I’m a sucker for hair products – see my ‘hair drawer’ below.
But, as you know, there’s always room for one more.
L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Anti-deposit Protector Concentrated Hair Oil
L’Oreal Professional’s Metal Detox Hair Oil is an ultra-nourishing treatment that helps to remove the build-up of damaging copper particles that can be found in shower water.
Fortified with glicoamine, the innovative formula protects against dulling metal particles being deposited on the hair, minimising the risk of breakage, brittleness and colour fade.
Its rich consistency helps to smooth the lengths without weighing them down for up to 24 hours, defending from the effects of humidity, alongside providing heat protection of up to 230°C.
Ideal for all hair types and textures, the silky formula promotes a high-shine, satin-soft result with a stronger-feeling finish.
I’m not entirely sure what first led me to try this metal detox oil but it’s safe to say it has quickly become a staple in my routine.
Maintaining healthy-looking hair is a challenge at sixty, especially when exposure to hard water, pollution, and regular colouring treatments over 35 years can leave it looking dull and lacklustre.
I washed and then styled my hair using this oil the day before my highlights appointment. My hairdresser brushed it through and asked me what products I had used because my hair was bouncy and shiny and he had never seen it in such good condition. Well, that was it for me. I’m on my second bottle and have just purchased a third one.
If I love something I buy multiples because I think everyone will love it and then worry it’ll go viral on TikTok and sell out – which has happened.
This is my new favourite hair product at least until the next one comes along!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I find it hard to call this an oil. It feels more like a thick, weirdly non-greasy, serum. The scent is pleasant enough but not overpowering.
APPLICATION
I apply three pumps to damp, towel-dried hair. The directions recommend one pump for fine hair (which mine is) and two for thicker hair, but through trial and error, I find I need three to get the best result. This is unusual for me, as I’m typically very cautious with hair products to avoid making my hair greasy. It also means I’m using up a lot of expensive product.
The ‘oil’ distributes effortlessly through my mid-lengths and ends, leaving no residue or greasiness behind.
WHY METAL DETOX MATTERS
I used to think that colouring and heat styling were the primary causes of hair damage, but it turns out that metal in shower water is one of the main culprits behind hair breakage. Each time you wash your hair, metals penetrate the hair shaft, weakening the strands. Porous hair (hellooo!) is at an even higher risk, as it absorbs twice as much water – and, with it, more metal – increasing the chances of damage and breakage.
MY HAIR BLOW-DRY ROUTINE
I use four hair products to style my fine hair. To prevent build-up, I regularly use a detox shampoo (just bought the OUAI one as it was in a bundle and I needed a travel-size OUAI leave-in conditioner for my holiday). On other days, I wash with a gentle shampoo and follow up with a light conditioner.
My heavy-duty conditioning treatments are:
Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense: Intensely Nourishing Soft Hair Mask 200ml £30.25 AllBeauty *
I’ve been using Kérastase since the 80s and though I have a lot of products from the range, this mask is the only constant. Hand on heart, I don’t need any of the others.
The other mask I use and this is a relative newcomer after I bought the travel set is:
Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Prickly Pear Oil 250ml £39.00 Look Fantastic *
Both the masks are so rich, I only use the tiniest blob from each and mix them together.
MY BLOW-DRY ESSENTIALS
Sebastian Professional Styling Trilliant Thermal Protection And Shimmer-Complex 150ml £27.00 £19.95 AllBeauty *
The hair brand Sebastian Professional has been around for a long time—at least 50 years. I know this because I used their ‘Molding Mud’ (that IS how you spell it) to style my hair when it was super short, and that was a very long time ago!
Alongside its heat protection properties, Trilliant leaves my hair shiny and soft without making it greasy or weighing it down. You can’t feel it in your hair, but it leaves it silky with a shine that catches the light (shake to activate the shimmer particles). Plus, it has a delicious yet subtle melon fragrance.
I use three or four sprays all over my hair, from roots to ends.
OUAI Leave In Conditioner 140ml £26.00 Look Fantastic *
Another brand I’ve been using for years, though the leave-in conditioner is newish.
No one seems to remember this, but OUAI once sold foil sachets of their hair mask in boxes of eight. I could get two treatments out of each sachet. I have a tub of their Treatment Masque, but it doesn’t seem the same.
I love the leave-in conditioner though and use three sprays from mid-lengths down. Again, it has heat protection properties and a gorgeous fragrance.
L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Anti-deposit Protector Concentrated Hair Oil 50ml usually £27-30.00 £23.95 AllBeauty *
Three pumps as described below, from mid-lengths down.
Kérastase Nutritive Nutri-Supplement Split Ends Serum 50ml usually £47.00 £35.45 AllBeauty *
This might seem a bit excessive, especially considering the price – though I certainly didn’t pay anywhere near £35.00 for my bottle. I only use a few drops on the ends, the serum works beautifully to ‘seal’ up the wispy bits. Although you can’t close flyaways, you can make them feel thicker. I must have had it a while as I’m halfway through the bottle.
In the 80s, Kérastase produced the most fantastic finishing hair serum, and I’ve been searching ever since to see if they’ve reintroduced it in another form. I will buy anything that even vaguely resembles it.
My brush is the utterly indispensable Tangle Teezer Fine & Fragile Detangling Hairbrush £14.00 (but cheaper at Justmylook and John Lewis). It glides through hair without tugging.
HOW I USE THE METAL DETOX OIL
I use four products to style my hair, but only small amounts of each. I use three full pumps of this oil – and for me, that’s quite a lot. I apply it to the mid-lengths down, after blow drying, my hair looks instantly smoother and shinier. The shine carries through to the next day as well.
RESULTS
After using the Metal Detox Hair Oil for a couple of weeks, I noticed a significant difference in my hair’s overall condition. It felt softer, looked shinier, and was much easier to manage. The oil claims to prevent metal deposits, a hidden culprit behind dull, brittle hair. While I can’t directly measure the reduction of metals, my hair certainly feels and looks cleaner and healthier.
It also seems to extend the life of my colour, as my highlights stayed vibrant for longer than usual. My hair grows very fast so I appreciate this a lot!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you’re looking for a lightweight, non-greasy oil that protects and nourishes, the L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Anti-Deposit Protector Concentrated Hair Oil is a fantastic option. Its ability to prevent metal deposits and protect against environmental aggressors, all while adding shine and softness, makes it a must-have for anyone dealing with dull, lifeless hair.
At £30.00 per bottle, it’s not the cheapest hair oil on the market, but for its protective benefits and salon-quality results, I think it’s well worth the investment. Also, buying it from AllBeauty takes the sting out of the price.
THE FULL METAL DETOX RANGE
L’Oréal’s Metal Detox range includes several other products; a pre-treatment spray, shampoo, hair mask, and protection cream, available (apart from the pre-treatment spray). on AllBeauty at heavily discounted prices (as of 10/10/24).
While I haven’t tried the entire range yet, I’m thoroughly impressed with the results I’ve achieved using just the oil.
Anti-Metal Shampoo 300ml – usually £26.50 £21.20 AllBeauty *
Anti-Deposit Protector Mask 250ml – usually £30.00 £23.80 AllBeauty *
Unlike some other discount retailers, all their stock is new and clean—there’s nothing worse than ordering a product that arrives in a dusty, old box!
SHOPPING INFO
L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Anti-deposit Protector Concentrated Hair Oil 50ml £23.95 (usually £27-30.00) AllBeauty *
*Affiliate links
