Are They Dupes?: Kerastase Reflection Masque Chromatique Thick Hair VS L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm

Last Updated on April 27, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Did you know L’Oreal owns Kerastase? It matters. Here’s why: big companies like to save money. Why invest the resources to create two completely different products when you can sell the same thing twice under different brands?

Case in point: L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm. The top 4 ingredients (ie those that do ALL the work) are identical to those of Kerastase Reflection Masque Chromatique Thick Hair.

Yes, they’re DUPES.

L’Oreal creates the formula once and then tweaks it a little so it can sell it under different brand names. A different packaging, a slightly more floral scent and voilá: that fancy mask looks a world apart from its cheap drugstore counterpart (even though they have more in common than they dare to admit).

Let’s compare the two to find out which one should you get, shall we?

What Key Ingredients Do These Hair Masks Have In Common?

CETEARYL ALCOHOL

Cetearyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol, ie a good type of alcohol with hydrating properties. Yes, some types of alcohol are good for hair. This one is often used in shampoos and conditioners, especially those designed for damaged hair. Why? It’s a multitasker. It lubricates hair, making it soft. Plus, it gives the masks their creamy and rich consistencies. And, as an emulsifier, it helps water and oil mix nicely together so your mask doesn’t turn into a gloopy mess. Without it, you’d basically have a sad separation situation that no amount of mixing could save.

Related: What Does Alcohol-Free In Skincare Mean?

BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE

Behentrimonium Chloride (BC) is a cationic surfactant often in deep conditioning treatments. Let me say that again in plain English. BC coats hair, creating a protective barrier that makes it smooth, manageable, and less prone to breakage. Cationic surfactants like BC do this better than silicones. Why?

I’m going to get a little scientific on you now. Hair is negatively charged while cationic surfactants are positively charged. Opposites attract. In this case, it means that BC adheres better to hair than silicones. And if you’re wondering: Yes, this is why some conditioners can actually make your hair feel stronger after just one use. It’s not magic, it’s chemistry.

AMODIMETHICONE

Amodimethicone is a smart conditioning agent: it provides selective conditioning to the areas most in need of it through electrostatic attraction. Basically, “highly damaged areas of the hair cuticle possess higher negative charge density, which enhances the affinity of the cationic polymer to that specific area.” In other words, amodimethicone knows when it’s needed the most. Plus, it gives hair shine and protects it from heat damage.

Fun fact: Amodimethicone is often misunderstood. People hear “-cone” and panic about buildup, but this guy is way lighter than heavy silicones like dimethicone. It won’t leave your hair feeling greasy or weighed down unless you’re seriously overdoing it (like…using half the jar).

The Rest Of The Formulas & Ingredients

KERASTASE REFLECTION MASQUE CHROMATIQUE THICK HAIR INGREDIENTS

• Aqua / Water: The main solvent in the product, it’s hydrating.
• Cetyl Esters: It makes hair soft to the touch.
• Isopropyl Alcohol: A type of alcohol that helps dissolve other ingredients. It can be drying. Here, its drying effects are counteracted by the other emollients, so it gets q yellow rating.
• Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that extends the shelf life of the product.
• Trideceth-6: An emulsifier that prevents unfriendly ingredients (such as oil and water) from separating.
• Candelilla Cera / Candelilla Wax: A thickening agent and an emollient.
• Oryza Sativa Bran Oil / Rice Bran Oil: A moisturising oil that makes hair softer and smoother.
• Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate: An UV filter used to absorb UV rays. It gets a yellow rating just cos it doesn’t do much in a hair product.
• Glycine Soja Oil / Soybean Oil: It has hair-smoothing properties.
• Tocopherol: A form of Vitamin E, it has antioxidant properties. It also helps the formula last longer.
• Limonene: A common fragrance ingredient found in citrus fruits. It smells amazing, but it must listed separately on the label because it’s a common allergen.
• Chlorhexidine Digluconate: A preservative that protects from a wide range of gram negative and gram positive vegetative bacteria, yeasts, and fungi.
• Linalool: Another common fragrance ingredient that smells amazing, but it’s irritating.
• Cetrimonium Chloride: Another preservative that helps a product last longer.
• Hexyl Cinnamal: A common fragrance ingredient used to mask odor in cosmetic formulations. It can cause irritations.
• Citronellol: Yep, one more fragrance ingredient that makes the mask smell good… and could irritate sensitive skin.
• Butylene Glycol: It’s a solvent and texture-enhancer.
• Benzyl Alcohol: A common preservative. It’s considered one of the gentlest.
• Geraniol: One more fragrance ingredient. Divine scent, irritating potential.
• Zinc Gluconate: It can soothe an irritated scalp.
• Sodium Citrate: It helps balance the pH of beauty products.
• Bht: Another preservative that extends the shelf life of the mask.
• Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract: It provides antioxidant properties. Hair is dead, so it’s useless here – hence the yellow rating.
• Citrus Junos Fruit Extract: It makes hair softer to the touch.
• Parfum / Fragrance: It makes the mask smell good, but it’s irritating.

