In a world that’s filled with of-the-moment trends and launches, there’s something to be undoubtedly revered about a product that has stood the test of time for 50 years—and was made specifically for none other than the iconic Audrey Hepburn.
Meet Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer ($52), a deep-conditioning hair treatment that has a storied tale to tell, as well as a long list of celebs who absolutely love it.
“Our iconic Elasticizer was originally formulated by my father for Hollywood movie star Audrey Hepburn,” shares Anabel Kingsley, brand president and consultant trichologist for Philip Kingsley. “She had visited him with distressed tresses from the toll of on-set styling and was in desperate need of something to bring her strands back to health.”
The History of the Elasticizer
As the story goes, Hepburn and Kingsley worked in tandem to create the world’s first pre-shampoo hair treatment and the Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Treatment was born.
Another fun fact: At their first meeting together, Kingsley didn’t know from Hepburn’s maiden name that she was the same woman he was taking into consultation that day. After laughing together about the realization, they became close friends from that point on.
“Audrey was so ecstatic about how well the Elasticizer was working with her hair she even invited Philip to her latest film premiere in 1976, saying ‘Elasticizer is miraculous.'”
While Anabel shares that it “took a bit to perfect the formula,” when it was complete, it was transformational.
“It was a strengthening moisturizing treatment that wasn’t going to weigh Hepburn’s hair down, as she had quite fine hair,” she says. “They were using all these heavy creams post-shampoo and her hair was just flat. Audrey wanted a product to get her hair in better condition but give it more body and shine. So, he went straight to his laboratory in London’s East End and formulated Elasticizer just for her. She loved it so much, she ordered pots and pots to be sent over to her home in Switzerland. Seeing its success, he launched it as part of his haircare range.”
Back then, the Elasticizer came as a concentrated paste in a pot. The client (including Hepburn) would then mix with water at home. The brand launched Elasticizer, pre-mixed, within the retail range in 1983. Hydrolyzed elastin, a protein that penetrates your hair shaft and increases its elasticity without weighing your hair down, was (and still is) the hero ingredient. Moisturizing castor oil , olive oil and glycerin are in the mix as well.
Who Uses the Elasticizer Today?
Today, one is sold every minute—1,921,479 units in 2023 to be exact—with modern-day celebrity fans including Anya Taylor Joy, Jessica Chastain, Georgia May Jagger and Cate Blanchett, to name a fast few.
“With Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, I don’t even use it as directed,” Chastain has said. “I use it maybe a couple times a week when I take a shower. I’ll put it on the ends of my hair, twist my hair up into a topknot, and go to sleep like that with wet hair. I never rinse it out; I just keep it in my hair overnight. It’s all about the moisture, and I like what it does in terms of giving me a little bit of shine. It’s a natural way of keeping frizz at bay as well.”
