Milkshake Hair Care: The Complete South African Guide

TL;DR:

• Milkshake is an Italian professional hair care brand built around milk proteins and fruit acids — the ingredients that give the range its name and its distinctive conditioning performance
• The range is particularly strong for colour-treated hair — the milk proteins help preserve colour vibrancy and restore condition after processing
• Milkshake Silver Shine is one of the best toning ranges for grey, silver and white hair in the professional market
• The Sweet Camomile range is formulated specifically for naturally blonde and highlighted hair
• All Milkshake products are paraben-free and vegan-friendly, and the full range is available at Partners Hair online and in-salon

Milkshake is one of the professional ranges we’ve stocked at Partners Hair for years — and one of the most consistently recommended by our stylists for colour-treated, silver and damaged hair. Here’s how the brand works and which range is right for your hair.

Meet the experts:
Royston and Warren at Cavendish Square — Judy, head trainer — Lewis, owner — Jackie at Gardens Centre — Debbie and Nikí at V&A Waterfront — Danny and Charlene at Canal Walk — Lynette, Samantha and Dominique at Constantia Village

01 — What Makes Milkshake Different

The Milkshake brand, created by Italian brand Faipa International, is built around two core ingredient types: milk proteins and fruit acids. Milk proteins (hydrolysed milk proteins) penetrate the hair shaft to restore strength and condition from the inside. Fruit acids work on the cuticle to smooth, seal and add shine. The combination gives Milkshake products their distinctive conditioning performance — particularly effective for hair that has been processed by colour, bleach, or chemical treatments.

“The conditioning effect of Milkshake is genuinely noticeable,” says Lewis. “Clients who switch from a standard professional shampoo and conditioner to a Milkshake range consistently comment on the softness and shine within the first few washes. The milk protein formulation is the differentiator — it’s a real ingredient story rather than just marketing.”

02 — Milkshake Silver Shine: The Best Range for Grey and White Hair

Silver Shine is designed for grey, silver, white and naturally blonde hair. The range uses purple pigments to neutralise yellow tones — the same toning principle as purple shampoo, but in a more conditioning, complete system. The Silver Shine Shampoo, Conditioner, Mask and Leave-In work together to keep silver and grey hair bright, cool-toned and conditioned. It’s one of the most effective professional toning systems for natural and coloured silver hair in the South African market.

“Silver Shine is the range I recommend to every grey-haired client who comes in,” says Debbie at the Waterfront. “Grey and white hair is naturally porous and picks up warm, yellow tones quickly — from UV, from water minerals, from styling products. Silver Shine neutralises that and keeps the cool tone that makes grey look clean and intentional rather than yellow and dull.”

03 — Sweet Camomile: For Blonde and Highlighted Hair

Sweet Camomile is Milkshake’s range for naturally blonde, highlighted and lightened hair. Where Silver Shine uses purple toning, Sweet Camomile uses camomile extract to gently brighten blonde tones and enhance natural warmth in a controlled way. It’s lighter on the toning side — enhancing blonde rather than neutralising — and the conditioning base is similar to the rest of the range: milk proteins and fruit acids for softness and shine.

“For naturally blonde clients who don’t need heavy toning but want their hair brighter and more vibrant, Sweet Camomile is ideal,” says Royston at Cavendish. “It’s not a corrective toner. It’s more of an enhancer — it makes blonde look like its best version without altering the base significantly.”

04 — Colour Care: For Colour-Treated Hair

The Milkshake Colour Care range is formulated to maintain vibrancy and condition in colour-treated hair. Sulphate-free cleansing prevents colour stripping, while the milk protein base restores the condition that colouring processes deplete. Particularly recommended for clients who colour regularly and find their hair becoming increasingly porous and dry between appointments.

“Colour Care is the workhorse of the range for our regular colour clients,” says Charlene at Canal Walk. “The sulphate-free formula means colour lasts noticeably longer than with standard professional shampoos. The conditioning is strong enough to restore the feel of processed hair back to something manageable and soft, even between appointments.”

05 — Intensive Treatments and Masks

The Milkshake Incredible Milk is a 12-benefit leave-in treatment and heat protectant that’s become a favourite across our salons — lightweight, heat-protective to 230°C, and multitasking enough to replace several steps in a routine. The Milkshake Mask ranges (moisture, repair, colour care) are used as weekly treatments for deep conditioning. They perform best when left on for five to ten minutes, following the standard mask protocol.

“Millkshake Incredible Milk is honestly one of the most versatile products we stock,” says Jackie at Gardens Centre. “Leave-in, heat protectant, detangler, frizz control, shine — all in one spray. For clients who want a simplified routine without sacrificing performance, it covers a lot of bases.”

06 — Who Milkshake Is For

Milkshake suits colour-treated hair particularly well, but the range covers most concerns. Silver Shine is the most specific — for grey, silver and white tones. Sweet Camomile for natural and highlighted blondes. Colour Care for all colour-treated types. The general moisture and repair ranges suit dry and processed hair across colours. Milkshake products are paraben-free and vegan-friendly throughout the range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Milkshake hair care?

Milkshake is an Italian professional hair care brand by Faipa International, formulated with milk proteins and fruit acids. It’s known for strong conditioning performance and specialised ranges for silver, blonde and colour-treated hair.

Is Milkshake Silver Shine good for grey hair?

Yes — it’s one of the best professional toning ranges available for grey, white and silver hair. The purple pigments neutralise yellow tones while the milk protein base conditions the naturally porous grey hair structure.

Is Milkshake sulphate-free?

The Colour Care and Silver Shine ranges are sulphate-free. Check specific products — the conditioning ranges generally use gentler cleansers appropriate for processed hair.

Is Milkshake vegan?

Yes — the Milkshake range is vegan-friendly throughout. Despite the name, no animal-derived milk is used. The ‘milk protein’ ingredients are hydrolysed proteins derived from plant sources.

Where can I buy Milkshake hair products in South Africa?

At Partners Hair salons and online at partnershair.co.za. Free delivery on orders over R390. All Milkshake products at Partners Hair are authenticated and sourced from official South African distributors.

Which Milkshake product should I use for my hair type?

Grey or silver hair: Silver Shine. Natural or highlighted blonde: Sweet Camomile. Colour-treated hair: Colour Care. Dry or damaged hair: Moisture Plus or the Repair range. For personalised advice, our stylists are across all 24 Cape Town salon locations.

Browse the full Milkshake range at Partners Hair, or find your nearest salon for a personalised recommendation. Free delivery on orders over R390.