For someone with straight hair, the winter weather feels like a wonderland, but it can be a nightmare for those with curly hair. It's not that our hair is hopeless, it's just that we need to be extra intentional with care and maintenance, which can get tricky considering how hectic the holiday season can get. Thankfully, I, along with two other beauty editors was recently asked to take the L'Oreal Professionnel Curl Expression line out for a washday test drive.
The vast collection includes products targeted at those with coily to curly hair types. The products are intended for washdays, post-wash day maintenance and styling. The ingredients are specifically formulated to help enhance one's curls while also elevating the overall haircare routine (aka, cutting down on time without cutting down on quality!)
Below find a breakdown of each item and why we love it. Then keep scrolling for L’Oréal Professionnel Curl Expression reviews on three completely different curls patterns.
L’Oréal Professionnel Curl Expression: A Product-for-Product Breakdown
Serie Expert Curl Expression Anti-Build Up Cleansing Shampoo
Gentle cleansing shampoo that removes buildup and impurities on curls and coils.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Anti-Build Up Cleansing Shampoo
The Anti-Build Up Cleansing Shampoo is formulated to remove all excess build-up from root to end. It’s a gentle “cleansing jelly” free of sulfates, silicon, and parabens that rids product-pile up and impurities on curls and coils. PS: a little goes a long way.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intensive Moisturizer Rich Mask
Detangling and intensely hydrating mask for curls and coils that leaves a luxurious-feel finish.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intensive Moisturizer Rich Mask
When using a hair mask, especially one intended for optimal hair hydration, it's important to have a product that sticks to your strands and really penetrates your follicles. The main ingredients in the Intensive Moisturizer Rich Mask boast moisturizing components such as glycerin and hibiscus seed.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intense Moisturizing Shampoo
Sulfate-free intensive moisturizing shampoo for curly and coily hair types.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intense Moisturizing Shampoo
Free of sulfates and parabens, the Intense Moisurizing Cream Shampoo boasts two times the conditioning benefits of most shampoos1 and doesn’t strip the hair of its natural oils, while giving it the ultimate clean and weightless feel!
Serie Expert Curl Expression Curls Reviver Spray
Lightweight curl and coil defining and reviving spray that calms frizz and instantly extends curl and coil pattern and definition.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Curls Reviver Spray
This alcohol-free Curls Reviver Spray is the ultimate “curl pick me up.” Castor oil, a key ingredient in its formula, is essential for smoothing frizz, promoting shine, and controlling volume.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Long Lasting Moisturizer Leave-in Cream
Intensive leave-in moisturizing curl cream that provides hydration for extremely dry curls and coils.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Long-Lasting Moisturizer Leave-In Cream
This Long-Lasting Moisturizer Leave-In Cream is light and won't add to the build-up you've worked so hard to remove. It’s perfect for achieving additional slip to your strands and seals in moisture while protecting hair against any future heat application.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intensive Moisturizer Mask
Detangling and deeply hydrating mask for curls and coils that leaves a natural-feel finish.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intensive Moisturizer Mask
The creamy, lightweight formula of the Intensive Moisturizer Mask melts right into hair making it perfect for pre-detangling curls and coils. It promises to leave your mane deeply hydrated with a natural feel, while fighting frizz for up to 48 hours.
Serie Expert Curl Expression 10-in1 Cream-in-Mousse
Alcohol-free, multi-benefit mousse that gives soft hold and hydration for curls and coils.
Serie Expert Curl Expression 10-In-1 Cream-In-Mousse
That classic crunch left on strands from mousse is a thing of the past with the 10-In-1 Cream-In-Mousse. It’s a soft-hold, multifunction mousse that offers 10 benefits in 1 application, from adding shiny definition to offering heat-protection up to 450°F.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Definition Activator Gel
Curl definition gel provides curl and coil pattern definition from roots to ends and activates curls and coils.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Definition Activator Gel
This Definition Activator Gel, specifically designed for styling all curl types, is perfect for making your naturally spiral strands that much more silky and defined. Its innovative cream-in-gel formula combines the gentle care of cream but the stronger hold of gel—the result is gorgeously defined curls and coils!
L’Oréal Professionnel Curl Expression on 3 Curly Types
Editor: Leann, 2B/2C Curls
Hair Type: Curly-wavy, color-treated, dry
About a year or two ago, I noticed a shift in my natural curl pattern. I know that hair undergoes a few phases throughout its lifetime, but I suspected my subdued curl pattern was less due to lifecycle changes and more because my naturally dark brown hair was dyed to the lightest shade it's ever been, altering its structure. I would estimate that my formerly 3A/3B hair now falls squarely into 2B/2C territory, depending on the products I use, which is very rarely a curl-enhancing system. To be honest, it took a lot of search engine queries to even determine what my hair type is nowadays. Warding off my naturally curly hair with straightening tools has been my primary hair goal since I was about 12 years old. It’s not that I hated my curly hair—I just felt the most put-together and, ironically, “myself” when my hair was sleek and straight.
