This is my favourite shortcut to silky strands (even though my ends are fried)

Want to know the secret to salon shine? Lamellar technology. It’s a hero at the backwash and the L’Oreal Paris Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic 8 Second Wonder Water is the latest in a recent line of at-home products to include the whizzy science. Only this time, it’s supercharged with some serious additional hydration as well – courtesy of a hair-specific hyaluronic formula. So does that mean it leaves hair extra shiny?

In a nutshell, lamellar technology is a liquid treatment infused with teensy care molecules that move down your strands and penetrate exactly where your hair needs them (where there’s damage or gaps). It means instead of coating the entire hair in goo and weighing it down, lamellar gives a lightweight shiny topcoat that also delivers reparative amino acids and proteins inside your strands.

This new L’Oreal launch takes things a step further, adding skincare’s buzziest quenching ingredient, hyaluronic acid. So, I had to see for myself if it lives up to the hype.

L’Oreal Paris Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic 8 Second Wonder Water at a glance 

L’Oreal Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Acid 8 Second Wonder Water

• The Pros: It’s affordable, it takes 8 seconds, it’s innovative and it gives you salon tech but in your own shower. Plus the silkiness this delivers is unlike anything else.
• affordable, lightweight formula, unique packaging (aim to include 3-4)
• The Cons: It’s not specifically designed for colour treated hair, but there’s an alternative that is.
• Price: £11.99
• Our verdict: 2-3 sentences summarising your review, offering your reader enough information to make a decision. 
• GLAMOUR star rating: 4.5 out of 5         

Meet the reviewer: Elle Turner, GLAMOUR’s Beauty Editor

To be fair, I get a lot of compliments on my hair. It’s long and in alright knick, but the ends though? Vom. They’re totally fried and due a good cut tbh. Because of this, my hair can feel very dehydrated from the mid-lengths down. If you’re lazy like me and stretch out the time between salon visits, this promises to restore 18x more hydration and 5x more shininess which is music to my ears (or hair). I have high standards when it comes to hair products and I’m lucky that I get to try all the latest and greatest launches through my job. But, I’ll admit, I’m a little biased on this one as I love the OG Wonder Water and I’ll happily fan-girl the L’Oreal Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic shampoo and conditioner to whoever will listen. So a lil baby between the two? Thank you, hair Gods.

The Packaging

The purple packaging mimics that of the rest of the hyaluronic range so it’s instantly obvious (to those in the know) that this Wonder Water is here to provide extra hydration. As with the others, it has little lines measuring out the doses on the back (1 dose for fine to medium texture, 2-3 doses for thick to curly texture). And the nozzle applicator means you can squirt it straight down the lengths of your hair pretty precisely. 

The Product Details

L’Oreal’s original wonder water was named the number one product launch of 2021, so the newest member of the family has a lot to live up to. Alongside the lamellar technology (mentioned above), the newbie contains hyaluronic acid. Since the composition of our hair varies from our skin, this works slightly differently. Rather than penetrating the hair’s fibre, the HA molecules wrap themselves around weak, damaged strands acting as a conditioner and ultra lightweight barrier against external aggressors. The brand chose a specific hydrophilic strain of hyaluronic which works extra well when wet, forming a strong rinse-resistant seal.

Your Questions Answered

What does L’Oreal Wonder Water do for your hair?

It coats hair with caring and hydrating agents that help heal and hydrate damaged areas in your hair fibre without using silicones. The smooth, weightless seal helps to reflect light for shinier looking hair that feels silkier, too.

How often should you use L’Oreal Wonder Water?

The brand recommends 2-3 times per week but personally, I just use it as a bolt-on when my hair needs a boost. Once or twice a month does the job for me.

The GLAMOUR Road Test