over highlighted hair, what to use to soften/add moisture

[southeastastra]

my last highlight job really has sucked all the moisture out of my hair and it's so dry. i like it as it's easier to do, but what shampoo/conditioner should i use to make it stronger. have tried paul mitchell coloured hair conditioner, moroccan oil and heat protection spray from tony and guy but need something stronger! (also that doesn't cost £££!) any recommendations?

After spending £££ on various products I used DCs Johnsons baby shampoo one day when I was running low on a particular £££ shampoo. I haven't used anything else for the last few months.
My hair looks thicker, feels softer and best of all has toned down my last lot of highlights which were a bit on the orange side.
I'm converted and blonde not orange anymore!

Aussie shampoo and 3 minute miracle is good. Also the Keratise range - I remember using the white bottle 3 min conditioner when I was about 19 and had got a friend to bleach my hair with powdered bleach from Superdrug (99p bargain if you want hi-viz hair) and it went all chewing-gummy when you pulled it out of the brush! That managed to fix what I dare not call my 'hair' even at that stage!
Leave in conditioners can help too - I have the Tigi one (black and red bottle) at the mo as I like a bit of extra sun protection even though my hair is au naturale now.
Good luck.

My hairdresser recommends Aussie stuff.

ooh will try the aussie and baby shampoo, kerastase is £££ isn't it wonder if they do samples

Worth a try! It was worth it for me (but then I could hear it breaking as I brushed so felt there wasn't much option) :)

This is my favourite conditioner. I only use it a few times a week, because it's a bit ££, but it makes your hair so soft!

will try the aussie but that looks right up my street reggie! argh will save pennies up

try the l'oreal ever riche range - my hair's been really soft, shiney and flippy since I started using it

Costs a fortune but Kiehls olive fruit oil repairative hair pak is amazing. Ask for it for your next birthday!

I use the aussie one with the 3 min conditioner. Worked wonders on my dry over processed hair.

Coconut oil overnight with a shower cap and towel. Best conditioner ever, restored my hair to shiny and glossy after 2 back to back colour stripping episodes.

Butterflies, where do you buy your coconut oil from? Sounds like this may be worth a try for me. Thanks

I buy it from my health food shop (I'm not in the UK). Use it as a facial cleanser, overnight hair conditioner, for shaving legs (excellent for this as it moisturises all in one go), even cooking and a spoon in smoothies occasionally. It's amazing stuff.

Agree with butterflies, I also use it on my hair and skin too, it is like a miracle cure! I get mine from Tesco's

Thanks butterflies and qo.

Tescos it is.

be careful using baby shampoo on coloured hair. despite it being supposedly gentle, it is notorious for stripping the colour out.

Butterflies how much do you use? And do you just slather it on and shampoo off?

FriedSprout - look for Coconoil on Amazon. You get a huge 500ml tub for a tenner and it is organic too. I use as a moisturiser and cleanser.

Yes, slather it on, try to avoid the roots. I don't put enough on for it to feel sticky but I do ensure it's all covered at least the bottom half of the hair. Might take a couple of shampoos to get rid of it.

If your hair is really fried you probably need strength as well as moisture. Down side is strengthening won't give your hair the soft feel you are after but will improve the condition in the long run. What rescued my hair was using a strengthening shampoo then alternating a strengthening conditioner with deep moisturising mask. I used kerastase shampoo and a morroccanoil moisturising mask which I now is £££ but it worked.

Thanks Ujjayi

Morrocan oil, if you can't afford the range (shampoo conditioner and oil) defo just purchase the oil-doesn't feel like oil it absorbs Into the hair £12.60 for the small oil! Fab stuff!!

If you use coconut oil on your hair here's a tip when it comes to washing it off: Before wetting your hair, lather up some shampoo in your hand and rub that onto your hair. Then wet your hair to rinse it out.

Much more effective than wetting oily hair and then adding shampoo, as the oil and the water emulsify and it becomes a bit of a faff.