According to Kérastase, the Extentioniste line is like a workout for your hair! It’s designed for those who want to grow their hair long but experience breakage at the ends due to bleaching, hot tools, or brittleness. My hair is finally waist-length, but as my ends are around six years old, there are a lot of split ends and shedding that slow my growth and affect my hair’s healthy appearance.
I can’t recall why. But for some reason, Kérastase recently came onto my radar. I remember using one of their hair masks that my mom bought when I was a teen, and that’s my only prior experience with the brand. With so many new brands popping up, I felt like revisiting some of the old classics!
Kérastase used to be considered a high-end, expensive brand, but nowadays I’d say their products are more mid-range; not cheap, but somewhat affordable. Especially in Europe, where it’s such a classic brand, many webshops compete on pricing. If you live in the US, it might be a different story.
Extentioniste Shampoo
Hair is left clean but still soft, ready for conditioner. However, I was surprised at how much I needed to use to get any real lather going. Before purchasing, I watched countless reviews, and nearly everyone mentioned how concentrated Kérastase products are and how little you need to use. But with this particular shampoo, I had to wash and rinse three times to get any foaming action—or use a lot of it!
While I know and understand that no foam doesn’t mean any cleansing, I’m still bewildered by what everyone else was saying about Kérastase shampoos. Because I had to use more than usual, I ran out of shampoo before my conditioner, which was annoying. Usually, it’s the other way around.
Other than it not being as concentrated as others claimed, I generally liked the Extensioniste shampoo. It’s a clear gel, and I usually opt for more pearlescent or creamy shampoos that feel more conditioning. I wouldn’t say that it stimulated my hair to grow faster, but my hair and scalp felt healthy. I did notice less hair shedding from the roots when washing.
Extentioniste conditioner
If shampoo is there to ensure a healthy foundation for growth, conditioner is there to take care of what’s already grown out. The Extentioniste conditioner is supposed to ease detangling and seal split ends. It contains maleic acid, which is unique to the line and works similarly to other bonding products, though its effects are more temporary. This feature piqued my interest, making me want to see if it would have any real impact on my split ends.
I wish there had been a travel set with the Extentioniste hair masque instead of the conditioner. I had a feeling the conditioner might be too light for me, and my instincts were correct. It’s not a bad conditioner, but the masque might have been a better fit for my hair, which tends to frizz and lean on the dry side. Overall, it left my hair silky smooth, though I could have used a bit more hydration.
Conclusion
For it to work its magic, you really need to leave it in for the recommended 3-5 minutes. Unfortunately, I did not see much improvement in my split ends. I still experienced significant shedding from the ends when combing. I believe this is partly because I didn’t use the Exentioniste thermique blow dry primer; conditioner alone can only do so much. When it comes to split ends, the best way to combat shedding is a combination of a good conditioner or mask and a leave-in treatment. You can’t rely solely on your conditioner.
Extentioniste Scalp Serum
The Extensionist scalp serum was actually the first product I tried from the line, though I didn’t use it in combination with the shampoo and conditioner before finishing it. During that time, I’ve been using the Initialiste scalp and hair serum, which is very similar. It’s difficult to form a solid opinion on these hair serums as they typically require several months of consistent use—often around six months—to truly assess and see substantial results. Claims of thicker hair after just 1-2 weeks are usually due to placebo effects or temporary thickening agents…
The Extensionist serum comes in a 50 ml bottle and lasted me about 2 months with 2-3 uses per week. I used about 3-4 full pipettes almost after every wash, focusing on my temples. Personally, I find it quite expensive considering it lasted for such a short time. The Initialiste serum, at 60 ml, lasts a bit longer and costs about the same.
Because I used it briefly, it’s challenging for me to articulate the promised results. Applying the serum felt great; I recommend using it on damp hair immediately after showering. The scent is fresh but not overpowering. It seemed like the results weren’t noticeable until about a month after finishing the Extentioniste serum and starting the Initialiste serum. Thus, I’m uncertain which serum did what and whether the other simply continued the benefits of the first serum. They both share similar bases and ingredients with slightly different active components.
