QUESTION 1: WHICH KÉRASTASE HAIR OIL IS BEST FOR ME?
Looking for an all-rounder hair oil that leaves hair feeling healthy and looking radiant? Reach for our iconic bestseller suited for all hair types: Kérastase Elixir Ultime. With a new and improved formula, this lightweight, golden oil deeply nourishes, strengthens and protects your hair fiber..
Our iconic Elixir Ultime is a Kérastase bestseller for a reason, as it leaves even the most dull, dry or frizzy hair looking radiant and luminous. It’s enriched with luscious ingredients like nourishing Marula, Argan and Camellia oils, you can expect instant smoothness, double the hair’s shine and up to 4 days anti-frizz*.
What sets this oil apart is its ultra-lightweight formula which absorbs ultra-fast, taming frizz and boosting shine without ever weighing your hair down. It’s formulated to act as a hair thermal protector during styling, as a pre-cleanse treatment, a pre-blow dry indulgence, or a finishing touch – a true multi-tasking essential.
*Best Products for Dry HairQUESTION 2: HOW DO I APPLY HAIR OIL?
Here’s our step-by-step guide to a perfect hair oil application, every time.
Start with 1–2 pumps
Use 1–2 pumps of hair oil to begin with – it’s best to start with too little and add more than use too much. The right amount depends on your hair length, thickness, texture, and condition.
Warm it in your hands
Rub the oil between your palms to activate it. This helps achieve a smooth, even application.
Apply to mid-lengths and ends only
Distribute the oil through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. Avoid the roots (unless your oil is formulated for the scalp).
Distribute evenly
Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to ensure the oil is spread evenly across your strands.
Style as desired
You can apply oil on damp hair before heat styling or on dry hair as a finishing touch.
Adjust as you learn
Over time, you'll find your magic number of pumps and the perfect application technique for that perfect, healthy-looking finish.
QUESTION 3: IS IT BEST TO USE HAIR OIL ON DAMP OR DRY HAIR?
The best time to apply a nourishing hair oil is after shampooing and conditioning your hair when it is clean and dry. This can be done whenever you take your shower. Applying the oil to towel-dried or air-dried hair allows it to penetrate the hair shaft and lock in moisture.
By applying to the hair before blow-drying you will get benefits, such as helping you detangle your hair and some Kérastase hair oils also offer heat protection before blow drying like Kérastase Elixir Ultime Oil.
But why limit using oil after washing your hair? Hair oils can be used on dry hair, too – perfect for refreshing hair between washes or adding enviable shine to your tresses. For this purpose, we recommend the Elixir Ultime Travel Size, which conveniently fits in a purse or bag. It can be used to add a boost of nourishment and shine to your hair, no matter where you are.
Another option is to apply hair oil before going out at night. This can help add extra shine and luster to your hair, giving it a healthy and glamorous look.
QUESTION 4: WHAT STYLING TOOL WORKS THE BEST WITH HAIR OIL?
Hair oils are the perfect complement to styles using heat tools such as blow dryers, curling irons or flat irons, as they nourish the hair fibre adding a little extra protection against the heat. If your chosen hair oil doesn’t have true thermal protection qualities, then apply it after a heat protector like Kérastase Thermique but before applying the heat.
As a post-styling finisher, hair oils can tame unwanted frizz caused by heat styling, define hair shape, and leave hair with more shine and subtle fragrance.
For anyone who lightens their hair such as balayage, foils or double process (platinum) blonde, Blond Absolu Huile Cicaextreme is specially formulated to the needs of blonde hair such as weightless hydration and damaged fiber recovery.
QUESTION 5: CAN I USE HAIR OIL WHEN I AIR-DRY MY HAIR?
Absolutely!
Applying a hair oil while the hair is damp will nourish and protect the fiber from unwanted frizz. The best leave in hair oil for frizzy hair is our Elixir Ultime.
As it dries you’ll notice your hair transforming into a subtle, shiny version of its natural texture - it’s your hair but better!
Once the hair is dry, you can use another pump of hair oil applying it to your palms and warming it between your fingertips. Use the oil to accent the lengths and ends of the shape for added shine, protection, and lasting fragrance.
For clients with curly hair and coily hair, we suggest the multi-use Huile Sublime Repair.
QUESTION 6: WHAT IS THE SECRET TO LONG-LASTING SHINE
USING HAIR OIL?
For long-lasting high shine on the hair, the key is to begin with a high-performance hair oil.
Our bestselling Elixir Ultime formula provides 48 hours of shine (it’s an icon for a reason) and boasts an iconic fragrance with light florals (hello, violet and freesia), cedarwood, rich santal and tonka bean that will have you turning heads.
