The bustling halls of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas have long served as a crystal ball for technological trends, and the 2026 edition offered a particularly illuminating glimpse into the future of personal care. Among the robotic lawn mowers and AI companions, a significant spotlight shone on the rapidly evolving at-home beauty device sector, with industry giant L'Oréal taking center stage.
The Rise of High-Tech Beauty
The market for at-home beauty tools is experiencing explosive growth, far outpacing the broader skincare industry. According to a 2024 report by The New York Times, this niche has expanded at a rate four times faster than the overall market. Projections indicate that sales in this category are poised to surpass a staggering $92 billion US by 2028. This surge in consumer interest and investment has transformed CES from a purely tech-focused event into a crucial launchpad for beauty innovations.
L'Oréal's Light-Focused Vision
Building on its historic 2024 keynote—which marked the first time a beauty company opened the prestigious CES event—L'Oréal returned in 2026 with a clear focus on light-based technology. The company unveiled two groundbreaking prototypes slated for release in 2027: the Light Straight + Multi-styler and an advanced LED Face Mask. These devices represent a significant leap from traditional beauty tools, moving beyond simple heat application to harness the power of specific light wavelengths.
In a private demonstration, a robotic arm elegantly guided the Light Straight + Multi-styler along a section of human hair. While its silhouette resembles a conventional hair straightener, the device's innovation lies beneath its futuristic, blush-toned exterior. It replaces standard ceramic plates with specialized glass, utilizing near-infrared light to style and smooth hair fibers from within, rather than relying solely on external, damaging heat.
Engineering a Gentler Approach
"When you have a ceramic plate, you're actually damaging the hair fibre on the surface because the temperature is too high," explained Grégoire Charraud, L'Oréal's global head of device engineering and product design. "Here we are projecting the energy directly into the fibre to remodel the hair temporarily. That's why it provides about three-times faster styling and two-times smoother results."
This technology is the culmination of a decade of research and development within L'Oréal's innovation division. It builds upon the foundation laid by the L'Oréal Professionnel Airlight Pro dryer, released two years prior. Billed as the world's first curling and styling tool with this specific infrared technology, the upcoming Light Straight + Multi-styler operates at a significantly lower and safer temperature. While traditional straighteners can exceed 400 degrees Fahrenheit, this new device never surpasses 320F, aiming to prevent the heat scorching commonly associated with high-temperature styling.
Positioned nearby was another futuristic prototype, hinting at the next phase in L'Oréal's infrared hair tool journey. This display underscored the company's commitment to redefining at-home beauty routines through advanced, gentle, and effective light-based solutions. The debut of these devices at CES signals a pivotal moment where professional-grade, scientifically-backed technology is becoming increasingly accessible for consumer use at home, potentially revolutionizing how we approach personal beauty care.
