Ever since I changed my shampoo to some strange brand that according to my hairdresser does not require a conditioner, I have not been using one. It doesn’t kill my hair or dry it out unduly so I was not too fussed. However, a few months ago I was given a L’oreal Elseve Damage Care hair mask and so I decided to test it out.
The L’oreal Elseve Damage Care Deep Repairing Mask comes in a bright yellow tub that cheers up my bathroom to no end. The paste is white and thick and chockful of silicones so it is slippery! It also has a strong sweet scent that was cloying initially.
You can read about this product on the Malaysian website (link) or in English, on the UK website (link). For some reason, in the UK Elseve is known as Elvive. L’oreal does this a lot – naming the same thing different names in different countries which confuses us all to no end. I know not why except maybe its to do with how a name or item is perceived in each country.
The concept behind the Elseve Damage Care series is to repair damaged hair with a replica of hair’s natural ceramides. The hair mask is designed to intensify this hair repair and promises to leave your hair soft and silky.
But does it?
I find the mask thick and slippery. Many a time have I dug into the pot only to have the mask slip out of my hands as I try to close the cover in the shower. Believe me, trying to juggle slippery hair mask, an open container and avoiding the shower all at the same time is no joke!
I use this hair mask after shampoo with my regular shampoo and after squeezing out as much water from my hair as I can. I use one scoop of hair mask. One scoop here is not an exact science. Its one scoop using the tips of my fingers. I then spread it over my hands and only then massage it through my hair concentrating on the middle and the ends. Do bear in mind I have short-ish hair. If you have long hair, expect to use more.
Hair tip: When applying conditioner or hair masks, apply only from the centre of the hair shaft to the tip. Try to avoid putting conditioner on the roots of the hair or on the scalp because it can make your scalp more oily and make your hair look heavy and greasy.
I then leave it on my hair while I finish up the rest of my shower then wash off the hair mask. I do find that my hair is immediately much softer and tangle free. The fragrance lingers but I don’t find over powering nor does it bug me much.
The nice thing is that this hair mask lasts through a few hair washes. The not so nice thing is that it is far too few washes. I wash my hair every day and only condition or use this hair mask once a week. So far, I found that my hair remains soft with a light fragrance for only about 3 days. With regular use however, my hair does feel lighter and looks a little smoother. I look less like a loo brush and more like a human! Yay! 😀 Here’s the ingredient list for those interested:-
A 200ml tub retails for about RM26 or thereabouts at most pharmacies and L’oreal counters. I say its a decent price to pay as it can and will last you a long time. I had no adverse reactions to this hair mask – thank goodness!
Pros: Affordable, Hair feels light and silky after use
Cons: Tub packaging is hard to handle in the shower
plue says
February 26, 2009 at 10:52 ami think i reviewed this one before. LOL. i quite like it!
Loreal have this new range now, deep care or something. White packaging. Bought their night serum, and doing a few test 😛
Loreal’s quite okay for drugstore haircare, i feel. what do you think?
Nikki says
February 26, 2009 at 11:00 amI have to try this! I have so many hair masks to use and I can’t seem to finish it up because I kept on wanting to try more..no wonder my hair hates me! LOL Great day to you PB!
ParisB says
February 26, 2009 at 4:04 pmHi Nikki
Heh… I don’t usually use hair masks but this was quite decent I felt. Maybe after you are done with your existing masks?
aYu says
February 26, 2009 at 3:59 pmI tried the shampoo once, but i’m having serious hair fall. Even though my hair is alot softer but i can’t resist the hair fall. I thought this shampoo didn’t suite me so i asked my sister and my sister in law to tried it. Surprisingly, they also having the same experience like i did – too much hair fall! I stop using it, i wish they can re-formula this shampoo because i like the soft feeling on my hair
ParisB says
February 26, 2009 at 4:06 pmHi Ayu
I’m sorry to hear of your experience with the shampoo. I haven’t tried the shampoo – its the first time I’m trying Elseve in fact. Maybe the shampoo is too rich because its meant for dry and brittle hair.
Amanda says
February 26, 2009 at 4:16 pmI’ve never tried this one before but am a big fan of Elseve Nutri Gloss Light. I’ve tried so many shampoo but this one is the best, it’s even better than the other brands I’ve used before.
ParisB says
February 26, 2009 at 5:07 pmHi Amanda
I’ve never tried the Nutri Gloss is that the one that’s pink? It looks so cute 🙂 I must try that next time because I don’t have that bad a problem with my hair.
