This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.
My hair has always been prone to flyaways and breakage, especially in the summertime, but now I’ve decided enough is enough. Forget Hot Girl Summer; all I want is Good Hair Summer. Damage from the sun is real, so I decided to try heat-protectant sprays and leave-in conditioners in a bid to upgrade my hair care routine. I previously purchased the Ouai Leave-In Conditioner and loved it, but at $30 for a full-size bottle, it costs a pretty penny. So, I decided to try the L’Oréal Ever Pure 21-in-1 Leave-In Spray, which is a third of the price and also has excellent reviews.
I tested the two products in a side-by-side comparison to determine which works better at eliminating frizz, hydrating and detangling strands.
Ouai Leave-In Conditioner vs. L’Oréal Ever Pure 21-in-1 Multi-Benefit Perfecting Leave-In Spray at a glance
The Ouai Leave-In Conditioner provides heat protection and conditions your hair into the most hydrated and smooth version possible with a luxurious blend of oils and nutrients such as tamarind seed extract, panthenol and vitamin E to add luster and detangling properties. It is suitable for all hair types.
Hair experts swear by this moisturizing leave-in conditioner to replenish and detangle hair. It contains soothing almond milk and rose extracts. It has a variety of benefits, like preserving color vibrancy, nourishing hair and creating silkiness and movement to make blow-drying as effortless as possible. It also helps reduce breakage and split ends.
Quick comparison
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Ouai Leave-In Conditioner
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| Key Ingredients | Tamarind seed extract, panthenol, vitamin C, hydrolyzed proteins |
| Size (full-size) | 4.7 oz. |
| Scent | North Bondi (floral fragrance with notes of bergamot, violet and white musk) |
| Hair Type | Fine, medium and thick |
| Price | $30 |
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L’Oréal Ever Pure 21-in-1 Leave-In Spray
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| Key Ingredients | Rose extract, almond milk |
| Size (full-size) | 6.8 oz. |
| Scent | Fresh almond blossom and creamy musk |
| Hair Type | Dry |
| Price | $13 |
Why should you use a leave-in conditioner?
Buying the right leave-in conditioner is an easy way to upgrade your hair care routine. After a shower, the best leave-in conditioners bring a dose of hydration and contain nutrients to repair your stressed and tired strands. Combining oils and triglycerides, these products revive damaged locks, detangle and reduce flyaways. The nourishing treatment is convenient if you don’t have 15 minutes to apply a hair mask in the morning. Because let’s face it: Who has the time? While you might be tired amid a hectic week, the right leave-in conditioner ensures your hair can spring back into place. With my thick, messy hair, I was optimistic going into the testing process. There must be, I reasoned, a product that would help me emerge from bad hair days with better results than my traditional approach of scrunching the mess into a bun and hoping no one notices.
Both products deliver smoother, less tangled hair
After a week of alternating the two products each day — and testing each of them on one half of my head for two of the days for a side-by-side comparison — it was clear both products work well on my thick, slightly wavy hair. Contrary to their descriptions, both products had a fairly neutral, pleasant scent. They’re both vegan, cruelty-free and sulfate-free, which I appreciate too. The Ouai is more opaque, but after brushing my hair, I noticed that my hair became virtually identical in texture and consistency to when I used the L’Oréal. When I used each product, I sprayed it three to five times on my clean hair before combing my waves with a brush; the application was easy.
Both products promise to provide heat protection and address dryness with moisturizing ingredients. These are common summer hair concerns, which is why they’re so popular lately. While my hair is not dyed, both products are color-safe so they’re suitable to use on a variety of hair types.
Regardless of the product I used, I noticed a significant improvement in the smoothness of my hair compared to when I didn’t use a leave-in conditioner. I also had fewer flyaways, which is pretty remarkable for someone who is prone to them. This is a clear testament to the effectiveness of these products in enhancing hair texture and manageability.
The L’Oréal bottle is easier to use
Although I liked Ouai’s bottle better from an aesthetic standpoint, the design of the spray bottle didn’t release much product with each spritz. I found L’Oréal’s easier to spray.
This isn’t a huge deal breaker, especially since it’s not like Ouai’s conditioner was challenging to apply. As mentioned before, once either product is sprayed, it applies in the same way. I do prefer the look of the Ouai bottle and am drawn to minimalistic labeling. (What can I say? I like the way the bottle looks on my bathroom vanity.) However, the L’Oréal bottle is larger than the Ouai at 6.8 ounces versus 4.7 ounces and is easier to apply, so I found the bottle preferable overall.
The Ouai leaves a sleeker finish
After applying the leave-in conditioner, I felt the Ouai product made my hair texture slicker and left more defined waves once it dried. My hair framed my face in a more flattering way and was straighter overall too. This product also reduced the number of flyaways better than L’Oréal’s and left my hair with a softer texture, especially when it came to the ends of my hair, which are prone to chronic breakage.
When it comes to shine, I didn’t notice a tremendous difference between the two products. My hair looked shiny and relatively healthy after applying each product. But in terms of overall moisture and shape, I would have to say that the Ouai was the clear winner. While both products did a great job at increasing volume, Ouai’s lent a more polished look.
If you’re going to go in with hair oil afterward (I didn’t for this test), the Ouai product provides a more structured base. I have straight hair now, but last year, I had a digital perm, and this Ouai conditioner, combined with the Amos Professional True Repair Essential Oil, worked great for waves and lasted for almost seven months.
The effects of the Ouai were longer-lasting
Hours after application, my hair stayed in better condition with the Ouai Leave-In Conditioner and retained its shape and smoother texture for a longer period of time. I particularly noticed a sustained difference with the ends, which felt much more hydrated.
UV rays from the sun can be intensely damaging in the summer, stripping your hair of its natural oils and absorbing valuable moisture. Considering these factors, I appreciated Ouai’s longevity even more. I don’t have a ton of free time to maintain my hair, so it’s nice to put even less thought into the process while knowing that my hair still looks and smells nice.
The bottom line
It’s worth noting that everyone’s hair reacts differently to products. Even though I thought both products worked well, your experience with these products will, ultimately, vary depending on your hair texture and type. That said, if price isn’t a factor, I would opt for the Ouai Leave-In Conditioner. Although it is the more expensive product, I thought it provided more definition and shape.
Still, it’s not like the L’Oréal leave-in spray isn’t a fantastic product. When I asked my friends what they thought looked better, they said my hair looked similar regardless of which product I used. I asked some guy friends, and they looked at me as if I had grown two heads and said my hair looked exactly the same. I don’t think they’re very observant, but I digress. Both products provided volume and increased moisture, but the L’Oréal bottle is larger and easier to apply. That’s something to consider, especially if you’re on a budget.
I am curious about the best leave-in conditioners with hair oils, so my next purchase will be a hair oil like the Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil. Still, I am satisfied with the testing experience with both products, and the Ouai, in particular, is a tried-and-true favorite.