Beauty, Hair Care, Product Review

Kerastase: Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil – Review

This leave-in hair oil has been around for a long time. The gold bottle has attained a somewhat iconic status and is easily identified at the salon displays. Many swear by it and I am here to see if there is a reason why! Is it really as good as everyone says it is or is it just plain old marketing. Let’s find out.

Brand Claims

Multi-use hair oil comprised of a blend of precious hair oils for all hair types. A hydrating hair oil serum that delivers optimal hair nourishment and revives the hair’s strength. Creates frizz-free, super shiny hair with a subtle fragrance without oil buildup or a greasy finish.

Cost: 3000 INR for 100 ml

Ingredients

Cyclopentasiloxane • Dimethiconol • Zea Mays • Corn Germ Oil • Argania Spinosa Oil • Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil • Sclerocarya / Birrea Seed Oil • Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Linalool / Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil • Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract • Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone • Limonene • Coumarin • Benzyl Alcohol • Tocopherol • Parfum / Fragrance.

The star ingredients in the product are argania spinosa kernel oil (or argan oil), cyclopentasiloxane (a silicone which softens the hair and doubles up as heat protection) and a mix of other plant-based oils such as corn oil and pracaxi seed oil, known for strengthening brittle hair strands.

How to Use

Apply 2-4 pumps depending on hair length throughout the lengths and ends of dry or towel-dried hair. Style as desired.

Multi-use hair oil may be applied the following ways:

  • Pre-Cleanse: Apply to brushed hair and rinse out before applying shampoo to remove impurities
  • Pre-Blow Dry: Apply to towel-dried hair and blow dry as normal for additional protection
  • Finishing: Work into the ends of the hair to control frizz, smooth and style
  • Touch-up: Apply a drop to ends throughout the day for a touch of shine as needed
Kerastase: Elixir Ultime L'Huile Original Hair Oil - Review

About my Hair

I have 2-A hair type. The hair strands are thin, light and fragile. It is flatter at the root and lays close to the scalp, it starts becoming wavy from the ears down. The waves are fine with a loose, tousled texture. There isn’t a lot of volume nor a lot of definition and I run a risk of loosing whatever I have if I end up using a heavy hair styling product. It is long-ish, till the middle of my back and also quite limp over all due to the self-weight of the hair! Please keep in mind these pictures are taken on a relatively good hair day with some product & styling, without which the frizz is far worse!

Post covid I lost a lot of hair and then on I have just continued to lose hair, but I do see new growth which is smaller in length and is so light that gravity has no control on it, ultimately creates a lot of frizz. This frizz if untamed forms a halo around my head and makes people wonder if I am unwell because it does make me look quite frazzled! With that as context I have tried multiple things to tame that frizz and this product was one of them, unfortunately it could do nothing to tame the frizz!

My Experience

The oil has a nice silky texture. It’s thin, rich, and has good slip without feeling greasy. It has a subtle fragrance which subsides in a bit. The packaging is made of glass making it delicate and heavy & therefore impossible to travel with.

I have tried using it in multiple ways but most often I use it like a serum on towel dried hair. I also use it on dry hair when my hair feels very dehydrated and I am trying to make it presentable. I don’t use heat styling often but when I do I use this before blow dry or straightening.

I have also played around with the quantity of the product and the good thing is that it really doesn’t make your hair oily. After application the hair feels soft and is easier to comb or brush. Unfortunately that effect lasts for a very brief period of time. My hair returns to its natural unkempt ways soon after, and this product does absolutely nothing for my core issue i.e frizz. Also I did not notice any enhanced shine, nor lasting hydration, which truly surprised me because it does contain hydrating ingredients.

Kerastase: Elixir Ultime L'Huile Original Hair Oil - Review

Is it worth the price?

Kérastase’s Elixir Ultime retails for around 3000 INR for 100ml—that’s a hefty price tag for a hair oil, considering the competitor products can be sold for as low as 200 INR! In my experience with the product’s poor performance, there is no way I can justify spending that kind of money.
Although at this point I must say that I personally know people who truly believe in this product and re-purchase it often, so in the end I guess it depends on hair type.

Kerastase: Elixir Ultime L'Huile Original Hair Oil - Review

Closing Thoughts

I was disheartened to say the least when this didn’t work for me because there is so much media out there claiming that this product was a gift from gods and will help one achieve the hair of their dreams! Not to forget the big sum it costed, also it is not very easily available online so I purchased it from a high end salon in a mall. All that added together may have increased my disappointment, but it truly did nothing more than what a 200 INR Livon Serum offers, so my recommendation would be to try a sample if possible before investing in the full size.

Kerastase: Elixir Ultime L'Huile Original Hair Oil - Review

Let me know your experience in the comments if you have tried this product before. Here are some other hair products I have tried and may interest you. You can also find me on instagram where I share my beauty & lifestyle finds regularly.

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