Kittenish Beauty

L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner for Dry or Damaged Hair

I used L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner for Dry or Damaged Hair for four days. I’m not sure it had much of an effect.

I didn’t see a “glossy shine,” and I’m not sure how to judge if my hair had “7x more moisture.”

L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner for Dry or Damaged Hair smelled nice and rinsed out easily. I think I like this conditioner’s scent better than I liked L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair‘s, but both have a nice fragrance. Hydra Gloss smells sweet whereas Nutri Gloss smells floral.

I kind of expected L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner for Dry or Damaged Hair to make my hair shinier. I think my hair was a bit shinier than it was with L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair, but it definitely wasn’t as soft.

I didn’t notice any dulling or yucky buildup, but four days isn’t that long, either.

While using L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner for Dry or Damaged Hair, I’ve been putting coconut oil on my hair every night (and will continue to do so): it helps protect hair from damage when washing it. Rather than using the matching shampoo—or any shampoo, for that matter—I’ve been using shikakai to clean my hair.

L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner for Dry or Damaged Hair is a nice conditioner but nothing special. It may make your hair a little shinier, but nothing dramatic.

I like the scent, probably because of the coumarin (for the full list of ingredients, see my previous post: Medium to Long Hair that’s Dull or Damaged). If you like the conditioner’s scent, go for it: It’ll leave your hair nicely fragranced all day.

If you’re looking for touchably soft hair, L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair is more up your alley (see my L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair Review).

L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner for Damaged Hair

L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss for Dull or Damaged Hair

I used L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair for four days. Its effects did seem cumulative.

I didn’t see any “mirror shine,” but I did experience the “cashmere soft touch” part. My hair was super soft by the fourth day.

L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair smelled nice and rinsed out easily. The scent lasted all day. Whenever I’d let my hair down out of the usual bun, it was like throwing flower petals into the air. It was nice and not too strong or cloying, but it might not be to everyone’s liking.

My hair was very soft and touchable, but the L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair didn’t seem to do anything for the frizzies. My wavy hair usually looks pretty frizzy, and I was hoping this would have an effect on it.

NOTE: It never mentions preventing frizz on the bottle, so it’s just something I wanted, not something the conditioner promised to do. For product details, including ingredients, see my previous post: Medium to Long Hair that’s Dull or Damaged.

I didn’t notice any dulling or yucky buildup, but four days isn’t that long, either.

While using L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair, I’ve been putting coconut oil on my hair every night (and will continue to do so): it helps protect hair from damage when washing it. Rather than using the matching shampoo—or any shampoo, for that matter—I’ve been using shikakai to clean my hair.

Overall it was a nice conditioner. People with normal or damaged (but not wavy/curly/frizzy) hair may see better results. Just make sure you like the scent before you buy it. Your hair will be like one of those Glade plug-ins that releases bursts of fragrance throughout the day.

If you’re looking to make your hair touchably, lovably soft, L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Dull or Damaged Hair is worth checking out.

L’Oreal Vive Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Damaged Hair

Shimmering Conditioner

I think my favorite conditioner is the stuff that comes in the L’Oreal Feria hair color kits. I was trying to figure out what ingredients make it “special,” so I could look for a cheaper alternative to use daily. But then I came across a problem… L’Oreal has changed their formula at least three times since I started using Feria.

L’Oreal Feria Conditioner

The first formula is:

Colour Hydrator No Build-Up Deep Conditioner
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Esters, Isopropyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Trideceth-12, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Cetrimonium Chloride. [D1473/3]

Then L’Oreal created a special conditioner just for reds:

Shimmer Enhancing Conditioner with Berry Extract (Anti-Dull for Reds)
Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Esters, Isopropyl Alcohol, Rubus Fruticosus/Blackberry Fruit Extract, Trideceth-12, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Methylparaben, Cetrimonium Chloride, Parfum/Fragrance, F.I.L. #C24243/1

Now L’Oreal has a new conditioner to go with their new boxes:

Shimmer Boost Hydrating Conditioner
Aqua/Water/Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cedelilla Cera/Candelilla Wax/Cire de Candelilla, Cetyl Esters, Dimethiconol, Parfum/Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-37, PEG-150/Stearyl Alcohol/SMDI Copolymer, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile Minerale, Methylparaben, PEG-150 Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Aloe Barbadensis/Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

The first two, Colour Hydrator No Build-Up Deep Conditioner and Shimmer Enhancing Conditioner with Berry Extract, worked well (unfortunately, it’s been a while and I don’t remember if one was better than the other). I do not know how well the new one, Shimmer Boost Hydrating Conditioner, works.

