I didn’t know my blonde hair needed a metal detox until I tried one

Having been a (fake) blonde for much of my adult life, there are a lot of products I hold dear when it comes to protecting my colour. But purple shampoo, hydrating hair masks and heat protectants aside, I’d never heard about a metal detox… until recently.

What I was (sort of) aware of was that there are metals present in water that can tarnish the hair and compromise its colour. I remember when I moved to London a hairdresser had actually suggested using bottled water to rinse my hair because the water there is so hard (AKA higher mineral content and more metals present). But Australia isn’t exempt, with 44 per cent of the population calculated to have an excessive level of metal in their hair.

So when I heard about L'Oréal Professionnel’s Metal Detox haircare routine it sounded like an easy and smart solution.

The product

L'Oréal Professionnel’s Metal Detox consists of a 3-step in-salon protocol and a 2-step at-home routine.

With damage as the #2 haircare concern in Australia*, the in-salon system is used for people who colour their hair to provide 87 per cent less hair breakage** and enhance colour results.

Your colourist will first apply a Metal Detox Neautraliser Pre-Colour Treatment Spray before any colouring steps, followed by the Metal Detox Anti-Metal Cleansing Cream Shampoo once you reach the sink, and a Metal Detox Anti-Deposit Protector and/or Metal Detox Anti-Deposit Protector Mask depending on your hair type/needs.

For home use, the 2-step routine consists of the Metal Detox Anti-Metal Cleansing Cream Shampoo ($49.50 at Adore Beauty) and Metal Detox Anti-Deposit Protector Mask ($49.50 at Adore Beauty). It’s used weekly in place of one of your regular washes to continue the detoxifying benefits.

L'Oréal Professionnel’s Metal Detox review

My trial of the Metal Detox started in-salon, where I headed to Sloans North Sydney for my first try of the treatment.

The great thing about this version of the Metal Detox is that you can just sit back and relax while the colourist incorporates the steps into your appointment. And anything that’s going to lessen my breakage as a blonde is worth a few extra minutes in the chair.

When we reached the sink and got washing, the scent of the shampoo immediately caught my attention. It’s slightly citrus, but a very high-end, luxury smell. Plus, let’s be honest, when someone is massaging your head you’re already in a very good place.

After the mask, which made combing through my hair as easy as butter, it was back to the chair for blow-drying. Once we were up to styling, it was amazing to see my blonde looking so bright.

I took home the Metal Detox Anti-Metal Cleansing Cream Shampoo and Metal Detox Anti-Deposit Protector Mask and proceeded to use these over the next few weeks in my routine. I was stoked to find the shampoo smelt just as good in my own shower and the lather was incredibly rich and felt high-end.

The mask ticked another big box of mine as a lightened blonde, helping to nourish and detangle my ends. There’s nothing worse than having to pull and scrape through your hair to get it smooth but the mask makes light work of it all. And I love that it’s as simple as applying it at the end of the wash for a few minutes before rinsing.

My hair before and after using the Metal Detox products

Both products feature a patented technology*** with the hero ingredient Glicoamine to neutralise the metals found in hair from water. The shampoo detoxifies and cleanses the hair of metals, while the mask prevents new metal from taking up residence.

As I continued to use the duo weekly, I did notice that my blonde colour was maintained much better and it wasn’t getting brassy as quickly as it usually does. The compliments were rolling in from pals about my colour, even when it had been weeks since I was at the salon.

As an added bonus, I also found that my hair was much more manageable. Whether due to less breakage or the quality formulas of the Metal Detox products, I certainly was experiencing less frizz and healthier-looking hair as well as a brighter colour.

The final verdict

When it comes to the in-salon protocol of the Metal Detox, I found it to be a no-brainer. The steps were in the capable hands of my colourist and I just got to enjoy knowing that my hair would suffer less breakage. I’ll be asking for it at every colouring appointment from now on.

The at-home routine was easy-as-pie too. Anything that can be incorporated seamlessly into a hair wash routine is something I’m much more likely to commit to and be consistent with. When you have to apply things to towel-dried hair, get in and out of the shower, or spend extra time faffing around, you’ll lose me.

As a professional product, the price is understandably more than your average supermarket shampoo. But based on the results I experienced, and how it smelt, felt and performed in my hair, I’d say it’s worth it.

*Bastion Insights Survey, Australia, 502 women, aged 18-65

**Instrumental test, after application of Pre-treatment + technical procedure + Shampoo + Mask

***Pre treatment: FR, UK, SP, IT, CN, US,BR. Shampoo: FR, CN, JP, MX, US, BR, UK, GER, SP, IT, US. Care: FR, UK, GER, SP, IT, CN, JP, BR. MASK: FR, CN, JP, MX, US, BR.