When Miriam Quevedo met her husband who’s family owned a cosmetic manufacturing company they both knew that they wanted to create something together. With his business background and her experience coming from an apothecary family with a long time experience they found a luxury hair and scalp care line with the best, non-chemical ingredients. We had a chat in Barcelona
IRMA: Your family used to be apothecaries in Barcelona is that how you got inspired to launch your own product hair line for healthy hair care?
MIRIAM QUEVEDO: As a child and teenager, I spent my summers working in my family’s herbal apothecary. There, I discovered my passion for creating skin and hair treatments using natural flowers, medicinal plants and precious ingredients. I knew that if I could combine what I mastered using these precious ingredients with cutting-edge scientific innovation I could offer the best treatment based products to care for the skin, hair and scalp.
When I met my husband whose family owned a laboratory and R&D facilities for over 35 years we were determined to create a brand together in 2005.
IRMA: What is the most important in hair care today?
MIRIAM QUEVEDO: What many people don’t realize is that our scalp is an extension of our skin and we have to treat it the same way. When we think about haircare we cannot simply think of our hair, we need to think of our scalp too! After all, you cannot have healthy hair without having a healthy scalp. Treatment for the scalp is key and most often people forget that step or do not realize that it is necessary. On a regular basis, it is important to support cellular turnover and remove build up from product, cells, sebum, and environment. Think about it like exfoliating the face so that the serum can reach the dermis at a cellular level to do its work. The Extreme Caviar Scalp Scrub Mask is a luxurious pre-treatment that renews the scalp and prepares it for treatment with effective, gentle exfoliation. It is also a great cell detox booster with Tahitian mother of pearl. This product also helps neutralize scalp imbalances which keeps hair healthy when it is at its optimal PH. It serves as a powerful conditioner and protecting ingredients, such as caviar and pro-vitamin B5, to add smoothness and suppleness, making it a power player in your haircare routine.
IRMA How can I recognize my overall well-being by my hair?
MIRIAM QUEVEDO: Consistency is key. It’s important that you develop a ritual that addresses your hair and scalp’s needs. I always recommend a pre-treatment for your scalp once a week, like our Extreme Caviar Exfoliating Scalp Scrub Mask that will help remove build-up, toxins, and allow the hair follicle to breath, preparing it for subsequent treatments. Next, use a selection of products including a shampoo, conditioner or mask, and a serum that have a potent blend of active ingredients that will help to repair damage, restore hydration and vitality. Our haircare products are packed with precious ingredients such as Caviar, 24K Gold, Platinum and Diamond Powder along with cutting-edge peptides, vitamins, antioxidants and organic botanicals to name a few. These ingredients work synergistically to repair damage caused by chemical, environmental and thermal aging or the natural aging process. They also help regulate the scalp and promote healthy hair growth while defending against aggressors like pollution, UV rays, or harsh treatments. It’s also important to use products that are free of harmful ingredients like sulfates, parabens and mineral oils – this is a core principal for Miriam Quevedo products.
IRMA: What is the best internal ingredient I can give my hair?
MIRIAM QUEVEDO: The hair is constantly renewing cells and its growth and vitality are very sensitive to diet imbalances. A poor nutrition can weaken the bulb, where the hair is born. It is recommended to follow a healthy and balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables that are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. This will ensure the hair follicle has the necessary nutrients to promote healthy hair growth and defend against aggressors. It’s also very important to drink plenty of water (2 liters per day) to make sure your hair and skin are hydrated.
IRMA: Which is your most effective remedy for hair when it is getting older?
MIRIAM QUEVEDO: One of the main concerns with aging hair is that it gets thinner and people tend to experience hair loss. Over time our hair grows finer and we lose the volume we once had. First, as mentioned above, it’s important to exfoliate the scalp. Next, use a shampoo that strengthens weak and thinning hair and delivers healthy, revitalized locks. As a third step, I recommended using our Extreme Caviar Conditioner Balm after each shampoo. The Caviar based formula provides vitality, hydration, nutrition and shine while it acts against the aging process, treating the five most common symptoms of unhealthy hair: split ends, eroded cuticles, premature hair loss, lack of vitality, and irregular sebaceous glands.
IRMA: A tip on how to protect your hair against the sun and pollution?
MIRIAM QUEVEDO: Just like your skin, both your hair and scalp are at risk for damage cause by UVA/UVB rays and pollution, which can cause dryness, make hair brittle, leave you with brassy undertones or even burn your scalp. Protecting against UV damage and pollution is a critical step in your haircare routine, especially during the summer. I recommend using a scalp-friendly sunscreen for your hair and scalp. Our Glacial White Caviar Resort SPF 30 Dry Oil for Hair and Body is a protective mist to defend against harmful UVA/UVB rays. The instant barrier function locks in moisture while shielding against photo-aging and irreversible DNA damage.
Secondly, it’s important to protect your color when exposed to the sun as it can alter your color-treatment and cause discoloration.
IRMA: Is there an overnight treatment for mature hair?
MIRIAM QUEVEDO: One of my favourite overnight treatments is a custom blend of a Miriam Quevedo Treatment Mask (we have a total of 5 based on individual needs), then add a few drops of our Sublime Gold Oil for thicker hair or Glacial White Caviar Hydra-pure Precious Elixir for finer hair, and complete the mixture with a 1/3 vial of one of our Extreme Caviar Bio-regenerative Shock Treatments (we have four depending on individual concerns: Hair Loss, Dandruff, Oily Hair or Vitamin reinforcement). This blend work wonders overnight to deeply repair damage, restore hydration and nourish both hair and scalp with critical nutrients. After shampooing and conditioning in the morning your hair will visibly look and feel healthier with renewed radiance.
IRMA: Spanish women are known for their beautiful hair, what is their secret?
MIRIAM QUEVEDO: We take beauty very seriously in Spain, but we start by addressing how to make our skin and hair be beautiful, not just look that way. Skin care and hair care are lifelong commitments requiring ritual, preventative treatments and reparative therapies. Spanish women believe exterior beauty is more than covering up problems with makeup and disguising damaged hair with hairspray. It’s always in synergy with beauty from inside. Spanish people have enjoyed life from ancient times with a nutritious Mediterranean diet, medicinal remedies and leisure activities.
When in Barcelona book your personal Hair treatment at the Miriam Quevedo studio at the Mandarin Oriental spa. For enquiries contact :
Phone+34 93 151 87 51