So… what happened here? Why screw with a formula that girls love? I’ve read many reviews and, whether the girls like or hate the hair color, they usually gush over how amazing the conditioner is.

Colour Boosting Shimmer Enhancing Hydrating Conditioners: All the Same?

Colour Hydrator No Build-Up Deep Conditioner contained Behentrimonium Chloride, Candelilla Wax, and Amodimethicone.

Shimmer Enhancing Conditioner with Berry Extract contained Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, and Blackberry Fruit Extract. (okay, I know the blackberry extract probably doesn’t do a damn thing, but just seeing it listed in the ingredients makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside). The Candelilla Wax was removed from this formula.

Shimmer Boost Hydrating Conditioner contains a whole bunch of stuff.  First off, L’Oreal put the Candelilla Wax back in. But they removed the Behentrimonium Chloride and Amodimethicone, which may have been the star ingredients of the previous formulas. They replaced these two ingredients with Cyclopentasiloxane and Dimethiconol. Great ingredients, but everyone’s hair is different, and people who loved the previous formulas may be out of luck with the new Shimmer Boost Hydrating Conditioner. (See “L’Oreal Feria Conditioner’s Ingredients Through the Ages” below for information about why these ingredients matter).

To add insult to injury, there’s no longer a special Anti-Dull for Reds conditioner with berry extract. The new formula contains aloe and green tea extract, but sitting at the end of a long list of ingredients suggests they’re mostly eye candy for anyone who bothers to read the box.

The new formula contains another new ingredient: Mineral Oil. Mineral oil doesn’t do anything for hair (Source). Either the mineral oil will just rinse out and do nothing, or it won’t rinse out and it’ll weigh your hair down.

L’Oreal Feria Conditioner’s Ingredients Through the Ages

Candelilla Wax helps smooth hair. (That’s what Redken Smooth Down Conditioner uses it for. I assume that, since both products are conditioners, the ingredient works the same way in both.)

Behentrimonium Chloride is a potent conditioner with antistatic and detangling properties. It’s able to restore and rebuild damaged hair, and it has a softening effect. (Source.)

Amodimethicone is a silicone with conditioning properties that helps protect hair. It is specifically attracted to highly damaged areas of the hair cuticle and it doesn’t build up on the hair shaft the way heavier silicones like dimethicone can. (Source.)

Cyclopentasiloxane provides a silky feel without weighing the hair down with greasy residue. It helps deliver heavier silicones also contained in a product. It quickly evaporates after delivering nutrients to hair. (Sources: The Beauty Brains, Truth in Aging.)

Dimethiconol is derived from silica. It provides a non-greasy lubricant for hair conditioners and adds shine to hair. As a heavier silicone, it’s often used in conjunction with lighter silicones that help better deliver it to hair, such as cyclopentasiloxane. (Source.)

Cyclopentasiloxane (&) Dimethiconol provide a smooth, velvety feel without greasiness (Source).

The Future of Shimmer Conditioners

I still have some Shimmer Enhancing Conditioner with Berry Extract left over from previous hair colorings, and I have the new Shimmer Boost Hydrating Conditioner. I’ll have to test them out in the future, see which one’s better. I may try to do that next time I dye my hair.

Medium to Long Hair that’s Dull or Damaged

Two days ago, I bought five new bottles of conditioner. Two of them are L’Oreal Vive Pro: L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Medium to Long Hair that’s Dull or Damaged and L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Moisturizing Conditioner for Very Dry or Damaged Hair.

