Why your hair darkens

(and it's not your fault!).

Imagine your hair as a picture painted with two types of pigment:

• Eumelanin: The brown to black pigment
• Pheomelanin: The red to yellow pigment

And here's the truth no one's been telling you: blonde hair generally contains very LITTLE melanin. It's this low total amount of pigment that creates that luminous blond.

Exact composition according to hair color

Blond hair: very low levels of brown eumelanin + absence of black eumelanin

Brown/black hair :

• Eumelanin: ≥95% of total melanin (dominant pigment)
• Phéomélanine : <5% de la mélanine totale

Brown hair therefore contains a much higher concentration of melanin than blond hair, with an overwhelming proportion of dark eumelanin. That's why lightening brown hair requires more time and repeated applications.

Why your childhood blond hair has darkened

When you were little, your hair follicles produced little melanin. The result: golden-blond hair.

Then at puberty (or gradually with age), your follicles "woke up" and started producing more brown eumelanin. Not all at once - gradually. Each new hair that grows is a little darker than the last.

In just a few years, you go from :

• Platinum blond (almost no melanin)
• To golden blond (some eumelanin)
• To dark blond (even more eumelanin)
• To light chestnut (much more eumelanin)

And it's not your fault. It's just your hormones and DNA doing their job.

The winter effect - Why it's even worse from November to March

Have you noticed that your hair is EVEN duller in winter? It's not an impression, it's scientifically proven.

Here's what happens:

Is it fatal?

The truth about your lost blond hair

Good news: no, it's not irreversible.

Your hair is not "definitively chestnut". The melanin in your hair can be gradually transformed to reveal lighter tones.

This is exactly the principle behind ALL hair lightening: transform dark pigments to reveal lighter tones, gently or more intensively depending on the method.

Different approaches to brightening

There are 3 main families of techniques:

In the following chapters, we're going to break down each of these approaches. The advantages, the disadvantages, and above all... what they don't tell you.

Sweeping and other salon techniques

(what we don't tell you)

OK, let's talk about balayage, that technique that costs you between €150 and €300 every 2-3 months.

How it really works

The sweeping process uses an intensive chemical treatment:

Ingredients:

• Hydrogen peroxide: Salons typically use concentrations of 6-9% for classic balayage, sometimes up to 12% for more intense lightening.

BUT the real problem isn't just the concentration of peroxide...

• Ammonia or strong alkaline alternatives (MEA, ethanolamine) to force cuticles open
• Persulfates (chemical gas pedals)
• Multiple buffering agents, stabilizers and preservatives

The process (and why it damages)

The real cost (and it's a hefty one)

Every 2-3 months for 1 year:

• Sweeping: €150-300 × 4-6 times = €600-1800/year
• Specialized shampoo: €25 × 12 = €300/year
• Repairing masks: €30 × 12 = €360/year
• Protective serums: 35€ × 4 = 140€/year

What we don't tell you

Sweeping is not "gentle" or "progressive". It's an intense chemical treatment, period. The difference with full bleaching is that the product is only applied to certain strands.

Hairdressers will tell you that it's "less aggressive than total bleaching". Technically true. But it's still a major chemical assault on the treated areas, with powerful alkaline agents forcing open your cuticles.

The hidden damage of the hairdresser

(why your hair is crying out for help)

Let's talk about the damage you DON'T see immediately after your sweep.

Invisible structural damage

The infernal cycle

Here's what really happens:

• Month 1: Beautifully swept, shiny hair (thanks to salon treatments)
• Month 2: Hair starting to dry out, roots visible
• Month 3: Dull, tangled hair. You go back to the hairdresser for a new balayage + "repair treatment".

Hair never really repairs itself

Here's a truth few people will tell you: dead hair can't be repaired.

Unlike your skin, which regenerates itself, hair is a dead structure. Once the cuticle is damaged, it doesn't grow back. Once the disulfide bridges are broken, they don't regrow.

Masks, serums and "miracle treatments" only :

• Temporarily fill holes in the cuticle
• Artificially smoothing with silicones
• Moisturize the surface

As soon as you stop using these products, the damage reappears. The ONLY real solution: cut and let healthy hair grow back.

The sun, a false good idea

"Wait until summer, the sun will lighten your hair naturally!"

We've all heard it. And it's true that the sun lightens hair. But at what price?

How the sun really brightens

The sun emits UV (ultraviolet) rays that have a transforming effect on melanin.

Specifically:

• UVA: penetrates deeply and causes color changes (visible lightening)
• UVB: Remains more on the surface and causes damage to proteins

When your hair is exposed to UV light, melanin is gradually transformed, revealing lighter tones.

The 4 major problems of the sun

The real question

Is it worth waiting 6 months in the summer, exposing your hair (and skin) to UV rays for weeks on end, for a temporary result and damaged hair?

There's a better way.

Lightening sprays on the market

(when the list of ingredients resembles a periodic table)

OK, let's speak frankly.

You stroll through the aisles of your perfume store or supermarket. Hair section. And then, BAM. Dozens of lightening sprays all promising the same thing: "Natural sun-kissed lightening!"

