Quick answer: Metal Detox is worth it if your hair is coloured, lightened or porous and it snaps, tangles or loses its tone faster than it should. L'Oréal says its Glicoamine active neutralises metal particles, such as copper from tap water, that build up in the hair and can cause breakage and colour shift. Start with the Metal Detox Shampoo, our price $49.50 (RRP $66), and Mask, our price $57.75 (RRP $77). If your hair is uncoloured and in good condition, you can probably skip it.
Updated 15 November 2026 by the stylists at Next International, a L'Oréal Professionnel salon in Oxenford and Upper Coomera on the Gold Coast since 1992.
What does Metal Detox actually do?
Tap water carries tiny amounts of metal, and copper is the one L'Oréal talks about most. Over time those particles settle into the hair. L'Oréal says porous hair, which includes a lot of coloured and bleached hair, soaks up more of that metal-laden water.
L'Oréal says those metals can lead to breakage and to colour shifting away from the shade you walked out of the salon with. Every product in the range contains Glicoamine, a patented active that L'Oréal says gets inside the hair fibre and neutralises the metal.
So it is not a quick fix for damage you can already see. Think of it as protection for hair that is coloured often, so it holds up better between appointments.
Is Metal Detox worth it for my hair?
| Your hair | Worth it? | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Blonde, highlighted or balayage | Yes, this is who it was made for | Shampoo and Mask |
| Coloured brunette or red that fades or changes tone quickly | Yes | Shampoo and Mask, plus the Leave-in Cream |
| Bleached, porous, tangles badly when wet | Yes, and go one step further | Add the Pre-Shampoo Treatment |
| Coloured and frizzy on humid days | Yes | Leave-in Cream for frizz and UV |
| Fine, coloured hair that goes flat with creams | Yes | Concentrated Oil as your leave-in |
| Never coloured and in good condition | Probably not | A good everyday shampoo will do |
| Stretchy, weak or snapping after bleach | Not first | Absolut Repair Molecular first |
The last row matters. Metal Detox is about protecting coloured hair from metal build-up. If your hair already feels like chewing gum when wet, the priority is rebuilding strength, and that is what Absolut Repair Molecular is designed for.
Which Metal Detox products should I buy?
Start here. It is a sulphate-free cleansing cream that turns into a rich foam, and it is safe for colour. L'Oréal says that used with the mask, it gives up to 87% less breakage and up to 2x more shine (instrumental test).
Using it every day or sharing it? The 500ml bottle is $74.25 and the 500ml refill pouch is $63.
The hero of the range. It is creamy but light, and it rinses out after one minute. L'Oréal says it gives up to 99% less breakage in one use (instrumental brushing test against a classic shampoo).
Long, thick hair goes through a tub fast, so the 500ml mask ($89.25, RRP $119) works out better value.
For bleached or very porous hair. It goes on before the shampoo and contains 2% Glicofiller, which L'Oréal says fills micro-breaks in the hair and helps stop it soaking up metal-laden water. L'Oréal quotes up to 96% less breakage on bleached hair (instrumental test).
Shop Metal Detox Pre-Shampoo Treatment, our price $57.75 (RRP $77)
Our pick for medium to thick hair and for anyone who fights frizz. It has UV filters and heat protection up to 230°C. L'Oréal says it gives 72 hours of frizz control, even in high humidity, and keeps 97% of colour brightness after 8 weeks (instrumental tests).
Better for fine to medium hair that wants shine without weight. It also protects from heat up to 230°C, and L'Oréal says it gives up to 97% less breakage after one use (instrumental test).
Shop Metal Detox Concentrated Oil, our price $56.25 (RRP $75)
Shampoo and mask together come to $107.25. Add the Leave-in Cream and it is $162.75. Add the Pre-Shampoo Treatment too and the full set is $220.50, which gets you free standard shipping.
How do I use Metal Detox?
- Optional, for bleached or porous hair: split wet hair into two sections. Work 2 to 4 pumps of Pre-Shampoo Treatment through the lengths and ends of each section for 1 to 2 minutes, until it lathers lightly. Do not rinse.
- Apply the shampoo to wet hair and scalp, straight over the pre-shampoo if you used it. Massage into a rich lather from roots to ends.
- Rinse well.
- Squeeze out the excess water and smooth the mask through the lengths and ends. Leave it for 1 minute, or up to 15 minutes when your hair needs more.
- Rinse well.
- On towel-dried hair, work in 1 to 2 pumps of the Leave-in Cream (up to 4 for long hair) or 1 to 2 pumps of the Concentrated Oil, warmed between your palms. Do not rinse. Blow-dry or let it dry naturally.
How often should I use it?
Use the shampoo every time you wash. L'Oréal suggests the mask can be used every wash or weekly. Our usual advice is at least once a week, and more often in the few weeks after a colour or lightening service. The leave-in is a daily step.
Cream or oil: which leave-in is right?
Pick by texture, not by budget, since they are close in price. The cream suits thicker, drier or frizz-prone hair and is the one with UV filters, which is handy for anyone spending summer outdoors. The oil suits finer hair and gives more shine. Both protect against heat up to 230°C, so you only need one. Heading into summer? Our summer blonde guide covers sun, salt water and chlorine.
Is Metal Detox the same as a clarifying shampoo?
No. A clarifying shampoo is a strong cleanser for lifting product and residue off the surface, and most people only use one now and then. Metal Detox Shampoo is a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo you can use every wash, and L'Oréal says Glicoamine works inside the hair fibre. It also will not tone out yellow. For that, a purple shampoo is the tool, and we cover it in our Vitamino Color Spectrum guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is L'Oréal Metal Detox worth it?
For coloured, highlighted, bleached or porous hair, yes. L'Oréal says its Glicoamine active neutralises metal particles from tap water that can cause breakage and colour shift. If your hair has never been coloured and is in good condition, you probably do not need it.
Does Metal Detox get rid of brassiness?
It is not a toner. L'Oréal says it helps prevent colour shift caused by metals, which helps keep colour true to tone. To neutralise yellow in blonde hair, use a purple shampoo such as Vitamino Color Spectrum Purple Shampoo.
How long do I leave the Metal Detox Mask on?
One minute is enough for everyday use. L'Oréal says you can leave it on for up to 15 minutes for a deeper treatment.
Is Metal Detox Shampoo sulphate-free?
Yes. It is a sulphate-free, colour-safe cleansing cream that foams up when you massage it in.
Can I use Metal Detox on natural, uncoloured hair?
Yes. L'Oréal says it suits all hair types, and the leave-in cream and oil are made for natural hair too. It just makes the biggest difference on coloured or lightened hair.
Should I use the cream or the oil?
The Leave-in High Protection Cream suits medium to thick or frizz-prone hair and has UV filters. The Concentrated Oil suits fine to medium hair that wants shine. Both protect against heat up to 230°C, so choose one.
Need help choosing?
Next International is a L'Oréal Professionnel salon in Oxenford and Upper Coomera, and we sell the current Serie Expert ranges online at 25% off RRP.
Not sure if Metal Detox is right for you? Ask us at your next colour appointment and we can look at your hair. Book online in Oxenford or book online in Upper Coomera, or shop the Metal Detox range. Standard shipping is free Australia-wide on orders over $200. Otherwise it is $14 standard (2 to 8 business days) or $18 express (1 to 5 business days), and click and collect from our Oxenford salon is free.
