the Oprah Magazine and is recommended by Oprah’s beauty director Valerie Monroe. Actress Cameron Diaz used PHYTO’s Pro Strong Finishing Spray and the Phytolisse smoothing serum to achieve her sleek do for the cover of SELF Magazine. PHYTO has also won three awards from Women’s Health Magazine in the July/August 2008 issue including the Phytomousse for best volumizing shampoo, Phtyodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm for best frizz fighter, and the Phtyovolume Actif for best volumizer. PHYTO was also the only hair care line that was represented at the annual U.S. Open competition held in Forest Hills, New York.

PHYTO has certainly come a long way, from a small garage in Provence, France to distributing all over the world including the U.S., Germany, Italy, London and Canada. Everyday PHYTO strives formulate treatments for your hair and scalp, discovering new plants and new methods to bring you the best products for your hair.