The packaging is magnificent. The promises are tempting. And sometimes, the price seems right.

So you turn the bottle upside down to read the list of ingredients.

And then... shock!

The INCI list: what they don't show you on the front

The INCI list (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) is that list of unpronounceable words on the back of your products. The one that almost nobody reads. The one that REALLY says what's in your spray.

Look at what you typically find in supermarket lightening sprays:

You read all that without batting an eyelid? Good for you.

Now try saying it out loud. Go ahead, I'll wait for you.

Or this one:

That's a lot, isn't it?

And these are just TWO of dozens of examples. Some INCI lists for lightening sprays include over 30 different ingredients.

The problem of preservatives and chemical additives

In these endless lists, you often find :

Why so many ingredients? Because every harsh chemical needs another chemical to counterbalance or mask its effects.

Damaged by high-concentration peroxide? Add synthetic conditioners. Smell bad? Add a strong chemical fragrance. Irritated? Add a buffering agent. Can't keep well? Add 3 types of preservatives.

It's a chemical vicious circle.

The marketing trap: "Natural origin" vs. "Natural ingredients".

Now let's talk about a marketing trick that the cosmetics industry loves to use.

You've probably seen these words on packaging:

• "93% ingredients of natural origin".
• "Natural formula
• "Based on ingredients of natural origin".

Sounds good, doesn't it? Almost... natural?

Here's the truth no one's telling you:

Case in point:

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate is considered "naturally occurring" because it is derived from coconut oil... after 10 stages of intensive chemical transformation, including reactions with ethylene oxide.
• PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is "of natural origin" because it comes from castor oil... after chemical hydrogenation and ethoxylation.

It's like saying that an ultra-processed industrial apple pie is "naturally occurring" because it contains apples somewhere in the process.

Technically true. Practically deceptive.

The practical problems of these formulations

Beyond the daunting list, what are the real problems?

Notes from verification applications (Yuka, INCI Beauty)

You may be used to using Yuka or INCI Beauty to check your cosmetics.

Look at the typical notes of supermarket lightening sprays:

• Spray A: 5.4/20 on INCI Beauty (Poor)
• Spray B: 5.8/20 on INCI Beauty (Poor)
• Spray C: 12.8/20 on INCI Beauty (Medium)

Why so many ingredients?

You may be asking yourself, "But why do the big brands put in so many ingredients if it doesn't help?"

There are several reasons for this:

• To mask undesirable effects: Each aggressive ingredient requires another ingredient to compensate for its negative effects.
• To stabilize the formula: the more different active ingredients you have, the more stabilizing agents you need
• To extend shelf life: Products should last 2-3 years on the shelf.
• To justify the price: the more complex the formulation, the more impressive technology names can be invented: "Complexe BlondMend™", "Technologie AquaProtect™", etc. Sounds serious. Sounds scientific. It justifies the price.

What users say (online reviews)

When you dig through reviews of these supermarket lightening sprays, here's what you regularly find:

See the pattern? The "BUT" is almost always there.

Why? Because these formulations make a choice: to prioritize rapid efficacy at the expense of hair health.

The simplicity test

Take this simple test:

Take any supermarket lightening spray. Turn it upside down. Read the INCI list aloud.

If you can pronounce and understand less than 50% of the ingredients... ask yourself if you really want to put this on your hair 2-3 times a week for months on end.

Now compare with OMAD'S:

What does it mean in plain English?

• Aqua = Water (infused with love 🤍)
• Hydrogen Peroxide = 5% hydrogen peroxide (carefully dosed oxidizing agent for lightening)
• Citric Acid = Citric acid (natural preservative)
• Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract = Chamomile flower extract (for beautiful golden highlights)
• Centaurea Cyanus Flower = Cornflower (to counter yellow highlights)
• Potassium Sorbate = Natural preservative
• Sodium Benzoate = Natural preservative

Why you should care

You may be thinking, "Yes, but if it's on sale, it must be safe, right?"

Legally, yes. These products comply with European cosmetics regulations (which are among the strictest in the world).

But "legal" doesn't mean "optimal for your hair".

Think of it this way:

McDonald's fries are legal and meet all food standards. That doesn't mean they're the best choice for your health if you eat them every day.

It's the same with cosmetics. Yes, you can use a lightening spray with 30 chemical ingredients. Yes, your hair will lighten. But at what price?

The truth about marketing "innovations

Have you noticed how each brand invents its own "exclusive technology"?

• "BlondMend™ complex with restorative proteins"
• "AquaShield™ technology to protect the fiber"
• "RevitaPlex™ formula enriched with keratin"

It looks serious. It's innovative. It justifies the premium price.

But look at the INCI list: you'll often find the same basic ingredients with just a different trade name.

What you really deserve

You deserve to know exactly what you're putting on your hair.

You deserve a list of ingredients you can pronounce and understand.

You deserve not to have to choose between "thinning" and "healthy hair".

You deserve transparency. Not smoke and mirrors marketing with made-up technology names.

That's why OMAD'S exists.

Not to be "cheaper" than the others. Not to be "faster" than the others.

But to be honest, transparent and respectful of your hair.

