L'Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Silver > Reviews (3)

Deep purple, great for grey hair

I went prematurely grey (I'm 55 now, but my first grey hair appeared when I was 13), and I believe that one of the most important things with grey hair is to make sure that it has a lovely shine. I have also suffered from thinning hair over the last couple of years, possibly because of long-term ill health. This has been quite disheartening - I always used to feel that my once beautifully thick hair really was my crowning glory. So losing that volume has been a real blow. I've spent ages trying various shampoos, conditioners and styling products to help me address this problem, as well as looking for products that will give my hair a healthy shine. I have a short haircut, and always try to keep some lift at the crown so that the style looks well-maintained.

L'Oreal's silvery-grey bottle looks very professional and stylish, and is available in two sizes, 250ml and 1.5 litres (I found the larger size on only one website). The bottle can be recycled and, according to the symbol on the back, the shampoo will keep well for 12 months after opening. The label on the back of the bottle also gives the following information:

'Anti-yellowing agent and amino acids to neutralise the yellow tones in keratin and smooth the fibre. Directions: Wet hair and distribute shampoo thoroughly. Massage to create a lather. Rinse thoroughly. Wash hands immediately after use, as a bluish residue veil may remain on them. Recommendations: can cause an allergic reaction. It is advisable to perform a sensitivity test: apply a small amount of product behind your ear and wait 48 hours. If redness or itching occurs, do not use product. Do not use to colour eyelashes or eyebrows.'

I was a bit alarmed about the sensitivity test, and after putting a little dab of shampoo behind my ear I was very conscious about trying not to let this deep purple product get on my clothes or my lovely cream sofa. So I rinsed it away fairly quickly, then waited the stipulated 48 hours. It was frustrating having to wait because I was so eager to see what the results would be.

The shampoo is very thick, very very purple, and gives a really good lather. I certainly found that the intensely dark shampoo needed rinsing thoroughly off my hands, but there was certainly no residue left after that.

This shampoo can be used with any conditioner, so I've been using my usual Fructis leave-in conditioner.

I have been absolutely delighted with the results, and my husband and mother have both commented on how good my hair is looking at the moment. As well as being much more shiny, I am finding that my hair has more volume too, which is an absolute blessing for me.

I have found this product available on various websites. So far I've only used Amazon, so I cannot give any recommendations about the others. The RRP is £9.10. Prices:

Amazon, £9.50 with free shipping;
hairsupermarket, £8.95 with £2.95 UK postage. This site also has the shampoo available in a 1.5 litre size, for £24.95. The website states that 'Most UK orders sent 1st class recorded delivery;
lookfantastic, £7.75 with free UK shipping;
feelunique, £7.60 with free delivery.

I'm thrilled to have discovered this fantastic product, delighted with the difference it has made to my hair, and would give it six stars if I could! Although it's a bit expensive, it's worth it considering the effect it is having on my hair.

(This review can also be found on Dooyoo, under the same user name.)