Is it really worth buying expensive shampoo?

[CravingSunshine]

I look like a scarecrow and can't work out whether it's diet (I get my five a day), tiredness, lack of water, hard water in area I live, cheap shampoo or what! I had a haircut in December which wasn't a good one and looks even more atrocious now, but I need to grow it out a bit more I think before getting another cut.
In the meantime, is there something magical out there that will transform tresses so I don't have to hide under a beanie hat? I've been using Tresemme but wouldn't bother buying it again.

Thanks, Schmaltzing, I'll try the heat protector. And I guess the mousse - not mouse- [big grin] takes care of flatness?

Sorry that big grin should've been . Details!

I've found expensive shampoo (provided it's the right one) makes a big difference, but I have awful hair - very fine and limp. Aussie is great but makes my hair a bit limp. Philip Kingsley is very good, but I'm currently using nioxin for fine hair. I buy it by the litre on feelunique and it lasts about 6 months. A good conditioner, from mid to the ends of the hair is also essential.

I use Aussie shampoo/conditioners usually but have been using Organix which are good too. I do use Kerastase treatments though every week and they make a big difference.

I have very fine hair. Light conditioner on the ends only... And rinse quickly...I like John Frieda

THe Daniel Galvin organic range is very good, sells in waitrose and often on offer. Makes my frizzy hair glossy.

Brilliant brunette by John frieda here too, definitely makes a difference if you use it regularly.

I like Wella Brilliance. I buy it at the hairdressers. About £10 each for shampoo and conditioner.

My hairdressers uses Wella SP, and I started using it recently. The difference it made to my hair was unbelievable! Lots of people commented on it, and I now rarely use conditioner as I don't need it. The salon charges around £14 for a 250ml bottle (I use the colour save one), but I got the big 1000ml on fabriah for £26! A huge plus with the more expensive brands is that you genuinely only need a tiny spot of the shampoo, so it lasts much longer.

I used to use Wella SP as well, forgot about that. Think it has SLS though :(

A teaspoon of honey every morning. Also multivits with omega... I find those really make my hair stronger and shinier. Shampoo wise, I'm liking dr organics coconut range at the mo...

I know this gets bandied about a lot on S and B but I can't recommend coconut oil highly enough.
Slap it on at night (reserve pillowcase) wash out in the morning.
My hair feels lovely and is soft and manageable.
Plus it's about £2 on eBay for a huge jar.

Primrose 123 I will search it and find out, I'm sure it was something to do with Australian... Something?

I use lush solid shampoo which costs a fiver. I've found a good conditioner is what makes the difference to my hair which is really think and looks a mess if not conditioned. I also use a bit of oil on the ends of my hair but if you've got fine hair you might not want to do that.

Which coconut oil perplexed? Had a quick look and there's organic or refined, solid and not solid. Which one?

Tresseme is awful, imo.

I have long hair, in good condition, and I use the Aussie every day shampoo ( it gets hair clean, without loading it with silicone or crap, just clean), only wash my hair 2 or 3 times a week, do not use hot settings on hair dryer and straightner.

I think the next step then is conditioner. I fork out for a pricey one from REN, as it is silicone free and makes my hair soft and manageable without that "slick" silicone feeling. I find silicone makes your hair look nice for a day or so, but long term does absolutely nothing for your hair ( you just coat your hair in a thin film of silicone).

So I use this REN conditioner, not cheap but a little goes a long way, and helps keep your hair in fab condition, for the long term ( my hairdresser always asks what hair products I use, as hair seems healthy despite bieng so long). A cheap option would be to rub some almond or jojoba oil( holland and Barrets) into your hair ( not scalp, just ends) before you wash it.

Imo, most conditioners are rubbish, or worse than rubbish.

Brilliant brunette by John Freida here too, with Moroccan Oil every day and Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer once a week. I only use a tiny bit of the expensive products at a time, whereas I wash and condition every day so go through too much to buy the expensive stuff.

Yes, I think it does make a difference. I used Kerastase when my hair was in poor condition, and it really worked.
I also like Bumble and Bumble and the Phyto products from Space NK.

I'm supprise that not many of you like tresemme... I use the deep cleansing one and it suits my hair... I hate pantene with a passion... makes my hair go really dull and frizzy...
As a treat I use John Frieda Brilliant Brunette, or charles worthingtons for an extra shine.

I had very dry hair from almost a decade of GHD use. My hairdresser asked me if I wanted my hair to grow beyond my shoulders and I said yes. She said it would not happen unless I stopped straightening it. I went back to blow-drying and I bought Kerastase for damaged hair online (they often do deals where you can buy a set for a reduced price, and places like HQ hair often do 20% off).

I cannot say enough how different my hair looks now. It's shiny, in a very good condition, stronger and has a nice 'bounce' to it (which is surprising for my fine hair). When I next saw my hairdresser, she said, "You've stopped straightening it. And you're using a new shampoo!"

They're expensive compared with what you can buy at Boots etc, but they're very concentrated. My hair is now 5 inches past my shoulders and I only use product the size of a 20p piece, in the past I would really have to use a lot more product to get the same effect.

A little bit of heat protector and Moroccan oil finishes the job :)

That sounds good, Turnip. It's the bounce I really miss and I do get it at the salon but only then! As soon as I wash it at home we're back to flat, limp shine-free. I think my hair might be too fine for oil. What do you think? Fine hair that's chin-length? It's not remotely dry.

Sounds like I have hair like you OP. Cheap shampoo doesn't work for my hair. It would be like washing my hair with fairy liquid.

I used Ojon, Kerastase or Phyto shampoos and I like them all. Ojon is my current favourite. I try and hide it from the rest of the family but they all love it!