L'Oréal Professionnel

Is L'Oréal Professionnel the same as supermarket L'Oréal?
No. L'Oréal Professionnel is the salon division and is sold through hair salons, not supermarkets. The formulas are built around specific concerns like colour, damage or an oily scalp, and it's the same range our colourists use at the basin. We break down the differences in supermarket vs salon shampoo.

Which L'Oréal Professionnel shampoo should I choose?
Coloured hair: Vitamino Color Spectrum, with the Purple version for blondes and Blue for brunettes fighting brass. Dry or damaged lengths: Absolut Repair. Heavily lightened or chemically stressed hair: Absolut Repair Molecular. Greasy roots: Scalp Advanced Anti-Oiliness. Hair that looks thinner than it used to: Serioxyl Advanced Densifying. Straight after a colour service, Metal Detox is the one we send people home with.

What's the difference between Absolut Repair and Absolut Repair Molecular?
Absolut Repair (the gold Quinoa range) is for dry, damaged lengths that need softness and nourishment. Molecular is L'Oréal's newer system aimed at deeper damage inside the fibre, the kind you get from repeated bleaching. Molecular adds a Rinse-Out Serum and Leave-In Cream to the routine. Full comparison here: Absolut Repair vs Molecular.

What does L'Oréal Metal Detox actually do?
L'Oréal says it targets metal particles from tap water that build up in the hair and can react with colour or lightener, causing breakage and unpredictable results. The shampoo and Anti-Metal Mask are for washing at home after a colour service, and the Protector Oil finishes. It's a good fit if you colour often. Read what Metal Detox does.

Should I choose L'Oréal Professionnel or Kérastase?
Both are professional brands from the same L'Oréal group, and both work. Kérastase is the luxury tier, with more texture and fragrance in the formulas and a deeper set of treatments. L'Oréal Professionnel is more focused on single concerns and also covers Tecni Art styling and Magic Retouch root sprays. We compare them honestly in L'Oréal Professionnel vs Kérastase.

How do I use Magic Retouch root touch-up?
Shake the can, hold it about 10 to 15 cm from dry hair and spray in short bursts along the part and hairline where regrowth shows. Let it dry before brushing. It's temporary and washes out with your next shampoo, so it's for stretching the weeks between colour appointments, not replacing them. Pick the shade closest to your colour; if unsure, go lighter.

More reading: Where to Buy L'Oréal Professionnel in NZ, L'Oréal Metal Detox NZ.