From the Packaging

L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Medium to Long Hair that’s Dull or Damaged

Before using Nutri Gloss Mirror Shine Shampoo and Conditioner, hair may be dull or damaged from heat styling and the environment.

After using Nutri Gloss Mirror Shine Shampoo and Conditioner, hair is stronger and shines brilliantly with targeted nourishment, helping prevent split ends.

Nutri Gloss with a Pearl Protein Complex infuses hair with mirror shine and a cashmere soft touch.

• Conditions hair without wearing it down
• Nourishes hair for greater strength
• Detangles and helps defend against split ends
• Transforms dull into glossy, healthy shine

INGREDIENTS: Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Myristyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methylparaben, Trideceth-6, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Citric Acid, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, CI 17200 (Red 33)

L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Moisturizing Conditioner for Very Dry or Damaged Hair

Before using Hydra Gloss Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, hair may feel dry or damaged from the distressing effects of the weather and over-processing.

After using Hydra Gloss Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, hair is conditioned with essential nutrients and shines with a high gloss finish.

Hydra Gloss with Royal Jelly Complex adds advanced moisturizers and essential nutrients to condition hair for up to 7x more moisture.

• Conditions while injecting moisturizers to every strand
• Penetrates hair for lasting moisturization
• Leaves hair soft, shiny and touchable

INGREDIENTS:Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, PEG-180, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Esters, Fragrance (Parfum), Glycerin, Methylparaben, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Trideceth-6, Citric Acid, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Royal Jelly Extract, CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 15985 (Yellow 6), Aminomethyl Propanol

I indicated the common ingredients that might have an impact on performance with italics and I indicated the unique ingredients that might have an impact on performance in bold. The ingredients used just for fragrance are crossed out. Most of the other ingredients are emulsifiers, thickeners, pH adjusters, and preservatives.

Nutri Gloss vs Hydra Gloss: The Ingredients

The formulas are pretty similar. So, what are the noticeable differences?

L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner Dull or Damaged Hair has Jojoba Seed Oil whereas L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Moisturizing Conditioner for Very Dry or Damaged Hair has Olive Fruit Oil. Jojoba oil can’t penetrate hair’s cuticle, so it has virtually no benefit. Olive oil, on the other hand, is beneficial as it can penetrate all the way to the hair shaft. (Source.)

The Nutri Gloss Conditioner has a great ingredient that the Hydra Gloss Conditioner doesn’t: Dipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate. Truth in Aging states, “This cationic emulsifier primarily works as an anti-static agent, and secondarily as a hair conditioning and detangling ingredient. It’s known for helping to soften and moisturize the hair.”

The Hydra Gloss Conditioner has Glycerin, but according to The Beauty Brains glycerin is “not really functional in rinse off conditoners because it rinses down the drain.”

The last “big” difference is Nutri Gloss’s Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein (the Pearl Protein Complex) vs Hydra Gloss’s Royal Jelly Extract. Unfortunately, as much as I’d like to think these nifty ingredients are doing something, the sad truth is that they’re probably not. For all L’Oreal’s marketing, they still have Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein as the second-to-last ingredient and Royal Jelly Extract as the fourth-to-last ingredient.

L’Oreal could at least pretend they’re utilizing Pearl Protein and Royal Jelly by placing them in the middle of the ingredients lists.

L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss: The Results So Far

I’ve used L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Medium to Long Hair that’s Dull or Damaged two days in a row now. My hair feels softer, and it smells pretty nice, but I’m not really impressed yet. I want shiny hair, and it’s only a little shinier than usual.

I hate trying to judge how shiny hair is. It changes under different light sources. In the sun, almost anything’s shiny. Under fluorescent lights, ice sculptures look dull. And under other indoor lights, it’s a coin toss.

But, I’m pretty sure my hair doesn’t have the glossy sheen the bottle promises.

L’Oreal Vive Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Damaged Hair

I’ll give it a few more days, then I’m switching to L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Moisturizing Conditioner for Very Dry or Damaged Hair or one of the other three conditioners I bought.