Amanda says
February 26, 2009 at 5:31 pmYeah, it’s the pink one. My scalp is always sensitive and I used to have problems finding the right shampoo. This one works perfectly on me. It makes my hair smooth and silky 😀
ParisB says
February 27, 2009 at 10:43 amHi Amanda
Ok i’m going to check this out once my shampoo runs out! 🙂
Eli says
February 26, 2009 at 4:19 pmI completely forgot about this product! I was using this practically every day because my daily swims were damaging my hair. It’s a great hair-saver.
ParisB says
February 26, 2009 at 5:08 pmHi Eli
I used to swim too and its hell on hair! I’m glad to know this one saves hair from the dryness because I’m thinking of taking up swimming again. 🙂
Traclyn Yeoh says
February 26, 2009 at 9:29 pmI used this before and I think i quite like this. Great review, thanks!
ParisB says
February 27, 2009 at 10:43 amHi Traclyn
Thank you! Its pretty decent stuff.
MisSmall says
February 27, 2009 at 4:18 amI think they’re called L’oreal Elvive in Oz too? I’ve used quite a few different ones of their hair masks and they all worked pretty well. I have the same problem juggling with slippery hair mask containers in shower, but I guess that’s something we have to live with since the consistency is probably too thick to be packaged any other ways?
ParisB says
February 27, 2009 at 10:45 amHi MisSmall
Is it Elvive in Oz too? It gets so confusing! I do agree a tub’s the best way to package these stuff. We just have to work out a system to using it without wasting it! hehe…
prettybeautiful says
February 27, 2009 at 9:24 ami got the orange tub, i have been using this hair mask daily as conditioner coz my hair has been quite dry lately, and it certainly has helped alot!
ParisB says
February 27, 2009 at 10:45 amHi prettybeautiful
Ooh whats the orange tub for then?
plue says
February 27, 2009 at 12:40 pmParis, if not mistaken the orange is for Anti Breakage 🙂
ParisB says
February 27, 2009 at 1:11 pmHi Plue
Aha! Thanks! Boon for long hair but for short hair like mine, not so necessary 🙂
plue says
February 27, 2009 at 9:48 pmSorry paris! my bad, it’s not the anti breakage, it’s for smooth control, to keep frizzies out of sight!
miriam ding says
February 27, 2009 at 7:53 pmAgreed with amanda. U got to check this out!
YZ says
February 27, 2009 at 10:37 pmI have the one in the pink tub (Nutri-Gloss Intensive Shine Mask) 🙂 It’s fabulous stuff & yes, 1 tub lasts me a LONG time!
Claire says
March 9, 2009 at 9:19 pmHai There. I have serious hair problem which is, my hair felt dry and got end hair split. I used 1 Shampoo Product for 7 years, but then after I coloured my hair, this problem started. So, I tried the Loreal Hair Damage Care (1 set) and just for 2 days, My hair got it ‘minerals’.. its become shiny and no more frizzly hair. I love Loreal Product and now I also try the skin care also..
ell says
October 20, 2009 at 6:49 ami used dis product since early of dis year..surprise me it control my hair fall only after a week ..i dont knw y some ppl said dis not help..but 4 me dis product help me much but i believe tt d different ppl have their own suit hair product.
B says
August 19, 2010 at 8:51 pmIs the ingredient on the 2nd line dimethicone or amodimethicone? You can email back if it’s easier -i just realised this was from October 09
ParisB says
August 20, 2010 at 12:17 pmNo idea sorry – the tub has been tossed out.
Rean says
August 22, 2010 at 8:15 amHi PB, this is the first time i’m visiting ur review. I’m using L’oreal Smooth Intense Ultra Rich right now, shampoo n also conditioner. I dunno why it doesn’t work so much 4 me, i’m already using it 4 1 week.
My hair condition is, well you can say horrible. Split ends, tangled, rough, hair fall (especially when its wet n dry also, i’m afraid i’ll get bald someday), dandruff (if i dnt use Anti-Dandruff shampoo), frizzy (when my hair wet and dry), I have a very thick hair n curly hair (unmanagable curly), afro curly @ the roots side and big wavy curly @ the bottom. The Smooth Intense supposedly make the hair tangled free n smooth, but why there’s no change with my hair? (whining in desperate now PB) Really need advice here! Thanks a lot, n i’m sorry if i wrote 2 much. XOXO!!
sepeed says
April 6, 2013 at 11:27 pmhi pp
I ve been using Loreal Elseve Color viv for a week. The products acts like the condotioner. not a big change, but better than using a conditioner.
I paid a lot for that but no real functionality!!
Of course, may be not the right stuff for me but ok for others!!!