Is expensive shampoo worth it?

[GymSloth]

My hairdresser recommended that I try some fancy salon shampoo as it would help the colour last longer. So I bought the (very expensive) shampoo and conditioner, but I'm not really sure I can tell the difference. It's nice and everything, but I'm just not sure it's worth spending that much, when I can pick up my normal stuff in the supermarket for fraction of the price. Is it just marketing or does it really make a difference?

Apparently supermarket stuff has silicone though and it's bad for your hair.

What does everyone else use? Any recommendations for a good shampoo and conditioner for dyed hair?

Sadly, I think the pricey stuff is better. I recently treated myself to a set of mini Strivectin shampoo and conditioner from TKMaxx and my hair has honestly never looked better.

No. I buy one in savers with no nasties in. The expensive ones are often worse!

You can buy cheap silicone and paraben free shampoos

I noticed a big difference in my hair when I upgraded. I buy it from websites that sell discounted end-of-line products though, much cheaper.

I'm not bothered so much about shampoo but I would pay a bit more for a conditioner, if I found I was getting good results from it. I like the Mane & Tail conditioner, which is about £7 a bottle. More than a supermarket one but still less than some.

A lot of expensive ones have all the ingredients to make hair appear nice, without necessarily doing it any good.

You are better off avoiding sulphates, silicons and parabens than you are deciding based on a price tag.

Look for products with gentle cleansers instead of those that strip your hair. Look at low poos that are curly girl approved.

I use Aveda shampoo and I love it! Usually I buy it in sets in the Christmas sales to reduce the cost.

Yeah aveda is actually really great
And pureology
But both expensive. I go through periods of using them and then thinking it’s a waste and then back to using them

Just get the 0% ones, like the herbal essences with no silicones, sulfates etc etc.

I think expensive shampoos are better.

I avoid SLS and find that supermarket shampoos without SLS don't foam well and just aren't as nice to use as the more expensive SLS free ones.

I use Maria Nila.

Madara shampoo is really nice. It’s eco friendly, paraben free, sos free. It’s not cheap but it’s not exactly the most expensive on the market

I'd say no, not worth it.

I currently have Aveda as recommended by hairdresser. I really see no difference when I use cheaper silicone and sulfate free shampoo/conditioner.

Dr Organic and Faith in Nature (both about £6 a bottle) are gorgeous.
I find the biggest difference comes from avoiding sulphates and silicones, rather than a prestigious brand.

Having said that, I was given a Bamford and a l'Occitane shampoo over Christmas, and they are both lovely. Not £25 lovely, though!

Kerastase is unbelievable! Plus bumble and bumble styling products

I’ve bought a cheap silicone free one and my hair is really rough. I’m guessing as there’s no silicones to smooth it ☹️.
Do you expensive silicone free ones still leave hair rough? I like softness really.

I think you’ve either got shiny lush hair or you’ve not.
The only thing I know would help my hair is to get it washed and styled everyday.
When I win the lottery I am going to have a full time hairdresser!!!

Someone once told me that if you just swap your shampoo weekly it helps. So have 2 types. But I don’t know if that works.

My hairdresser once told me it’s all a gimmick.Your hair is effectively dead apart from at the roots so nothing can improve its actual quality externally. What shampoos and conditioners can do is coat the hair which, depending on your hairs natural texture , can reduce frizz, remove static etc. So some products are better at that but it’s still just coating.

Now, I don’t know if what he said is true but it kind of explains to me why your hair gets used to the same products ..cos it’s the same coating. Certainly I’ve had cheap and I’ve had ridiculously expensive and I’ve never really been able to tell the difference apart from the smell!

I suppose it depends on each person like skincare. I have fine, flyaway hair and cheap shampoo does nothing for me. I like redken, philip kingsley and aveda. Im trying a lee stafford one just now but my hair doesnt like it. I feel more expensive does help for coloured hair

The only thing that makes a huge difference for me is olaplex No3 and Moroccan oil.

Cheap shampoo etc and these = swishy and no frizz.

Expensive shampoo etc without these = plug socket look.

I have fine hair and I also think the lee Stafford is awful for it.
Interesting

I went back to Keratase after years away and the amount of hair now in the plug hole is minimal. Used to be enough to knit a jumper !!!

@aroundtheworldyet oh god yes when I win the euro millions it's top of my list. I have terrible hair

It depends on your water quality. If you live a hard water area you will never have nice hair water you buy (unless it’s a water filter for your shower).

Darn. I'm never going to persuade DP that I need a water filter for the shower.