If you’re looking for an oil that repairs and restores shine for damaged hair, try Premiére Intensive Shine Repairing Oil. This leave-in concentrated oil has a double action: with its high concentration of repairing and caring agents it helps seal the appearance of split ends, boosts hair strength and radically neutralises the persistent dullness of damaged hair. Hair is left stronger, and up to 4 times shinier*.
*Instrumental test.QUESTION 7: WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO APPLY A HAIR OIL?
The best time to apply hair oil depends on what you’re using it for. If you want help detangling hair, you can use hair oil on wet hair, ensuring you use a wide-tooth comb to spread the product evenly.
You can also use hair oil on damp or towel-dried hair before styling and in combination with a heat protector to nourish and protect your hair before applying heat tools. If you have fine hair, applying on wet hair can dilute the oil for a lightweight finish.
And for a final ultra-glossy finish, you can also apply hair oil to dry hair to give it a luscious shine throughout the day.
Have wavy or curly hair? Warm up some hair oil in your palms and then twist your hair into place according to the wave pattern that you prefer, which can help give glossy definition to your curls.
QUESTION 8: WHICH ARE THE MOST POPULAR HAIR OILS?
QUESTION 9: WHAT IS THE BEST HAIR OIL FOR MY HAIR TYPE?
Any hair type can use hair oil, it’s just a matter of knowing which one to choose to best suit your hair’s needs.
Best Hair Oil for Dull Hair
Many people with fine hair don’t use hair oil for fear of greasiness and extra weight.
The key is to tread lightly with your hair oil application because the benefits for your hair can be incredible.
Our bestselling Elixir Ultime works wonders on all hair types. For fine hair, start with one pump between your palms, working it gently through mid-lengths and ends.
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Best Hair Oil for Curly Hair
Hair oils were made for curls. Since curls tend to look dry and frizz easily, oils really tame and define the locks, leaving you hair looking both shiny and healthy.
To define curls, apply one pump of oil into the hands and apply to small sections of hair at a time. We recommend Curl Manifesto Huile Sublime Repair, with its multi-oil formula it was designed specially for curly and oily hair fibers to define the shape, tame frizz, boost shine and hydrate. Goodbye, dryness.
QUESTION 10: CAN I ADD HAIR OIL TO MY HAIR MASK?
Your hair mask is already deeply nourishing, but there’s a way to make it even more potent.
Add 2 to 3 pumps of Elixir Ultime into a teaspoon-sized amount of Masque Elixir Ultime Hair Mask and mix until you achieve a smooth silky texture. Take a small section of hair and apply a bit of the mixture to ends and lengths working your way up from the tips. Then twist the strand into a curl. Let it sit and repeat on the rest of hair. After 5 minutes, rinse out.
QUESTION 11: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAIR OIL?
Hair oil offers a multitude of benefits for all hair types, and different hair oil have their own unique benefits, too. Overall, hair oil helps nourish and smooth the hair fibre, reducing frizz and, adds long-lasting shine, and makes your hair more manageable. Hair oil can also reduce the appearance of dryness or split ends, leaving your locks glossy and radiant.
QUESTION 12: WHAT CAN HAIR OIL BE USED FOR?
Hair oil is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways:
Pre-cleanse treatment – Apply hair oil before shampooing to deeply hydrate and prepare the hair for cleansing without stripping natural oils.
Pre-blow-dry protection – Use hair oil on damp hair before heat styling to help smooth the cuticle, reduce frizz, and protect from dehydration caused by styling tools.
Finishing and touch-ups – Add a small amount of oil to dry hair for a sleek finish, to tame, or refresh your style throughout the day with added shine and softness.
QUESTION 13: HOW OFTEN TO USE HAIR OIL?
You can use hair oil daily or a few times a week, depending on your hair type and needs. Fine hair may benefit from light use a few times per week or only on wet hair, while thicker or drier hair types can be suited to daily use, especially on the ends.
QUESTION 14: HOW LONG TO LEAVE HAIR OIL IN FOR?
Hair oil can be left in the hair as a leave-in treatment with no need to rinse out. For a deeper treatment, you can also leave it on for 15–30 minutes before washing your hair to nourish and leave it feeling ultra-soft.
QUESTION 15: CAN HAIR OIL PROTECT FROM DAMAGE?
Yes, many hair oils are formulated to provide heat protection. When applied before blow-drying or heat styling, hair oil can help create a barrier against high temperatures, reducing the risk of dryness and breakage. Always check the label to confirm heat protection benefits.
QUESTION 16: CAN HAIR OIL WEIGH DOWN FINE OR THIN HAIR?
It can, but only if over-applied. By using the right type of lightweight oil and a small amount (usually 1 pump or less), you can add shine and smoothness without making hair look greasy or flat. Focus on the mid-lengths and ends and avoid the roots for the best result.
