Back to basics: Christophe Robin unveils new hair finishing lotions with a simple secret ingredient

Vinegar mixed with water: this has been the secret of Christophe Robin's wellness for years. Now, the celebrity colourist has employed his secret weapon to create three hair finishing lotions that deeply nourish hair and skin.

Each of his three formulas are designed to address different challenges: a regenerating Hibiscus mix is designed with fragile or sensitive hair in mind; a concoction including pure vinegar extracted from Mediterranean herbs purifies grease-prone locks; while a blend of fruit vinegar with camomile extracts brightens and brings resistance and shine to lighter and coloured manes.

Unusual as it sounds, employing vinegar for beauty purposes isn't quite as mad as you might think; it is a practice that has been centuries in the making. Le vinaigre des quatre voleurs (Four Thieves' Vinegar) was first created in 1748 and shot to fame as a well-known medicine when its inventors claimed that it helped them swerve the plague. During the 19th century, the multi-tasking ingredient became a noble product and beauty elixir, used as a base for perfumes and as a toner to soften skin.

A far cry from the more acidic modern day vinegars that we are accustomed to, Robin's leave-in lotions can be applied to wet or dry hair to give instant shine and lightness without adding grease. If anything, the antiseptic, acidic nature of the tonics means they combat sebum and chemical residues that build-up on our scalps. However, the benefits of vinegar don't end there. In addition to fighting dandruff - another added bonus - the antioxidant, purifying, soothing, protective and toning qualities can be used to fortify nails, as a spray from the home, as a relaxing bath oil, as a moisturiser (where its acidity closes pores to make skin softer) or even as an anti-bacterial balm when combined with body lotion. Who knew that this unassuming liquid was such a multitasking wonder?