Reviewed: L'Oréal's Iron Sleek Collection

if I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that my hair and skin are extremely particular. If you relate, you know it can take a lot of trial and error to figure out what works best for you. Out of the two, though, my hair proves to be the most challenging. That’s why I’m incredibly grateful I have a job that allows me to stay up to date on launches and sample different types of beauty products. It helps me narrow down what ingredients work well for me and which ones are a hard no.

My low porosity, 4a curls don’t do well with typical haircare ingredients like silicones and coconut oil so you can imagine that makes it tough to find products that effectively moisturize and smooth without weighing my hair down. Normally, I tend to avoid drugstore haircare altogether. Not because it isn’t great (it usually is!) it just doesn’t work for my very picky hair because a lot of it contains silicones.

But, apparently it pays to be patient. L’Oréal recently released its Iron Sleek collection, a color-safe and silicone-free shampoo and conditioner set that leaves my hair incredibly soft with virtually no frizz. I’m glad I decided to give this collection a go because it’s definitely a winner for type 4 hair.

A beauty editor wearing L'Oréal's Iron Sleek haircare collection

(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)

Everpure Sulfate Free Iron Sleek Smoothing Shampoo

L’Oréal

EverPure Iron Sleek Smoothing Shampoo

I’m usually skeptical to try shampoo that isn’t designed specifically for curls because some tend to strip my already dry strands. This formula is amazing, though. It has a light, creamy texture that’s sulfate-free and doesn’t foam up too much. I know what you’re thinking: Co-washes and low-foam shampoos can be tricky because some of them don’t clean the hair as well as foaming formulas. This one doesn’t have that issue, though.

To give you more context, I have to condition my hair every day because it’s so dry, but this can lead to buildup if I’m not careful. I need a formula that doesn’t strip my hair but also removes anything sitting on the scalp with ease. While this formula might be low-foam, it still cleanses my hair really nicely and really helps smooth down any frizz and flyaways. What’s impressive is that it got my hair so smooth and shiny without even using conditioner yet.

Everpure Sulfate Free Iron Sleek Smoothing Conditioner

L’Oréal

EverPure Iron Sleek Smoothing Conditioner

On wash days, I use this as a deep conditioner by leaving it on for 20 minutes. The name “iron sleek” is no joke. Like the shampoo, this formula really smooths the hair and leaves it incredibly shiny and healthy-looking. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked for my type 4 hair, but it provides the perfect amount of moisture without being too heavy.

The main draw here is that it’s silicone-free. It’s tough sometimes to find good silicone-free formulas because they don’t give as much slip. However, I generally avoid silicones for my own hair. While they’re are great for sealing moisture into the hair initially and creating that super smooth, tangle-free experience, over time, they aren’t always great for curlies or low porosity hair because they’re not water-soluble and sit on top of the hair. This creates an impenetrable layer where moisture can’t get in, which can make some hair dry and brittle over time. I do want to note that this might not happen to everyone with curly or low porosity hair. If you use products with silicones that work well for your curls, then no harm no foul! But, I will share that I find the above to be true for my own hair and it’s something to keep in mind if you’re noticing products with silicones seem to dry out your strands.

This silicone-free conditioner does a nice job of finding a balance—providing enough moisture and sleekness without any harm to dry hair. While I do wish it provided a tad more slip for my super thick, easily tangled hair, it’s still an amazing conditioner that’s become a regular staple in my routine. This pair is a really strong duo overall and would work well for most hair types.

Everpure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment

L’Oréal

EverPure Bond Repair Concentrate

I was inspired by TikTok user Abbey Yung and her “Abbey Yung Method” for strengthening damaged hair. While I don’t think you need quite as many bond repair products as she uses in her method, I did take her recommendation when it came to L’Oréal’s EverPure Bond Repair Concentrate. I only bust this out every once in a while when my hair could use a boost. I don’t use it weekly because using bond repair products too often makes my hair brittle, but as a ‘once in a while’ treatment, this one is great. It really helps smooth out my hair and makes my curls less scraggly-looking.

I used to heat style almost every day and over time, that took a toll on my hair. Using this once a week or every couple of weeks really helps perk up my strands and keeps them healthy-looking. It’s super easy to apply for 10 minutes on damp hair before wash day. When I’m done, my hair feels so much softer and looks shinier—a huge accomplishment when you’ve lived with perpetually dry hair most of your life.

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