Conclusion
Regardless, I can say something is working! While I’ve tried various hair serums before, this is the first time I’ve actually noticed baby hairs growing at my temples–where I desired more growth the most. I’m impressed, although I do find the serums quite pricey. Overall, I don’t think it matters much which Kérastase scalp serum you use; I’m on a quest to try them all, haha! My only concern is that I didn’t notice a significant reduction in hair shedding from the roots, but that might not be the primary focus of the Extentioniste serum. So, I’m planning to try the Genisis serum next.
Resistance Ciment Thermique
In my travel set, I received the best-selling Ciment Thermique instead of the Extentioniste Thermique, which was a bit disappointing. However, I had heard many good things about this one, and since I started blow-drying my hair more during winter, I decided to give it a try.
Ciment Thermique is a heat protectant designed for very damaged and over-processed hair. It claims to reduce breakage, smooth hair, and shorten drying time. However, I’m confused about its heat protection specifications. Some sources, including the product itself, claim it protects up to 180°C. Yet, I’ve seen American sites and influencers mention 240°C. This discrepancy makes a significant difference in protection levels. Personally, I wouldn’t use this with a flat iron or curling iron due to the uncertainty.
I’m not sure if it’s the dry winter air affecting the product or something else, but I can’t understand why this is a favorite among so many people. One major benefit is that it drastically reduces drying time. Once applied, my hair dries incredibly fast, almost too fast, leaving it frizzy, brittle, and lacking shine compared to other leave-in treatments. The only positive aspect is it adds a lot of volume reminiscent of the 90s, but it comes at the expense of increased frizz.
Maybe I have different expectations for how my hair should feel and look, but this blow-dry primer seems to undo all the moisture from my hair masks. Isn’t it supposed to be for damaged hair? Another issue I’ve noticed is that I see more split ends when using this product. Perhaps the rapid drying process exposes the hair cuticle again instead of keeping it sealed?
Conclusion
Unfortunately, this product simply did not work for me at all. I’m left wondering if I received a faulty product. On a positive note, I later purchased the Nutritive Nectar Thermique, a heat protectant for dry hair that protects up to 240°C, and it works much better for me. While it doesn’t cut drying time by 60% like Ciment Thermique, my hair looks less frizzy, shinier, and has fewer split ends. Additionally, I tried the Kérastase Curl Manifesto Leave-In, which is designed for textured hair and serves as an excellent blow-dry primer. It leaves my hair hydrated, smooth, and free of frizz when blow-drying with a round brush, meeting my expectations perfectly.
Summery
Overall, would I repurchase from this specific line? Probably not. I might consider trying the Extensioniste hair mask in the future as a supplement. However, the shampoo and conditioner didn’t impress me much. They didn’t feel significantly different from drugstore options, aside from a more pleasant scent and lesser lathering. While I still want to explore more from Kérastase, I’m not as enthusiastic as I was initially. I had hoped for shinier and softer hair, but I’ve experienced better results with other products. It could be that this particular line just wasn’t right for my hair.
I didn’t realize how extensive Kérastase’s product lines are until I researched them—it’s quite overwhelming. Despite this, I am interested in trying the Genisis line, which promises to strengthen hair from roots to ends. After a significant hair fallout in early fall 2021, which I believe was linked to my second dose of the COVID vaccine, anti-hair fallout and regrowth care are currently a priority for me.
If you’re seeking a more affordable alternative to Extensioniste, Redken Extreme Length offers a similar option with a conditioner containing maleic acid. Another alternative is Elvital/Elvive Full Resist, which markets itself similarly as “a workout for your hair”. It’s worth noting that Kérastase, Redken, and Elvital are all under the L’Oreal umbrella, so similarities in their product offerings are not surprising.
