I can't stare at another shelf staring at shampoo

[ivor]

Posting for traffic because I'm going crazy.

The shampoo I use is super cheap currently, generic own-brand supermarket anti-dandruff shampoo but my hair is not doing good right now.

For A MONTH I keep trying to change my shampoo. I get so overwhelmed with researching it because you get SO MANY conflicting answers (and just so many answers anyway).
I'm constantly going to Boots and just staring at the shelf trying to decide which and end up walking out in stress.

I've bought the Mielle shampoo (TikTok hype), but now I keep reading stuff online that it's made people's hair fall out!!!

Anyway, I am obviously being unreasonable getting stressed about shampoo, but can I please ask personal (non-commissioned) recommendations? My hair is all natural, slightly oily, more on the thick side, not colour/heat damaged but just lifeless and slightly thinning.

Hair soap bar from e.g. Lush type. Lasts for ages. My favourite is ‘soak and float’ https://www.lush.com/uk/en/p/soak-and-float-shampoo-bar-2021

Baby shampoo makes my hair dry out. I'm another one for Aussie shampoo

So funny, I was just going to recommend Kerastase! Albeit my hair is very fine, thinning and straight, but I am loving their Densifique shampoo and was gonna suggest you looked at their range while offers are on...😛

I once spent lots on Bumble and Bumble thinking it would be great as it seems to get used in so many magazine photo shoots. Maybe I used it wrong somehow, but the shampoo I bought made my hair so sticky and product-laden I eventually had to throw it away (I did rinse out my hair after I’d shampooed to be clear! But even so).

During lockdown I developed an itchy, irritated scalp. Over the phone, my hairdresser recommended Kerastase. Honestly it has changed my life. No more itching, you use a small amount so it lasts for ages and my hair is in great condition because I don’t need to use heat to style it.

@Ninjamom
Yes you need such a tiny amount, and I'm in a hard water area 💆

Try Paul Mitchell Shampoo 1 if you want something gently moisturising, try the detangler / the conditioner from the same brand, I just get online, lasts for ages, hair and scalp feel really clean, hair soft, good volume.

For thinning hair Apivita Tonic shampoo and conditioner are amazing. All or mainly natural ingredients too. Very nice products.

Gruum shampoo bar is nice

My daughter was saying to her hairdresser the other day how I seem to be one extreme to the other with shampoo. There’s either supermarket own brand jelly type ones or others over £8, but nothing in between. I have had a bit of bother as well but just because I can’t find one for it being so greasy. I’ve been using pureology gold at the moment, but also an old Morrisons jojoba one that they don’t even sell any more I found in the back of a cupboard, I shampooed twice with it then used a special Toni & guy conditioner in a tub and my hairs felt lovely.

Google Champo and order some online. Brilliant stuff and you won’t look back

Wella Colour Brilliance. Gets used by hairdressers, you can buy massive bottles of it for about £20 from Amazon. Lasts forever and so much better for your hair than shampoos from Boots/Supermarkets.etc.

I just use Panthene and find it great. Take some iron also helps with hair.

Colour wow shampoo whxih isn’t cheap and has to be ordered online (e.g. Amazon). But it sounds perfect for the issues you describe lifeless and thinning as unlike other shampoos it doesn’t leave behind any residue.

Totally changed how I feel about my hair which was limp and flat but which is now shiny and has volume

Oh and second what others say about iron. I’d suggest getting your iron but v importantly also your ferritin. As you can have all the iron in the world but your body won’t properly absorb it if your ferritin is low

Is your hair naturally curly/wavy or do you have straight hair?

I straightened my hair for 20 years but realised in July that it was at the end of its life…started breaking at the ends, going a bit ragged and lifeless. Even DH commented on it asking what was wrong. Decided to go all in on a Facebook ad (literally NEVER done that before), and bought the Merwave five step collection plus the hair mask.

Hair is now amazing - it has volume, bounce, it’s alive and shining. I love it! Took a while to get re-used to curls but boy…it’s like night and day. Dull, lifeless, fragile hair gone; strong, healthy hair in.

I use DD’s Garnier Kids 2 in 1 in cherry, which comes in a fetching Little Mermaid themed bottle. It gets my hair so clean and smells amazing!

I was in your situation couple of years ago and discovered Loccitaine in a french hotel. Since then never had hairfall during wash or other wise. I always by refill bags at airports.
loccitaine repairing shampoo

It’s a case of finding what suits your hair. I use White Hot Hair for silver, grey hair but every now and again give it a break and use something else. Try using something that strips your hair of all the old build up of products then an average price product, to suit your hair type. A hair mask once or twice a week is good for your hair too.

So, which cream is it by Sol De Janerio? My DGD loves stuff by them, but I wonder if she has that cream. Is it the purple jar or a different one?

It's the purple one, isn't it?

I am sorry to tell you that there is a shampoo and conditioner that might make a difference to your hair (made a huge diff on mine which sounds similar - much better than olaplex etc) but you don’t get much change from £70 for the set!
I obviously can’t guarantee it’ll work for you but just posting here in case you want to try!
it’s a bit cheaper on lookfantastic
https://www.lookfantastic.com/shu-uemura-art-of-hair-the-restoring-duo-for-damaged-hair/12321130.html?affil=thggpsad-bundle&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&affil=thgppc&kwds=&thg_ppc_campaign=71700000114615771&adtype=pla&product_id=12321130&gbraid=0AAAAAD-fXiqv_J6ylnffzpvQdTtH150xD&gclid=CjwKCAiAqNSsBhAvEiwAn_tmxWD0KwzFZlme2CXpmKK8mLXSvUmuJX4F5BslLCkzqRIaZ7FBZPzKQBoCYyAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have done EXACTLY the same in the vitamin supplements aisle!

Is a bottle of £35.99 multivitamins really better/different than the 99p boots own brand version?

I need a tick box/multiple choice quiz to take that tells what I need to take in simple to understand results.

@ivor Hey, I've used so many different shampoos, but the only one that doesn't make my scalp itch is Simple! It's £1 from home bargains, also comes as a conditioner. I think both are really good, however I don't use everyday, every 2nd or 3rd. Hope this helps on your quest 😊

Oh i used to use this brand - it was fab - smell lovely and only a small bit needed. A hairdresser ( since closed down) in my local town used to stock it and it was great to be able to buy it locally. Will look it up now and purchase some more