This Iconic Hair Elixir Has Had an Upgrade: Here’s What I Think
Main image – Courtesy of writer
If you’re a fan of Kerastase for all things ‘hair’, you might know a little bit about the iconic Elixir Ultime already. Essentially, it’s a shine-inducing hair oil but it does so much more than brighten up dry, dull hair. Think pre-cleanse, blow-dry aid and frizz tamer too.
The brand is now celebrating the elixir’s 60th anniversary with a special upgrade. Refills. Yes, now you no longer have to spend full whack (and it is a large whack) on a full-sized bottle or worry that you’re harming the planet either.
In celebration of this step forward, I thought I’d tell you a little bit about why I love Kerastase Elixir Ultime, despite it being a serious investment.
The product details
The elixir is a leave-in hair oil that promises to soften, nourish and add shine to the hair, whatever the stage of your hair regime. Applied to wet or dry hair, it contains things like wild camelia so it smells divine and it comes in either a 75ml or 30ml bottle.
The exciting news now is that you can keep the original 75ml bottle and buy a refill for it for just over £15 less than if you were to buy the original again. It costs *gulp* £58 on the Kerastase UK website/$62 on the Kerastase US website to buy it outright (more on the price later, it’s obviously not for the faint of heart) and £42.80/$48 for the refill. But if you’re an avid Kerastase follower and can’t bear to use anything else, you’ll know this is quite a big step forward.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Why I’ve always loved it
A hair oil for someone with naturally frizzy hair like mine will always come in handy. Whether it’s a high street branded one or a super luxurious product like this, an oil is a surefire way to flatten down flyaways and add a bit of softness to coarse hair.
But there are hair oils and then there are hair oils. I tested one from Boots a while back which, sure, tamed my stray hairs and made my hair feel soft. But it also left it greasy which kind of defeated the object of a hair oil’s job of looking invisible.
Kerastase Elixir Ultime on the other hand is invisible to everyone except the user. The person wearing it knows it’s there because he or she feels the difference in their hair’s smoothness, shine and the hair’s overall behaviour (plus, they did apply it in the first place!)
But to anyone else, it’s barely noticeable except for the rather delicious aroma they smell as you waft past. This is what a hair oil should be like.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The other thing I love about it is that it’s not just a hair smoother. It’s a brilliant product to use if you like doing a pre-cleanse, to add a bit of extra hydration. But it’s also a fantastic blow-dry aid.
On towel-dried hair, I saturate the ends in the elixir (just the ends though, not the mid-lengths or roots) which works well as a detangler. My comb goes through those ends like it’s gliding through warm butter. And the oil makes my blow dry easier too.
This is because it allows me to get the shape I want as I dry and leaves it smooth and silky. When I’m finished, my ends aren’t dry or crusty. They’re almost fluffy (in a good way), smooth, silky and glossy. And my overall hair still feels lightweight, rather than weighed down.
There have been times when I’ve overdone it – one drop is all my short hair really needs. But nine times out of ten, I’ve got it right, and my hair has reaped the benefits.
Overall value for money
This is absolutely an investment product at £58/$62 for the 75ml and £27.50/$30 for the 30ml. Now made ever so slightly easier by the refill element (£42.80/$48). If you use one drop like me, it lasts for months. Remember, an oil is heavier and thicker than, say, a serum so you will need to use less than you think.
Kerastase is a well-known, luxury hair brand and there is no denying the prices of all their products are high-end. But you may notice that it is used in salons globally, and there is a reason for that. The quality and versatility of their products as well as their salon-fresh smell are second to none in my opinion.
If you’re happy with the hair oil you’re currently using and it’s cheaper, then carry on with it and forget I ever said anything. But if you’re really on the brink with your hair, nothing’s working and you’re willing to throw money at something the salons use, you could go for it and see what you think.
Image – Courtesy of writer
What other users are saying
Louise2 on kerastase.co.uk says “I am really enjoying how soft the hair oil makes my hair, without weighing it down. It feels lovely and has a nice scent when you apply it as well. I just keep wanting to touch my hair!”
Meganlf28 isn’t a fan of the refillable bottle’s price tag. “When I say I LOVED this product, I was obsessed and would always restock as I can’t live without it. But this price for a smaller bottle? The price was already expensive but this is absolutely ridiculous now.” Yup, it’s super pricey and this certainly doesn’t work for everyone. I only ever buy it either on pay day or when it’s on offer. But when I say I’ve bought three bottles of it since I started using it two or three years ago, I mean it – it really does last.
Monamy49 adds, “my hair has been so dry and this has really revived it even after only a couple of uses. I’m really impressed with how much softer my ends are. Love the smell too!” I agree about the softness and it’s not a temporary feeling either, it carries on until your next wash.
The takeaway
So, yeah, this is expensive. Almost ridiculously so. But here at Live That Glow, we like a bit of variety, and everyone’s budgets are different.
Everyone’s hair is different too and for those who really struggle with theirs like I do, this oil is a real find. Remember to concentrate on just your ends, unless you’re using it as a pre-cleanse, as applying any oil further up will cause the hair to go greasy.
Use it on dry hair to tame flyaways as you’re running out of the door, or on wet hair to help with your blow dry. Whatever works for you (and your bank balance).
Get Glowing!
