ReFa's Lock Oil line now runs to four formulas. Here is how to pick the right one for your hair and the hold you actually want.
ReFa Lock Oil started as one bottle: a heat-activated pre-styling oil that seals a curl or a straight section before the iron ever touches it. The line has since split twice over, once by texture and once by formula, and the shelf now holds four bottles that sit near-identical side by side and behave quite differently once they are in your hair.
Original, Light, Bloom and Bloom Light. Two axes, not four random options: how much hold you want, and whether you want the tamanu oil upgrade that arrived with the Bloom line. We carry all four. Here is how they actually split.
The quick answer
Thicker hair, want a glossy, defined hold: ReFa Lock Oil.
Fine hair or bangs, same everyday formula: ReFa Lock Oil Light.
Thicker hair, want the tamanu oil boost for shine and UV protection: ReFa Lock Oil Bloom.
Fine hair or bangs, want the tamanu oil boost too: ReFa Lock Oil Bloom Light.
Every bottle is bought in person from authorised ReFa retailers in Tokyo, factory sealed. Stock arrives in limited runs from each sourcing trip, and if your pick is out when you look, message our Personal Shoppers on Live Chat and we will flag you for the next shipment.
Now the why.
ReFa Lock Oil: glossy hold for thicker styles
The ReFa Lock Oil is the original formula, and it is built around heat rather than against it. A thermally conductive base carries heat quickly through the strand as the iron passes over it, so a curl or a straight section sets before the hair has had time to fight it. Eighteen phyto oils, including argan, camellia and jojoba, carry the formula, finished with a fruity floral scent of pear and apple over a green top note. It rates 4.75 stars on our store.
Best for: thicker hair that wants a rich, wet-look shine and a stronger hold through the day.
Limitations: that same richness can sit heavy on fine hair or bangs, which is exactly the problem the Light formula below was built to solve.
ReFa Lock Oil Light: the same formula, built lighter
The ReFa Lock Oil Light ships in the same bottle as the original, and the label is the only way to tell them apart on the shelf. Inside, it carries the same eighteen-oil formula and the same fruity floral scent, thinned to a Fluffy Lock texture that seals a shape without the fuller-bodied finish a heavier oil leaves behind.
Best for: fine or fragile hair, bangs, and any length that a richer oil weighs down rather than holds.
Limitations: if you want maximum hold and a glossier, wet-look finish on thicker hair, the standard ReFa Lock Oil is built for that instead.
ReFa Lock Oil Bloom: the tamanu oil upgrade
The ReFa Lock Oil Bloom keeps the original's full-bodied, Flexible Lock hold and builds rare tamanu oil into the formula on top of it, extracted at roughly a five percent yield from the fruit for its vitamin E and UV protection. The fragrance changes with it: Bouquet Rouge, rose and muguet settling into warm sandalwood with a sweet berry undertone, in place of the original's fruity floral.
Best for: thicker hair that wants the original's strength of hold, plus extra shine and UV defence through a long summer.
Limitations: it is the richer of the two Bloom formulas, so fine hair and bangs are better served by Bloom Light below.
ReFa Lock Oil Bloom Light: the lightest finish, with the upgrade
The ReFa Lock Oil Bloom Light sits at the other corner of the range: Bloom's tamanu oil and Bouquet Rouge fragrance, carried in the same Fluffy Lock texture as the standard Light. A natural, soft shine rather than a wet-look finish, built for fine ends and bangs that a fuller formula flattens. It rates 4.64 stars on our store.
Best for: fine hair or bangs, when you still want the tamanu oil's shine and UV protection.
Limitations: the lightest hold in the range. If your hair needs more grip to actually stay in place, start with Bloom or the original instead.
So, which one should you actually buy?
The whole range comes down to two questions: how much hold your hair needs, and whether the tamanu oil upgrade is worth it to you.
| Everyday formula | Bloom (+ tamanu oil) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuller hold, thicker hair | ReFa Lock Oil | ReFa Lock Oil Bloom |
| Lighter hold, fine hair or bangs | ReFa Lock Oil Light | ReFa Lock Oil Bloom Light |
New to the range and just want one bottle: start with the original ReFa Lock Oil if your hair is medium to thick, or ReFa Lock Oil Light if it is fine or you are styling bangs. Already own one and deciding whether the upgrade is worth it: the Bloom formulas add tamanu oil's vitamin E and UV protection for a noticeable difference in a hot climate, at the same texture split as the everyday line.
The pairing our shoppers keep choosing. A ReFa Heart Brush to smooth the cuticle first, then a Lock Oil to seal it, and a spritz of SHIRO Freesia Mist once the style holds. It is the same routine we wrote up in I Spent a Week in Tokyo, and the trio clears the free shipping threshold with room to spare.
SoJan tip: the label is the only way to tell a Bloom bottle from its everyday counterpart on the shelf, since Original and Light share one bottle design and Bloom and Bloom Light share another. Check the name before you buy if you are replacing one you already own.
Are they actually worth it?
None of the four repair damage that is already there. A pre-styling oil cannot undo split ends or reverse heat damage from a hot iron used without protection, and it is not a substitute for a leave-in conditioner if your lengths need real repair.
What all four do well is the thing they are built for: sealing a shape you have already made, without the stiff, crunchy finish a stronger-hold product usually leaves. The heat-transfer mechanism is the same real engineering across the whole range; the difference between the four bottles is genuinely just hold and formula, not marketing.
Where to buy authentic ReFa Lock Oil
Every bottle in this range is bought in person from authorised ReFa retailers in Tokyo by our personal shoppers, factory sealed, on every sourcing trip. Stock moves in limited runs rather than a constant restock. Free delivery is available, and the range ships worldwide with no customs surprises for Australian buyers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ReFa Lock Oil and ReFa Lock Oil Light?
Both share the same fruity floral scent and eighteen-oil formula. The original gives a fuller, glossier hold; Light is thinned for fine hair, bangs and lengths a heavier oil weighs down.
What is the difference between ReFa Lock Oil and ReFa Lock Oil Bloom?
Bloom adds rare tamanu oil for vitamin E and UV protection, and switches the scent to Bouquet Rouge. The hold and texture stay the same as the original.
Which ReFa Lock Oil is newest?
Lock Oil Light and Lock Oil Bloom are the newest additions to the range, completing the line alongside the original and Bloom Light.
How many pumps of ReFa Lock Oil should I use?
Two to three pumps for shoulder-length hair is the usual starting point across the range; add a pump for longer or thicker lengths, less for a lighter formula on fine hair.
Can I use ReFa Lock Oil with both a straightener and a curling iron?
Yes. Apply it before either tool; the heat-transfer mechanism works the same way whether you are setting a curl or smoothing hair straight.
Where can I buy genuine ReFa Lock Oil in Australia?
Through SoJan. We buy the full range in person from authorised Tokyo retailers, and stock ships from Australia.
Not sure which Lock Oil suits your hair? Message our Personal Shoppers on Live Chat with your hair type and we will point you at the right one.
SoJan Team
