Is expensive shampoo/conditioner a con?

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

So my hairdresser recommended Tigi products for my hair... which is fine, I know that they are trying to make a living. My hair does feel nice (but then it always does when I come out of the hairdressers!)

But is there actually any need to spend £10+ on shampoo or conditioner?

I need some convincing.

Pureology shampoos are SLS and silicone free. They give very nice results and are gentle on sensitive scalps.

I struggle to give a shit what's in my shampoo tbh, but I know what makes my hair look fab and stay manageable, and that's Paul Mitchell Original which I've used since the era when the Spice Girls had their own faces.

Totally depends on hair type.

If you have thick wavy dry hair you need better quality with oils etc in than if you have fine, greasy hair.

I have thick coloured hair so I do use coconut oil/argan oil masks to keep it glossy but for general washing I don't want to fork out without feeling like it'll actually do what it's meant to.
i've used Philip Kingsley before but it left my hair feeling plasticy after a couple of washes. I have gorgeous purple and blue mermaid hair at the moment so will probably get a colour specific shampoo/conditioner but don't want to inadvertantly spoil it all!

What do any of you use if you have thick, dry hair.

Mine gets so knotty. It's bra strap length and very thick -and going grey-

I've tried so many shampoos and conditioners over the years ranging from 50p to £25. The best one for my hair is Gliss Asia Straight (the purple one), it cots £1 in Poundland and both the shampoo and conditioner are like a miracle.

I think Kerastase works better than most shampoos and conditioners but nowhere near as good Gliss Asia Straight.

For products I highly recommend Loreal Mythic Oil.

I use Joico (for coloured hair) because I loved the smell of it from my previous hairdresser. My new stylist commented on the good condition of my hair & asked me what I used (I have highlights) and she said Joico one of the best. Could be business BS but I think it helps keep the colour brighter and hair shinier. Whenever I've tried more budget friendly shampoo and conditioner my hair seems to get "tired" of it quickly and it seems to dull the shine. I buy it in TKMaxx so bit cheaper than salon and it lasts AGES.

My head says that expensive shampoo and conditioner is probably a swizz. However, I do feel that my hair looks better after using Loreal Professional. (You can get it in Sallys hairdressing supply shops). Apparently it's the same shit that's in Kerastase.

I'm actually keeping a list from now on of all the different shampoos and conditioners I try and whether they're any good or not to save making the same mistakes over again.

I have bra strap length highlighted hair which is very thick and has a tendency to frizz.

I quite like the pantene lightweight shampoo. (comes in a clear bottle) as I do find some stuff designed to smooth hair makes it feel sticky and heavy. I often have to use clarifying shampoo.

I've bought the OGX coconut shampoos (one coconut milk, one coconut water) and will see how I get on with those.

As a pp said, conditioner prob more important. Personally, I like to comb my conditioner through whilst in the shower using a wide tooth comb I keep there for that very purpose.

You know what, I absolutely love L'Oréal extraordinary oil shampoo & conditioner. Not pricey either. Hair was so dry etc, but after using that i think it's brilliant. Also, sea kelp tablets from Holland & Barrett are brilliant for hair, to improve condition & growth.

I bought some kms or whatever it is. Expensive shit from the salon when I had my hair coloured.

My hair feels better using herbal essences...

Coulda saved myself 20 quid

I liked herbal essences but i kept on getting a build up on my scalp. Important thing about hair is that it's not just the products you use, but it's what you eat/put in ur body that contributes to good hair too. Honestly try Sea Kelp tablets from H&B. My hair has never been so good.

bingo
where do you get your Joico shampoo from?
is online the cheapest?

which one do you use for coloured hair, when i home dye mine it really doesn't last very long.

Feelunique & lookfantastic often have good prices on Joico, bingo.

Clarifying shampoo wise, I like Redken Cleansing Cream. It's the only one that cleans my hair thoroughly without upsetting my very sensitive scalp.

Sorry, meant ihate

Thanks

I definitely find my hair is in better condition when I use professional products. I use wella and love it, recently I was away and had to use a cheapie one and my hair felt heavy and dry.
Going sulphate and silicone free also didn't work for me. My hair felt extremely dry and my scalp never felt clean. I think it depends on hair type. I have thick, straight hair. My hair likes silicones! Curly haired people definitely benefit from silicone and sulphate free.
I like a light pro quality shampoo- I used to use tigi and liked it too and then a rich condition. I used to use the colour care tigi bed head and it was very nice

My hair is very healthy looking I just use L'oreal Elvive, the bright pink one. My old hairdresser who did not sell products said you are better off with mass marketed L'oreal shampoo or herbal essences because their R&D budgets are huge and there is very little difference between them and expensive niche brands. That said, I fo sometimes like a Phyto hair masque.

I've tried so many different expensive hair care products on my fine, shoulder length hair as I obviously have more money than sense. None of them made a blind bit of difference tbh. The one thing that has made a MASSIVE difference to the condition and volume of my hair is buying a new Parlux hair dryer. Wish I'd done it years ago.

mrsmarigold, your friend is right re huge R&D budgets. L'Oreal own Kerastase and lots of the other high end shampoo brands so their 'best' technology tends to go in those (or higher concentrations of their best ingredients) and the 'science' tends to trickle down into their supermarket ranges. Same with skincare.

Another vote for the L'Oreal Extraordinary Oils - I have curly dry shoulder length hair and this is the best for making it not look like straw at the ends. I'm sure it's just a temporary masking from the silicones, but when I've used expensive stuff long term without silicones and sulphates I feel like my hair feels stronger and is healthier but is still quite dull and dry on the surface.

I've tried loads of hair care products, and keep on coming back to good old Aussie - it makes my hair feel great, look great, and smell great, and if it ever needs a bit of TLC, I bung some 3 Minute Miracle on it, and it really adds silkiness and volume. The Hair Insurance spray-in, leave-in conditioner has the best scent ever :)

I'm in two minds about the difference between mid-range and more expensive ranges. I have tried many shampoos and conditioners over the past twenty odd years. I have also been 'duped' into buying expensive salon products which don't make my hair feel anything like how it feels/looks upon leaving the salon after a cut/blowdry.

I have very thick, dry and wavy hair. I find the following product good:
Klorane conditioner/intensive conditioner for dry hair. It's quite reasonable and the list of ingredients is quite short.

I used to use a Kersastase intensive conditioner but it's pricey at approx 30€ a pop. I also tried a l'Oreal intensive conditioner for coloured hair which did nothing at all for my hair.

Body Shop silicone-free range turned my hair into straw.

Am currently trying Philip Kingsley Elastizicer but sporadically so probably need to use it more regularly. Just been to the hairdresser's and she said it felt less dry so maybe it's done some good?!

Well yes, and no - I use Philip Kingsley and buy the 1 litre bottles. This is expensive in one go (only ever buy it reduced) but it lasts for a year. I only need a tiny amount, even with double washing. Cheap stuff goes quickly and, for me, doesn't work as well.