L’Oreal Paris currently sells two hair serums under the Elvive brand – the Dream Lengths Frizz Killer, and Extraordinary Oil Treatment.
Like every serum in the market, these products too contain a lot of organic compounds that may make you think if L’Oreal hair serum is good or bad for your hair.
We answer that question in this article.
Table of Contents
Can L’Oreal Serum irritate your scalp?
L’Oreal hair serum is mostly safe for your hair. There have been several clinical tests that indicate the L’Oreal Serum is compatible with most hair types.
It should however be noted that L’Oreal Serum contains alcohol and can cause irritation if not used properly. As such, it should never be applied to an open cut or sore.
L’Oreal Paris hair serums also contain other chemicals like Alpha-Isomethyl ionone that are known skin sensitizers. That is, they can cause an allergic reaction like rashes on sensitive skin.
Does L’Oreal Serum contain any harmful ingredients?
One of the main ingredients in any L’Oreal Serum is propylene glycol. This chemical helps to distribute the color evenly and provides a smooth application.
The US FDA considers Propylene glycol to be safe and its exposure is not known to be toxic. However, it is regarded as toxic when exposed to burns or compromised skin.
So, although it is generally safe, we would not recommend using the hair serum on wounded areas of your scalp or skin.
L’Oreal hair serum is free of parabens, sulfate, or silicones.
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Is L’Oreal Serum Toxic for Hair?
There have been some concerns raised on the Internet and on some online beauty forums that L’Oreal Serum is toxic for hair.
These claims are mostly unsubstantiated.
L’Oreal hair serum contains several synthetic chemicals such as propylene glycol and Dimethiconol. However, guidelines from the US FDA generally regard them as safe and do not consider them toxic.
According to the safety information provided by L’Oreal, once their product has been applied to either wet or dry hair it will not damage the hair.
Frequent use of hair serum should not cause any damage to the cuticle or cortex of the hair strand either.
L’Oreal Serum is safe for most people with all types of hair.
Of course, as previously mentioned, if you have sensitive skin or are allergic to certain types of chemicals you should always perform a test to make sure you will not be sensitive to the product.
Can I use L’Oreal Hair Serum daily?
L’Oreal recommends that you do NOT apply the product more than once daily in most cases.
For people with color-treated hair, it is recommended that they use an applicator brush to apply the product instead of using their fingers.
This will prevent any additional damage to the already damaged cuticle of color-treated hair caused by frequent rubbing or pulling.
L’Oreal also recommends that the product only be applied to wet hair.
If you have extremely dry or brittle hair, it may be beneficial for you to apply L’Oreal Serum to damp hair instead of soaking wet hair.
This will help prevent further damage from occurring and allow for a smoother application process.
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Does L’Oreal Hair Serum contain Ammonia?
L’Oreal hair serum (Elvive Extraordinary Oil as well as Dream Lengths Frizz Killer) do not contain Ammonia.
According to information provided by L’Oreal Paris, their products do not contain any of the harsh chemicals that are known to cause irritation to individuals that have extremely sensitive skin.
Is L’Oreal Hair Serum paraben-free?
Yes, L’Oreal Hair Serums are paraben-free. Neither Elvive Dream Lengths nor Elvive Extraordinary Oil Treatment contains any parabens.
However, while the Dream Lengths label explicitly calls itself paraben-free, Extraordinary Oil Treatment does not say so.
But having said that, there is no need to be concerned about parabens if they are found in any type of beauty product. These ingredients have been approved by the FDA for use in all types of cosmetics and topical applications.
Does L’Oreal Hair Serum contain formaldehyde?
No, L’Oreal hair serums do not contain Formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is a highly corrosive chemical that has been banned from use in all types of products for both skin and hair care.
Does L’Oreal Hair Serum contain silicone?
Yes, L’Oreal hair serum contains a silicone named Dimethiconol. However, this does not mean L’Oreal hair serum is bad for your scalp.
The reason silicones are considered bad is that they can cause a buildup on your scalp, and end up damaging your hair.
Dimethiconol is considered a “good silicone” since it is water-soluble. That is, it does not cause a buildup on the scalp and hence does not damage hair.
At the same time, it contains the other ‘good’ aspects of silicones which is to add softness, shine, and luster to your hair.
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Can I use L’Oreal Hair Serum to treat my hair loss?
The L’Oreal hair serum is not designed to treat hair loss. If you are experiencing a medical condition, it is recommended that you speak with your doctor or dermatologist about your options as they may be able to offer a more beneficial treatment option.
The FDA classifies L’Oreal Serum as a cosmetic. While it is able to provide benefits that are similar to medical treatments, it should not be considered an equivalent substitute for any medical treatment options.
Is L’Oreal Hair Serum better than oil?
It is not recommended that you use the oil directly on dry, damaged, or brittle hair strands.
When applied directly to the hair strand, oil can seep deep into the root and cause an increase in oil production.
Over time this can lead to increased breakage and thinning of the hair strand while also increasing the risk of developing ingrown hairs.
L’Oreal Serum provides an alternative means of nourishing dry, damaged, or brittle hair strands.
It essentially works as a cocktail that is able to provide the necessary nutrients without allowing them deep into the root of the strand.
This reduces the overall risk of developing ingrown hairs while also preventing excessive oil production.
Can I apply oil after applying L’Oreal hair serum?
It is not recommended that you apply the oil directly to the hair strand after applying L’Oreal Serum.
Why does L’Oreal Serum produce flakes?
You may experience flakes on your scalp if you applied an excessive amount of L’Oreal Serum to your hair. This can also cause other side effects such as itchiness and irritation.
Generally speaking, you may experience this when you apply the serum for the first time.
To avoid experiencing these negative effects, follow the recommended amount that should be used when applying L’Oreal Serum.
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Will L’Oreal hair serum cause a burning sensation?
There have been some reports of individuals experiencing a mild burning sensation when using the serum from L’Oreal Paris.
This is not an uncommon symptom and typically only occurs as a result of excessive use of the serum and when you apply it directly to dry hair strands.
In most cases, these symptoms are only felt for a short period of time and should dissipate shortly thereafter.
Can I use L’Oreal Serum overnight?
It is not recommended that you apply L’Oreal Hair Serum to hair strands before going to bed.
Generally speaking, it can be difficult to rinse out this product from your hair.
When applied before going to bed, it can lead to increased drying time the next day since it may be difficult to remove from the hair strand.
Can I use L’Oreal Serum more than once a week?
While L’Oreal Hair Serum is designed for daily or weekly usage, individuals should avoid overusing this product.
Overusing the serum can produce negative effects such as dryness and irritation.
When used correctly, L’Oreal Hair Serum can have a moisturizing effect that works to refresh hair strands without producing these negative side effects.
Final thoughts
On a concluding note, L’Oreal Hair Serum is a high-quality product that provides many benefits.
In many cases, it can be used as an alternative to traditional hair oils and other products designed for nourishing dry hair strands.
While there are some concerns associated with the use of this serum, these issues appear to only occur in rare cases. Individuals wanting to experience the benefits of this product should visit a dermatologist for proper advice.
References:
- https://www.lorealparisusa.com/hair-care/hair-serum
- https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/849620-LOreal_Paris_Elvive_Smooth_Intense_Frizz_Taming_Serum_2019_formulation/
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