Are shampoos sold by hair salons better than regular brands?

[Shopaholic100]

Has anyone actually noticed a difference? If so which brand did you buy? I have fine hair and the hairdresser recommended the Angel blue shampoo, they only had the huge bottles so I didn’t buy it today. I just wondered if it actually made a difference. I seem to have lost hair volume over the last year so want to make sure I look after my hair. Currently I’m using regular Pantene/head and shoulders. Any suggestions?

Yes, they have made a big difference to my hair and I find you need to use a lot less in each wash so they're not that much more expensive considering how long they last.

I am the opposite to you and have quite thick hair.

I occasionally buy Wella shampoo from my hairdresser which is quite good but not significantly different from some of the mid priced shampoos in Boots.

I used to buy Kerastase shampoo and conditioner which was amazing but incredibly expensive these days!

If they’ve used a particular product on my hair & I like the smell, or the result, then I’ll buy it, but I wouldn’t just buy a product stocked in a salon. Having said that I have thick curly hair so I use some slightly more niche products that are less likely to be stocked in supermarkets/Boots/etc, so I buy online and from salons quite often.

Yes.

Pantene is dreadful and H&s can be used to strip hair colour.

I'm not prepared to pay salon prices but I go mid range.

Simple answer, yes... (from a trained ex-hairdresser)
But, I tend to buy mine from online rather than the salons.
Same way as professional colours are so much better than box dyes

My hairdresser was invited to appear in Head and Shoulders adverts and refused as he wouldn't put his name to a shampoo he thinks is so bad. So maybe just drop that for something gentler?

Those who do use a more expensive shampoo, which brands do you recommend?
I’ve been using Olaplex for a couple of months now and honestly can’t tell any difference with my hair. If anything it seems drier than usual and that’s with me using the No.3 plus shampoo and conditioner.

I’m happy to drop the head and shoulders, just not sure what to buy instead.

I use Tigi but I get it from Amazon now. It's definitely better than anything I've tried in the supermarket.

Yes definitely. I have v challenging hair! Aveda and SP both v good for mine.

Watching with interest. I've experimented for years with styling products for my thick, wavy, pouffy hair, but have never really settled on a decent shampoo and conditioner - they all seem vaguely the same to me, and whatever I use my hair is still massive.

Admittedly I am using head and shoulders because it's the only thing that clears the dermatitis I get on my head.

Any suggestions welcome - I'm always searching for products to flatten and smooth.

Meh. It's just that they have special hands, is all

Me too OP, I use H&S as I get an itchy scalp at times and it seems to be the only thing that helps. I have dyed hair and its a pain as I know H&S is bad for that.
What I usually do is use H& S for a few days (until itch goes away) then use a more gentle shampoo until it gets itchy again.

Yrs, they are better but just buy online, I used to get a huge Kerastase for £20-£30 (prices changed over the years).

I've been using Maui shampoo and conditioner for a few months now and love it,I do also use Olaplex once or twice a week and I've been really happy with it. I was really shocked at how little you need to use to get such a good lather,it will last me forever!

They are definitely better for the health of your hair, but that's not to say you can't get equally 'healthy' shampoos and conditioners from normal shops.

You just want to steer clear of sulfates and silicones, which factor in most 'mainstream' shampoos, as they are the ingredients which make them less than great for the condition of your hair, and this will be the main difference in the shampoos that hairdressers sell.

But there are loads of sulfate/silicone free shampoos & conditioners available in Boots etc for far cheaper than the ones from hairdressers, and they will usually state they are sulfate/silicone free on the bottle so not too hard to spot.

I use Palmers Coconut Oil shampoo, but there are loads of others to choose from .

I love karatese but you have to still try different ones to see what suits you. I like the green one - think it's called resistance. But the white bottled one does nothing for me.
They are more expensive but you only need a small amount so doesn't work out to bad in the long run. I don't spend a lot on other stuff so I'm happy to treat myself to that. Buy it online.

Definitely.

I like using SLS and silicone free shampoo/conditioner. Faith in Nature, Cantu, Maui Moisture, Noughty are all good brands. Even Johnson's Baby Shampoo (specifically the branded type) is SLS free, although it is so gentle I find it leaves my hair greasy. Faith in Nature is my favourite. You can get all these brands from Sainsbury's.

Pantene is awful so I wouldn't use that
I was using the garnier hair mask which was OK but I went to the hairdresser and he used John Masters citrus and neroli conditioner
My hair was so much better. Soft but not flat. Very shiny and bouncy. I bought some and it looks and feels better even doing it myself

@Beetlebrooker have you tried T-Gel shampoo? It cleared up my ex’s scalp dermatitis.

I use a purple shampoo and a silver conditioner from my hairdresser. It makes a world of difference to mine.

@AtoZed Yeah, been through a few bottles of that over the years but it stopped working - switched to the clinical strength H&S!

Because I found a couple of styling products that really flatten my fuzzy rough hair (KMS Thermal something and Mane & Tail detangler), I use any old shite in the shower to wash and condition.

I have used professional stuff before but found little difference. Do like Faith in Nature conditioner, although the smoothing shampoo made my hair really rough, oddly.