I was invited by Influesnter to try out three products from L'Oreal's Extraordinary Oil Shampoo line in the latest voxbox. You know the kid is always ready to try out a freebie, and L'Oreal usually has good stuff. BUT, does it work on natural, 4c hair? This is the problem most naturals face--everything isn't for us, so a lot of brands that are in good standing with non-coarse or chemically straightened hair might not work for us. It might promise moisture, but bring dryness. I kept this in mind as I tested each product in the bunch.
A little hair history for you:
- I went natural about six years ago.
- I stopped using heat on my hair around the same time.
- I have 4c hair on the majority of my head, mostly at the top. The middle and lower layers appear to be either 4a or 4b.
- I use: TGIN, SheaMoisture, Garnier, Cantu, Aunt Jackie's, V05, and Herbal Essences interchangeably through the seasons. I have two regimen lineups for warm and cold weather.
- I try to trim my hair every 6 months, but sometimes fall behind.
- My tresses have two issues--frizz and dryness. I MUST keep it moisturized daily, or else.
- I also need to retwist my hair about every three days until the next wash.
- My regimen follows the LOC method. After I shampoo with my seasonal brand, I use Cantu's leave-in conditioner in my hair, followed by shea butter oil, then TGIN's Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer as my twist out styler.
The products
So, when Influenster questioned me about my hair issues, I made sure to be honest. From texture to worries, I let them know what I needed. I was surprised when they invited me so quickly. According to the information provided with the products, this particular line is supposed to bring nourishment, softness, and moisture to your hair after one wash. My kit included:
So, when Influenster questioned me about my hair issues, I made sure to be honest. From texture to worries, I let them know what I needed. I was surprised when they invited me so quickly. According to the information provided with the products, this particular line is supposed to bring nourishment, softness, and moisture to your hair after one wash. My kit included:
- Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo: Lightweight shampoo to improve the silkiness, softness, and luster of the hair. Has a six oil complex with Argan, Chamomile, Coconut, Amla, Soja, and Sunflower oil. Seals hair cuticles, and covers hair root to tip.
- Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Conditioner: Lightweight conditioner also with the previously mentioned oils. Is also a hair cuticle sealer and penetrates hair root to tip for healthier hair.
- Extraordinary Oil Lustrous Oil Serum: An "ultra light" serum to give your hair silky shine after wash, and/or during styling.
My overall impression--the entire line has a very perfumy smell that I'm not used to. Haven't smelled in a long time, since I've used Pantene Pro-V's line for "ethnic hair". It wasn't overwhelming, but it was rather prominent. Most of the products I use either lack perfume, or tend to have delicate fragrances.
My results
The serum was okay for unraveling my hair, but I wouldn't say it was great. It actually made my hair feel a little dry and waxy. It kept my hair shiny, as promised. It was also soft. Still, the texture and how it made it lay on my head sort of made it look awkward. I'm used to wild heights, because my hair always sits a certain way after I fluff it. It just seemed like the oil gave it fluff, but also made it appear to be heavier.
In the next few days, I used the shampoo and conditioner for my wash day. The shampoo cleansed my hair, but sort of left it dry. Not completely, only slightly. I felt like it might have stripped my hair of moisture, making it feel a little like wet straw. It also seemed to settle at the top of my head, even as I worked it into my scalp and hair. It didn't tangle my hair, so that was a plus.
The conditioner was a little better. Fragrant, but maintained its promise of softness and moisture. I was very pleased with the coverage, and how agreeable the slip was as I ran it through my hair with my conditioner brush. (I got a regular old plastic bristle brush from Walgreen's. It's Denman-like.)
Afterward, I decided to blow out my hair to trim it. I used the serum, as instructed after a wash. I ran it through my hair a few times before using a blowdryer and wide tooth comb. My thick hair took well to the oil and heat, and I was able to blow my hair out. My only issue--that slightly dry and waxy feeling my hair encountered, again. Then I proceeded to style my hair as usual with TGIN's Butter Cream. The heat had elongated my hair to it's natural length, which gave my twist out an awesome extra flare.
Final Opinion
I don't hate L'Oreal's line, but it's not really something I'd use for my hair. Parts of the line just did not seem to completely agree with my hair's texture. I think that maybe someone else with another hair type might benefit from these products. My tress issues with dryness might be different from someone else's. Perhaps if my hair were still getting relaxed, I would be able to use this line, and have a different review. The super perfumy smell was also a bit of a turn off. Perhaps if the products were tweaked for normal and coarse hair, I would give it another try.
Disclaimer: The products discussed in the body of this text were given to me by L'Oreal Paris (by way of Influenster) for review purposes. My opinions are my own, and there are no scripts or falsehoods here. My job is to spread WOM through social media and other sources to tell you my experience with the products provided. Your experiences may be different than mine, and it is up to you to decide whether or not this product is for you.