hair products and silicone etc.

[HarlotOTara]

I have just come from the hairdressers where I have been told that high street products are dreadful as they are full of silicone esp. Herbal essence. I was recommended Paul Mitchell and Keratase (sp?) which are of course far more expensive. Any views? My hair is lovely and shiny but is that down to someone else blowdrying it or products?

Can anyone recommend good hairstuff and even better cheap sites to buy from?

Most haircare products contain silicones and Kerastase particularly is actually full of them. They are not necessarily bad for your hair, although I do find they weigh mine down. But if you use heat a lot, Kerastase does have some fabulous heat protectors. It all depends on your hair type and the paces you put it through.

If you are interested in high-end haircare, have a look at here and here.

My current favourites:
Shampoo: Bumble&Bumble Creme de Coco
Conditioner: Terax Crema (obscure Italian brand made in America, but amazing for my hair; no silicones or protein)
Leave-in: Schwarzkopf Bonacure Sealed Ends, Kerastase Nectar Thermique for heat styling

Thanks I will look, I have very thick hair that is drier than it used to be due to dye and bleach probably and could do with being shinier and softer I reckon. I just wonder if more expensive products are a con but then I haven't used them.

Most of the expensive brands are full of silicone too.

The new tresemme naturals range are silicone free.

It is a tough call. I am a sucker for luxury haircare, but also bought some absolute stinkers in my time - it does not feel great to drop £20 on a conditioner just to find it actually useless. My hair is very different to yours though, blonde and fine, gets greasy easily.

For your hairtype, maybe you can try Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm?

I think you can certainly try cheaper ranges first, for example the Tresemme Naturals recommended by peanut, or even the really cheap Tesco's or Asda's own shampoos and conditioners. Tesco does a range of shampoos and conditioners with Coconut Oil, which is cheap as chips (less than a pound for 500ml!) and silicone-free. Get them in travel sizes and then you can see which you like best. You can also do it with some higher end brands, such as Bumble and Bumble, as they do most of their products in 50ml sizes as well.

which are cheap as chips, of course.

I don't necessarily think the silicones are such a bad thing anyway.

I use the tresemme naturals on DD's hair because we are just starting to try the curly girl method with her, but for my hair (thick, coarse, frequently straightened) my favourite is elvive smooth intense which I'm pretty sure is packed full of silicones.

I've tried Kerastase and Tigi Bedhead and wasn't impressed, always end up going back to elvive.

I use Elvive at the moment. I also have a bottle of Argan oil which I think can be used on hair.

The girl in the salon said that Kerastase and Paul Mitchell and one other are silicone free. She also said that Tresemme was as bad as the others. I did say are you telling me all this because you have to try and sell the products.

blowfish, I am interested in the Tesco coconut cheap stuff. I used to use Body Shop coconut shampoo years ago but they don't do it now, it was lovely.

I will have an online shop around = thanks

My hairdresser said the same about silicone.

I use L'Oreal Professionel - you can buy it n huge bottles (salon-sized) which last ages. So you pay up to £20 for a massive bottle of shampoo (don't forget to order the pump dispenser) but it lasts ages. Or you can buy smaller size bottles, but I have long hair and find they don't last long.

I get mine from here: stores.ebay.co.uk/Absolute-Hair-Care

I have coloured hair and use the L'Oreal Vitamino Color range. It's what my hairdresser uses and I also went to another hairdresser just over a year ago who also said it was what I should use.

Sorry stores.ebay.co.uk/Absolute-Hair-Care

Curl Harmony products are fabulous and natural. They smell gorgeous and make my hair really shiny especially the Intensive repair conditioner - I haven't got curly hair, it's thick and coarse in places, with a frizzy wave but this stuff has really helped.

The colour has really improved as well, it's amazing how dulling silicones are.

boots do a naked range thats supposedly free from silicone. And its much less than £20!!!