What's the best shampoo/conditioner?

[JingleBelleDameSansMerci]

Let's say that money's no object (or I could just admit that I'm excessively vain about my hair and will justify any expense) - what's the best shampoo/conditioner for thick hair (ie lots of hair - not coarse hair) that's mostly grey underneath all the professionally applied colour?

I've tried:

Kerastase in various flavours and I don't like it much;
Paul Mitchell but not recently.
Lee Stafford - various.
Charles Worthington - various.

And so on...

Pleeeeeeeeease help me to find something that will keep my hair soft, silky and shiney.

[BooBooGlass]

For soft and shiny I really used to rate Aussie, but I tried a different one than usual recently (I think it was Frizz Miracle) and I had a horrible reaction to it :( Has made me quite wary to try Aussie again tbh, it made me want to scratch my whole scalp off
So no help there. I think most people with really really shiney hair use some kind of product to style it tbh, I have never had proper silky shine with just shampoo and conditioner.

[JingleBelleDameSansMerci]

I think you're right... Mine's always better when I make the effort to style it properly (with a myriad of products).

I think my hair has changed (well, it's gone grey) and none of the products I used to love suit it any more

If only I were less vain...

[youngblowfish]

Finally, a luxury haircare thread!

Bumble & Bumble Creme de Coco Shampoo
Kevin Muprhy Born.again Treatment
I love Terax Crema as an everyday conditioner, but it is ridiculously difficult to get hold of. I have a trusted e-bay seller who ships it to me from the States, but I honestly think the Born.again works just as well.

Have you ever tried protein treatments? I use the Joico K-Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor after clarifying with the Redken Cleansing Creme shampoo. You have to use a conditioner afterwards, but regular monthly protein treatments really transformed my hair!

[duvetheaven]

I bought some Joico products from hairdresser recently which I have found to be good including the K-Pac mentioned above.

[sharbie]

vidal sassoon or tresemme?

[Rindercella]

Aveda, money no object.

Otherwise I am now using Matrix products. You can get them for quite large discounts (+ other products including Aveda) from www.lookfantastic.com/haircare

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I was about to come and recommend Joico.

I wash my hair with L'oreal Elvive in the pink bottle, the lighter version because my hair has a tendency to go greasy at the roots.

Then I use the Joico Moisture Recovery Conditioner for thick/coarse hair. It is fantastic, nothing has ever made my hair so lovely and soft and shiny. And it styles really easily as well, just round brush and hairdryer, no other products needed.

[littledawley]

I love Redken - usually buy that or Aveda purely based on the fact that I can buy the huge bottles with pumps. They seem to last forever and it feels like good value. Aveda is more expensive than Redken but I really don't notice a difference in my hair condition - I prefer the scent of Redken also as Aveda can be a bit too plant-like!

[moragbellingham]

I love Sebastian products.

My DDs hairdresser thinks Matrix Biolage is very good and she has very long, thick,curly hair.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Living Proof No Frizz from Space NK is brilliant.
Or buy some Moroccan oil for use before styling. I'm a recent convert!

[youngblowfish]

Oh yes, I just remembered I also use Sebastian XTAH Raw Sensuality Hydration Conditioner.

littledawley, you can usually get any salon brands in huge bottles with pumps, if you search on ebay. A year ago, I bought a litre bottle of Kerastase Divalent and I am still getting through it! Just did a quick search there - lots of salon sized Redken.

[polyhymnia]

Personally I'm a great Kerastase fan. Have tried various of their products and don't think they can be bettered. Used to use Aveda too but now prefer Kerastase.

However at present am using Louise Galvin fine hair shampoo and conditioner and am very pleased with them. If money no object, the Oribe range in Space NK look of interest and may be worth exploring in your nearest branch.

[polyhymnia]

PS see your hair is thick - Louise Galvin does various products, not just for fine hair.

[PatTheHammer]

Not sure about shampoo/conditioner as I seem to get similar results from; Aveda/TIGI Honey and oatmeal/Herbal essences seductively straight(I know!).

I hate Loreal elvive and my hair does not agree with the Aussie hair products which is a shame because I love the smell!

BUT, last time I was at the hairdressers they used Morrocan Oil on it when it was wet and it was WONDERFUL. I bought some, for 20 quid a bottle but you only need a tiny amount and put on before blow-drying.

[PlentyOfParsnips]

I've got piles of thick, fine hair, past my waist (not coloured though), with a tendency to oiliness. After years of spending a fortune on all sorts of posh stuff, I finally settled on Ecover washing up liquid after a tip-off from a friend and wouldn't change it for the world now. In spite of the oiliness, I can get away with washing it twice a week (quite important if you have lots of hair) and not using any conditioner. It's very soft and very shiney. I mentioned this on another thread earlier today and the suggestion was politely ignored .

[sharbie]

i too have used washing up liquid before - no difference to shampoo for effect on my hair

[TattytinsellooksDevine]

Ojon.

Its the bollocks, it really is.

Get it from QVC, because if you dont like it, you can send it back within 30 days, even if you've used it, so its risk free in terms of wastage.

But you will like it!

[youngblowfish]

PlentyOfParsnips, I am intrigued now. What do you mean oily, though? I have hair which needs a wash pretty much every day, but tend to a) use Kerastase Bain Divalent b) blast it with Batiste when it starts to look greasy. So when you say you wash it twice a week (all this time saved on washing and drying and faffing every other day!), does your hair still look OK for three to four days after a wash? If so, pass the washing up liquid.

[youngblowfish]

Tatty, could you reveal you hair type and the exact shampoo and conditioner you use? I have the Ojon Rsetorative Treatment and it's nice, but it turns my pale blonde hair really brassy.

[missmartha]

I bought a litre bottle of Tesco Value shampoo for 30p.

I bought it for a laugh and thought I could probably use it to wash sweaters etc. cos it wouldn't be any good.

It is though. It's not bad at all.

[JingleBelleDameSansMerci]

Wow - thank you all... Now, where to start

[PlentyOfParsnips]

youngblowfish, I used to have to wash it at least every other day. It looks good for at least three days now, sometimes four, depending on hormones. You might as well try it - if it doesn't suit your hair, you've only spent a couple of quid and can still use it for dishes. It rinses really well. The closest shampoo I have found is Neutrogena but I think Ecover is a little bit better. I don't get frizzy ends either.

[MrsDingDongMerrily]

Well, I switched to Aussie Frizz Miracle a few weeks ago and it has made a serious diference to my shoulder length, thick but fine, no grey, wavy hair which used to have a frizzy halo all the time. It is much glossier and sleeker now. However it has lost some of it's body, seems you can't win.

I also only wash twice a week, blast with batiste on Day 3/4 if necessary (great for increasing volume at the roots too).

Plenty - am intrigued by the Ecover!

[PlentyOfParsnips]

I wouldn't use it on dry hair, MrsD. DP tried it and turned into a frizz-bomb. I'm wondering about their delicates laundry liquid and fabric conditioner though. What's the worst that could happen?

[JaxTellersOldLady]

OK, I have long, thick hair, lots and lots of hair in fact, it is naturally wavy and is coloured and has some high lights. I have used many many different shampoos over the years and always come back to Wella for coloured hair. It is a pale blue bottle.

The other one I use is Paul Mitchell 'straight ahead' which works well on my hair too.