John Nollet

As the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival comes to a close, we've been once again intrigued by all things French. French women are renowned for their beauty, whether it be an insouciant flip of the hair, the evening glamour of a deep red lip, the embrace of "flaws" like gap teeth: all so, French. But what else makes these women uniquely chic? To find out, we asked a few in-the-know people to explain the je ne sais quoi of French beauty. Keep reading.

Over the weekend, the French celebrated Bastille Day, honouring French independence and all things Gallic. French women are renowned for their beauty, which, as anyone who's strolled the Canal St-Martin in Paris can attest, comes forth in diverse forms. An insouciant flip of the hair, the evening glamour of a deep red lip, the embrace of "flaws" like gap teeth: all so French. But what else makes these women uniquely chic? To find out, we asked a few in-the-know people to explain the je ne sais quoi of French beauty. Keep reading to find out what they said.

Ah, the great sulfate debate. Found in cleansers such as shampoos and body washes, sulfates are chemical compounds that create the foam and lather. While one camp says they're not ideal because they can be drying and/or irritating, the other says they're necessary in order to make the hair truly clean.

L'Oréal ambassador John Nollet, who has worked with stars such as Diane Kruger and Vanessa Paradis, is under the mindset that both stances have merit. "We don't have to say sulfates are good or sulfates are bad; it all depends on your texture, your nature, and your hair habit," he explains. So to find out when he recommends using sulfate shampoos (and when he does not), just keep reading.

When in doubt, go back to the basics. That's exactly what French hairstylist, photographer, and L'Oréal ambassador John Nollet (who counts stars like Vanessa Paradis and Diane Kruger among his clientele) advised when asked his top tips for achieving healthier hair. And as you might expect, it all starts with the right foundations.

• First, ace your base: Get beautiful hair from the get-go by using the proper shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Not sure where to begin? Ask your stylist for a thorough consultation so there are no doubts as to what type of cleanser and hydrating treatment your strands really need.
• Then, perfect your cut: "The second one is an amazing haircut," Nollet says. "If you have a beautiful haircut, you can go out of the shower and let your hair dry naturally." The right cut will also allow you to play around with the texture of your hair, so you can go from curls to sleek and straight (and vice versa) and still look just as gorgeous. Something else that never hurts? "Beautiful colour, of course."

This year's Cannes Film Festival has wrapped up, but we're still amazed by the beauty looks — and much of those glamorous looks were created by a trio of the world's most in-demand hair and makeup artists. Colourist Christophe Robin, hairstylist John Nollet (pictured), and makeup artist Billy B, all L'Oréal ambassadors, tended to stars such as Marion Cotillard and Freida Pinto. Here, they share their advice on how you can achieve a bit of Croisette-level glamour in your everyday life. Read more.

In time for World AIDS Day today, L’Oréal Australia has released a beaut-iful limited edition 2011 Hairdressers Against AIDS calendar. Celebrating its 10th anniversary next month, Hairdressers Against AIDS is a global initiative that aims to educate thousands of hairdressers on the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, who then go on to raise awareness themselves. The L’Oréal 2011 Hairdressers Against AIDS calendar was shot by internationally acclaimed hairdresser and photographer John Nollet, and features gorgeous black and white imagery of some of the most globally recognised women around, including Lou Doillon, Doutzen Kroes, Diane Kruger, Monica Cruz, Vanessa Paradis, Monica Bellucci and Audrey Tautou. It would make a gorgeous gift and ALL proceeds from the sales go to the Victorian AIDS Council.

The 2011 Hairdressers Against AIDS calendar ($20) will be available in selected salons from November 20. For a full list of participating salons, check out the photos below.