Revolution means a return to simplicity

In 1954, Pioupiou didn't have access to 30 different chemical ingredients in his Belgian kitchen.

She had the essentials. The bare essentials. And it worked.

70 years later, we've just perfected the formula with modern science. But the principle remains the same:

The question you need to ask yourself now:

Do you want to keep putting products on your hair that you don't even understand half of the ingredients?

Or do you want simplicity, transparency and respect for your hair fiber?

The choice is yours.

But now you know. And you can't un-know.

In the next chapter, we'll talk about the OMAD'S approach. How we've managed to create a formula that really brightens, without that long list of ingredients. How 7 ingredients can do more than 35.

Because sometimes less really is more.

OMAD'S spray: a different approach

Now, let me tell you about our approach. Pioupiou's, born in 1954 in a small Belgian kitchen, and perfected over 70 years of family transmission.

Our composition: simplicity and efficiency

That's it. 7 ingredients. Not 47.

Why 5% peroxide?

That's THE crucial scientific question. Here's the honest answer:

Our choice of 5% represents the optimum balance point. At this concentration, the impact on hair structure remains moderate and manageable for repeated domestic use. Studies show that hair retains its functional integrity with slight, manageable cuticle modifications. Unlike professional concentrations, which cause significant structural damage, the 5% level enables gradual lightening while preserving hair health.

How does it really work?

The simplified mechanism :

Without heat, the reaction remains too slow for a visible change to appear within a reasonable time. That's why we always insist: after application, blow-dry your hair for at least 5-7 minutes, or expose it to the sun.

The difference with other sprays

Orange hair, red highlights and other nightmares

OK, let's talk about the subject that freaks out every girl who wants to lighten her hair: orange highlights.

You've probably seen it all: a girl who wanted a gorgeous golden blond and ended up with a fluorescent orange mane. An absolute nightmare.

But why does it happen? And above all, how can it be avoided?

Why does hair turn orange?

It's simple: lightening is not instantaneous. Your hair goes through different color phases before reaching blonde:

Each phase corresponds to a progressive melanin transformation. You can't "skip" phases. If your hair is dark brown, it MUST go through orange before going blond.

Why OMAD'S (largely) avoids the orange problem

Our approach is different: progressive + neutralization option if necessary.

3. What if orange highlights appear? OMAD'S violet shampoo

Here's a smart option if you ever notice highlights that are a little too warm or orange: purple shampoo.

How does it work?

Ever heard of the color wheel? Here are the opposing and neutralizing pairings:

So :

• VIOLET shampoo neutralizes YELLOW tones
• BLUE shampoo neutralizes ORANGE tones

OMAD'S Violet Shampoo contains violet pigments that temporarily deposit on your hair. These pigments neutralize unwanted yellow tones.

OMAD'S strategy

"It doesn't work on me" and other myths

We all have that friend who says, "I've tried it, it doesn't work on me."

Except... scientifically, that's impossible. If you have melanin in your hair (and you do, that's why it has color), that melanin CAN be gradually transformed.

So why do some people think "it doesn't work"?

Myth #1: "My hair is too dark".

The truth: Very dark hair contains more melanin, so it takes LONGER to lighten. It's not that it won't lighten, it's that it takes more application.

If you have dark brown or brunette hair, you will need :

• 8-12 weeks instead of 4-8 weeks
• 3 applications per week instead of 2
• Patience and consistency

But it works. It always does.

Myth #2: "My hair resists everything".

The truth: Your hair doesn't "resist". But some factors can slow down the lightening process:

Myth #3: "The spray stopped working after a few weeks".

The truth: It's not the spray that's stopped working, it's that you've reached a plateau.

Lightening is not linear. The first transformations produce visible results quickly. But the more you move towards lighter tones, the more patience each additional tone requires.

Solution: Continue maintenance applications (1-2x/week). The transformation continues, just in a more subtle way.

Myth #4: "My hair has turned orange, so it doesn't work."

The truth: Orange = normal intermediate phase of lightening (see Chapter 8).

If your hair turns orange, it means it's WORKING. You're just in the middle of the process. Keep going + add purple shampoo if needed to neutralize.

The real reason for "failures

In 90% of cases, when someone says "it doesn't work on me", it's for one of these reasons:

• Impatience: Stopped after 2-3 weeks with no visible results
• Irregularity: Sporadic applications instead of 2-3x/week all the time
• Incorrect application: Spray applied to COMPLETELY WET hair or without heat activation after
• Unrealistic expectations: Going from brunette to platinum blonde in 1 month

Extraordinary transformations for our Blondies

Because words are fine, but real transformations are better, here are a few stories of our Blondies who have found their light again.

🔄 "Failed Salon Repaired" Transformations

🌟 The Final Message

These testimonials are no exception.

These are not isolated cases.

These are not sponsored collaborations or bought reviews.

These are 2000+ real women who have regained their light.

Each with her own story. Each with its initial doubts. Each with her own unique transformation.

But they all had one thing in common: they chose to believe that there was another way. One that respected their hair. A way that respected their budget. One that respects their time.

And today, they're shining.

When does your transformation begin?