Reviewing L’Oréal Professionnel’s Curl Expression line was the perfect way to show my curls that I miss them and that I still care, especially since I’ve been sporting my air-dried texture more than ever these days. I was a little overwhelmed by which of the eight products I should use, but after a few trials and errors, I nailed down a routine that worked best for my hair type.
The Intense Moisturizing Shampoo and the Intense Moisture Mask are my new wash-day go-to's, but I swap in the Anti Build-Up Cleansing Shampoo every two to three shampoos if I’ve used a lot of styling products that week. The Moisturizing Shampoo has one of the most luxurious lathers I’ve ever experienced, and I can actually feel the hydration being infused back into my dry, color-worn hair.
There’s no shortage of aftercare items to choose from, but the Long Lasting Moisturizer Leave-In Cream is my favorite post-shower product. When I apply it to my damp hair and let my strands air dry, it leaves my curls defined and frizz-free without being crunchy, which I noticed happened when I used the line’s Activator Gel or the Mousse (word to the wise, if I use these, it’s to enhance my dry hair instead!). As a bonus, the leave-in cream has heat protection, which is great because sometimes there are a few rogue strands that I need to touch up with my curling iron.
If I wake up with flat curls or bedhead, it’s nothing the Curls Reviver Spray can’t fix. I spritz it onto the mid-lengths to ends of my hair, give it a quick scrunch, and see my pattern spring back to life without wasting time and water on another shower.
I love this line, and it’s just a bonus that it smells so good. As far as results go, I’ll let the before and after photos speak for themselves—and never take my beautiful natural texture for granted again.
Editor: Jelani, 3A Curls
Hair Type: Thin, coily, frizzy, color-treated, dry
When asked to describe my hair a few adjectives come to mind: thin, coily, frizzy, and dry. While the majority of my curls are what many would identify as 3A, there are all kinds of textures in my hair ranging from 3B to 4C. Needless to say, my mane isn’t easy to manage and I’m always on the lookout for new products to make my hair care and styling routine a breeze. The L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Curl Expression range arrived at my house at the perfect time. I had just run out of my go-to hair styling foam and it was sold out everywhere, leaving my hair frizzy and undefined.
As soon as I unboxed the products I headed to the bathroom to get started on my wash day. The first product I used was the Curl Expression Anti-Build Up Cleansing Shampoo. I’d been wearing a slick bun that week and piled on the gel to keep my edges under control, so I was looking for a shampoo that could deliver a real deep clean without stripping my curls. The Curl Expression Anti-Build Up Cleansing Shampoo delivered on both counts. I always lather, rinse, and repeat, so for my second wash, I reached for the Curl Expression Intense Moisturizing Shampoo. The silky formula left my curls feeling soft before I even opened the deep conditioner.
The shampoos and conditioners from the range are lovely, but the stylers are where it really gets good. Given the specific needs of my curls, I often have a hard time finding styling products that make my hair look and feel moistirized and shiny as well as defined and volumized. That’s why I love that the L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Curl Expression line gives you options.
I use the Curl Expression Long Lasting Moisturizer Leave-In Cream to lock in the moisture my dehydrated curls so desperately need. Then I rake and scrunch the Curl Expression 10-In-1 Cream-In-Mousse throughout my mane to give my curls definition and hold. After diffusing my hair, my curls are shiny, bouncy, and perfectly spiraled. I love these styling products so much, when my go-to styling foam was finally back in stock, I didn’t even bother adding-to-cart—L'Oréal Professionnel’s got a loyal fan in me.
Editor: Soraya, Type 4 Curls
Hair Type: Thick coils, porous, partially color-treated, occasionally dry
I'd describe my hair type in the 4-family and on the porous side. It thrives in humidity and moisture from dewy air, which is why my hair loves everything about South Florida (constant moisture)! However, as a snowbird, I also live in New York City, where the winter dries out my curls and wrecks havoc on my texture.
I'm actually really excited to share my review for the L'Oreal Professionnel Curl Expression line because I used the entire washday line after being in three different cities and two different climates. I was in dire need of the works! And putting this line to the test, with my hair in its most vulnerable state, was the ultimate test.
