Kerastase vs. L’Oreal – Is The Price Difference Worth It?
Summer is almost here! Is anyone else excited to hit the beach? I know I’ve been looking for the perfect swimsuit, bag, and vacation spot. After such a long winter, I’m loving the feeling of putting the top down on my car and catching some sun.
But, yikes, one thing I’m not looking forward to is sun-damaged hair. Not to mention how much seawater can dry out everything. I want to actually enjoy my vacation (while it happens) and not be running to rinse off every few hours.
One product that’s a lifesaver for these situations is hair oil. I’ve been looking into Kerastase’s line of hair oils along with L’Oreal’s, and I’ve found some great stuff here. Which one is ultimately better, though?
First and foremost, what’s important to me is hair vibrancy, length, and dryness control. So if this is the same stuff you’re into, read on.
About the Companies: Kerastase vs. L’Oreal
These are household names, right? I remember hearing about L’Oreal growing up, but it was Kerastase I had to do a little extra research on. We can find L’Oreal products in most retail stores, but Kerastase mostly needs to be ordered online.
It turns out that L’Oreal actually owns Kerastase and has for a long time (since 1964). The main difference between the product lines is that Kerastase is more high-end luxury, and L’Oreal’s main products are much more affordable.
Also, L’Oreal, as the parent company, produces a lot more items, including skincare. So, both are pretty amazing, but I think the results from different products speak for themselves. Remember, at the end of the day, it’s more about how a specific product works for your hair. So take what I have to say with a grain of salt! Try out both and see what works for you.
Speaking of, let me introduce our products: Kerastase’s Elixir Ultime Oil Serum and L’Oreal’s Elvive Extraordinary Oil Treatment. We’ll go over how they’re used, what’s different, and the overall pros and cons of each.
Extraordinary Oil vs Elixir Ultime Oil
Hair oils are typically used the same way and for the same reasons. It’s just when to apply them that’s the difference. So, with both Kerastase and L’Oreal, the oils are there to protect and nourish your hair, keeping it bouncy and shiny all year long.
The difference here is that the Elvive line is suggested as a cleanliness boost. You can apply before or after shampooing to improve it or save the treatment until you’re ready to style.
The Elixir Ultime, on the other hand, has a blending preference. You can mix it in with similar products or even use it as a massage oil. I know I’d love a good scalp massage with this one. So far, Kerastase seems like the more luxurious choice.
Ingredients
A lot of readers are allergy conscious, so I like to dedicate a little space to the list of the major ingredients for each product. That way, you can steer clear of anything problematic!
For Elvive, the major components are:
- Camellia flower oil
- Sunflower oil
- Gardenia extract
- Rose Canine extract
For Elixir Ultime, the ingredients are:
- Marula oil
- Camellia oil
- Argan oil
Also, these are not exhaustive lists, but just some of the ingredients that jumped out at me. It seems like overall, the Elvive line has mostly flower extracts, where the Essentiel includes more nut and flower oils.
All of these are great for locking in moisture, and the added benefit is that they smell good too. What they have in common is their targeted hair types (mostly dry or damaged) and that they include similar application techniques.
So what are the benefits and drawbacks?
Pros and Cons of L’Oreal and Kerastase Oils
Your hair type actually plays a big part in this section. My hair is a little thinner than most and very straight, so it typically doesn’t need conditioner if I’m opting for oil treatment. However, if you’re coming at this with thicker, more dry hair, then definitely do both!
For the Kerastase Elixir Ultime, most people (myself included), are in love with how lightweight it is and how great it smells. While it’s not a complete miracle in a bottle, it does tame down unruly hair for easier styling. The final point that gets most people is price, much more pricier than L’Oreal.
L’Oreal’s Elvive Extraordinary oil is great for people with dry scalps as it’s great at keeping in moisture. If you don’t have a problem with a dry scalp, then you might need to use only a little.
The same goes for my friends with dryer hair to normal. One thing that jumped out at me from the reviews is how strong the fragrance can be, clashing with other products or perfumes. I didn’t think it was too strong, but it’s a matter of preference.
L’Oreal is, of course, the more affordable alternative. So if you need a lot of oil treatments, then this might be the safer bet.
Both will leave your hair much smoother after washing and help keep things under control as you style.
Conclusion?
If you’re looking for hair care, then you’ll definitely be taken care of with these L’Oreal and Kerastase products. Both lines have great reviews overall, leaving a lot of people happy, myself included. My thoughts are that Kerastase is a luxury line, so it’s more for people looking to spend a little extra for pampering.