L’OREAL PARIS TOTAL REPAIR 5 DAMAGE-ERASING BALM

• Aqua / Water: The main solvent in the product, it’s hydrating.
• Candelilla Wax: A thickening agent and an emollient.
• Cetyl Esters: It makes hair soft to the touch.
• Glycerin: A humectant that deeply hydrates hair.
• Isopropyl Alcohol: A type of alcohol that helps dissolve other ingredients. It can be drying. Here, its drying effects are counteracted by the other emollients, so it gets q yellow rating.
• Parfum / Fragrance: It makes the mask smell good, but it’s irritating.
• Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that extends the shelf life of the product.
• Trideceth-6: An emulsifier that prevents unfriendly ingredients (such as oil and water) from separating.
• Hydroxypropyl Guar: It’s a thickening agent.
• Arginine: An amino acid that moisturises skin.
• Glutamic Acid: Another amino acid with hydrating properties.
• Linalool: A fragrance component that must be listed separately on the label because it’s a common irritant.
• Hexyl Cinnamal: A common fragrance ingredient used to mask odor in cosmetic formulations. It can cause irritations.
• Cetrimonium Chloride: Another preservative that helps a product last longer.
• Serine: Another amino acid that makes hair softer and smoother.
• Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride: It reduces the number of germs around – and that could potentially get into your mask.
• Benzyl Salicylate: A fragrance ingredient with a sweet floral smell. And yes, it can irritate skin.
• Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein: It hydrates hair.
• Benzyl Alcohol: A common preservative. It’s considered one of the gentlest.
• Limonene: A common fragrance ingredient found in citrus fruits. It smells amazing, but it must listed separately on the label because it’s a common allergen.Limonene:
• Amyl Cinnamal: Another fragrance ingredient that smells good, but can irritate skin.
• Citronellol: Yep, one more fragrance ingredient that makes the mask smell good… and could irritate sensitive skin.
• 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol: It makes hair softer.
• Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone: Another fragrance ingredient with sensitising properties.
• CI 19140 / Yellow 5: A yellow dye.
• CI 15985 / Yellow 6: Another yellow dye.

Whis Formula Is Better?

As you can, these formulas are very similar. The main difference between Kerastase Reflection Masque Chromatique Thick Hair and L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm?

Kerastase contains a couple of natural oils that coat your hair, helping it to stay soft and supple. But they’re present in small amounts. Translation: they help a little, but it’s the synthetic conditioning agents mentioned above (those you’ll find in the L’Oreal mask, too) that do the bulk of the moisturising work.

What’s The Texture Like?

Both Kerastase Reflection Masque Chromatique Thick Hair and L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm have rich, thick texture.

But Kerastase has a bit more slip. It makes for a better application, but the end results are the same. It’s up to if you want to pay more for it.

If you like a fancy moment: The Kerastase one does make you feel like you’re doing a self-care ritual instead of just slapping conditioner on in your pajamas. I mean, sometimes the vibes are worth it.

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What’s the Scent Like?

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: scent. It’s true scent can be irritating. It’s also true no one wants to use something they don’t like the scent of.

Kerastase smells a little more sophisticated: think floral with a hint of salon freshness. L’Oreal’s scent is a bit more sweet and synthetic, like your classic drugstore haircare aisle.

Heads up: If you’re super sensitive to fragrance, neither is completely fragrance-free. But honestly? The scent doesn’t stick around after rinsing unless you stick your nose right in your hair (and if you’re doing that, no judgment).

What’s the Packaging Like?

Both Kerastase Reflection Masque Chromatique Thick Hair and L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm come in big jars.

Kerastase is a bright pink. You can’t miss it on the shelf! It also feels a bit sturdier and fancier in your hand. L’Oreal is a more subdued yellow. It doesn’t stand out as much, but it’ll last you a long time. It’s also more no-fuss, no-frills.

How To Use Them

Massage the masks to shampooed and towel-dried hair, all the way to the tips. Leave on for 3-5 minutes. Rinse off well.

PRO TIP: If you really want to go pro, cover your hair with a shower cap while you wait. The heat from your scalp helps the conditioning agents penetrate deeper. Science, baby.

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

I’m team L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm all the way. It does the same thing for a fraction of the cost.

I’d go for Kerastase only if you don’t mind to pay a little extra for a better sensory experience.

Availability

Kerastase Reflection Masque Chromatique Thick Hair (£36.30): Available at Look Fantastic

L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm ($7.99): Available at Ulta and Walmart

Is L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm a dupe for Dupe For Kerastase Reflection Masque Chromatique Thick Hair?

Yes, L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm is a dupe for Kerastase Reflection Masque Chromatique Thick Hair. The scent and texture may be slightly different, but they deliver the same results.