For starters, as a veteran natural and coily girly, when it comes to wash days I've learned the secret is in the pre-wash strategy, especially since my hair is prone to shrinkage and fairy knots (also known as single strange knots). This means some light moisturizing, detangling, and sectioning of my hair before the actual shampooing and so forth. Upon unboxing my items, my eyes went straight to the Curl Expression Caring Water Mist. Now, the label describes this as a "curls reviver leave in," intended for daily use and refreshing your curls between washes.
However, as someone who isn't afraid to mix things up, I decided to use this as a tool to hydrate my hair and help with my pre-wash detangling. Usually, I use a water bottle and some select oils for this trick. However, I noticed the main ingredients in the Caring Water Mist included glycerin, castor oil, hibiscus seed, and water. So I considered it the total package, and I was right—see for yourself what a few sprays did to one section of my hair!
This is my hair with zero water or oils added to it—only the Caring Water Mist, applied to the section I’m holding. The mist immediately went to work softening, moisturizing, and adding plenty of S T R E T C H—the perfect prep before stepping into the shower. It cut down my pre-wash ritual by half. I was able to detangle and section out my hair for washday with ease. If it can work its magic on my hair in its worst state, I could only imagine how much more useful it would be for managing my curls when my hair isn't super tragic. 10/10 recommend!!
For this review, I went on to wash one side of my hair with Shampoo Anti-Buildup Cleansing Jelly and the other side with the Shampoo Intense Moisturizing Cleansing Cream. The jelly is more of a gel consistency and states it's intended mostly for build-up removal, which my hair had plenty of after weeks of product use and skipped wash days. The cream is intended for mega moisture and hydration restoration. My hair needed both.
In the end, I found that my curls took better to the Intense Moisturizing Cleansing Cream in terms of cleansing my hair while maintaining that silky feel. I found the gel to almost do "too good" of a job with cleansing. Though, to be fair, it is recommended that this product be used less frequently than the moisturizing shampoo since it is more of a detoxifying agent for product build-up and impurities. Personally, while it did an amazing job of resetting my scalp’s health, I would stick to using the moisturizing cream shampoo for regular wash days. Again, I'm not opposed to keeping the gel around for scalp cleanses and deep cleans on a biweekly to monthly basis. The cream also had a good amount of "slip" to it, which was surprising, considering that I usually only get slip results with my conditioners. I went as far as to perform my wide-tooth comb detangling process with the moisturizing shampoo and found it pretty easy and convenient.
After this, I used the Rich Hair Mask and, though intended for 10 minutes, I kept it in for about 20. With any hair mask, consistency and viscosity are key. I loved how thick and rich the mask was. I knew immediately that a little would go a long way and it was exactly what my hair needed, especially for this season. My curls immediately became supple upon application. My hair felt so healthy, tangle-free, and moisturized after rinsing.
Finally, I used the Intensive Leave-In Conditioner and a dime size amount of the Activator Gel, to put my hair back into a sleek, chic updo. I did this for two reasons: (1) to protect my hair from the cold before I went outside to run errands in 30-degree weather and (2) I wanted to sport a cute TikTok-approved claw clip! With my hair being tangle-free, hydrated, and easy to style, slicking and sleeking it back into a clip was a breeze (and usually, this can be a huge headache for me, depending on the state of my hair’s health).
In the end, I really enjoyed the L'Oreal Curl Expression line and look forward to adding some of these products to my staple haircare routine! What’s great about this curl collection is that there are enough products to customize a routine unique to your curls.
Interested in more curly and coily hair products? Shop Hair.com for all our salon-quality maintenance and styling favorites, so your pattern can flourish.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Anti-Build Up Cleansing Shampoo
Gentle cleansing shampoo that removes buildup and impurities on curls and coils.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intensive Moisturizer Mask
Detangling and deeply hydrating mask for curls and coils that leaves a natural-feel finish.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intense Moisturizing Shampoo
Sulfate-free intensive moisturizing shampoo for curly and coily hair types.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Long Lasting Moisturizer Leave-in Cream
Intensive leave-in moisturizing curl cream that provides hydration for extremely dry curls and coils.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Curls Reviver Spray
Lightweight curl and coil defining and reviving spray that calms frizz and instantly extends curl and coil pattern and definition.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Intensive Moisturizer Rich Mask
Detangling and intensely hydrating mask for curls and coils that leaves a luxurious-feel finish.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Definition Activator Gel
Curl definition gel provides curl and coil pattern definition from roots to ends and activates curls and coils.
Serie Expert Curl Expression 10-in1 Cream-in-Mousse
Alcohol-free, multi-benefit mousse that gives soft hold and hydration for curls and coils.
Serie Expert Curl Expression Holiday Kit
Confidently ring in the new year with cleansed curls and coils.
