Is expensive shampoo worth it - does it really make a difference?

[Littlemiss74]

After nearly a year of lockdown cancelled hair appointments I’m getting it cut & coloured today, hurrah!!
Whenever I go to the salon I think about buying the products they use as my hair comes out delightful, soft and shiny afterwards. But, they are so expensive. I have bought some shampoo in the past but my hair doesn’t look as amazing when I use it at home.
I realise alot of it is probably in the styling but just wondered if others use more expensive shampoo/conditioner & think it is really worth it?

I use Kevin Murphy products which I buy from my salon (& online during lockdown) & they 100% make a difference to my coloured hair so for me they're really worth it.

Thank you @UnreasonablyPissedOff

I swear by anything from kerastase.

I am the first to point out that beauty products are almost all scams, with the blurb and packet information all lies. Salon shampoo and conditioner are two of the few exemptions. You use much much less so the bottles last longer than you think. I have frizzy greying hair that needs the GHD s to be comfortable, and the wella shampoo and conditioner are well worth it. Look for online offers or try eBay.

No.

The reason I say this is that for years my hairdresser came to my house and used Alberto balsom or whatever else I had that was 50p on special offer in Tesco. I now see her in a salon and she persuades me to have this and that treatment and my hair always looks exactly the same. To be fair, I do have easy straight 'normal' hair so I can see that it might be different with difficult hair.

I about to give up on Aveda Invati conditioner, Men’s Pureformance shampoo. I did ask for advice on dupes in S&B forum but no suggestions. It is around £100 for a year. I don’t think it gives me £100 worth of hair improvement. But I got a liberty gift with purchase with it last year tbh

The only way for you to find out is to try.

I do think most people will say yes but it’s nothing is universal because we all have such different texture, colour, thickness, porosity etc

Personally for me, yes. I have tried so many products over the years and I won’t go near the high street stuff now.

But you like PP might find that they don’t give you the results you’re looking for.

But honestly it would seem strange to me that you wouldn’t just try at least once or twice. If you don’t feel it really adds anything then sure you may have lost 40/50 quid but you’ll know.

As a side, I also really like just an argan oil treatment - throw a ton of oil on, let it sit and wash out after an hour.

I don’t think products have to be premium but they do have to be good quality - and quality is more expensive to source so it’s more expensive to sell

I've been wondering this myself actually. Was using Redken, but currently using Pantene, which if anything, I probably prefer.

biggest difference to the softness & shine on my hair was getting a water softener installed

For me yes. Cheap shampoo causes a buildup on my hair and irritates my scalp

I find the change of shampoo and conditioner livens my hair up.
Once I've used it 2/3 times it's like my hair is used to it and it's 'meh'.
I think that the change of product when you go to the salon is what does IT and not the actual shampoo.
I tend to rotate a few low- mud priced range products at home.

Have tried lots of different hair products premium and cheap but it makes no real difference to my average hair. Head and Shoulders smooth and silky is what I’m using at the moment and it’s giving me good results for a reasonable price.

I use cheap shampoo as I have to wash my hair so often (daily) but after a while I get scaly scalp and itching. So I use an expensive one then and find it fantastic. A Vichy one that you put on for 3 mins. It acts as a mask and then adds so much volume and gets rid of the dry scalp.

It's trial and error. I have been using Kerastase shampoo since I was about 14 and I've tried a few others but I always go back to it. You can get expensive brands cheaper online. I use cheap conditioner though (Tresemme 900ml for about £4 - can't think of a cheaper one!) and my hair loves it.

I’ve been using Olaplex shampoo and conditioner for the past few months with No.3 beforehand as well.
I’m not sure how long it’s supposed to take to see a difference but my hair is exactly the same as when I was using Pantene/L’Oreal/whatever brand was on offer at the supermarket

I have very dry, slightly curly hair and I absolutely always use salon quality products - currently KMS but have used L'Oreal and Kerastase in the past. It makes all the difference.

They're also not as expensive as you might think as you really only need a little. I also buy salon sized bottles from Amazon which works out at about half the price of buying the smaller bottles in the salon itself. And they last forever.

I’ve tried the lot & interestingly the only range that has obvious made a difference has been Olaplex.
It’s very concentrated & lasts ages.

*obviously

Olaplex is the only range that has really worked for me.

When I was younger I dyed and straightened my hair so much it completely lost its curl and was so damaged. I started using Aveda and a year later my hair was in much better condition and had totally regained the curl (despite still dying and straightening). I used that for years and my hair was in great condition (although stopped dying and straightening). Then when lockdown happened last year and I had no reason to style my hair as I wasn't going out, I stopped using the Aveda and started using Herbal Essences we had lying around, just to use it up/save money.

After a few weeks/months I could barely get a brush through my hair and it looked like shit, wasn't curling again. I started using Aveda again and after a few months it's almost back to normal.

I'm a massive advocate of cheaper, simple products and buy a lot of the things I use from Savers but haircare can't be skimped on in my opinion!

I use Davines, and honestly the smallest amount goes so far. I use wayyyyy less product and my hair stays cleaner between wash days.

Cheap brand often coat your hair in silicones etc so it feels smooth and looks shiny but in reality isn’t in great condition.

I use Nioxin shampoo and conditioner which I buy at the salon. It is expensive but you don't need much and it keeps my hair in great condition. It also makes it easier to handle and much less static.

Try using a co-wash instead of shampoo which - no matter how expensive - strips oils from your hair.

@ParadiseLaundry

When I was younger I dyed and straightened my hair so much it completely lost its curl and was so damaged. I started using Aveda and a year later my hair was in much better condition and had totally regained the curl (despite still dying and straightening). I used that for years and my hair was in great condition (although stopped dying and straightening). Then when lockdown happened last year and I had no reason to style my hair as I wasn't going out, I stopped using the Aveda and started using Herbal Essences we had lying around, just to use it up/save money.

After a few weeks/months I could barely get a brush through my hair and it looked like shit, wasn't curling again. I started using Aveda again and after a few months it's almost back to normal.

I'm a massive advocate of cheaper, simple products and buy a lot of the things I use from Savers but haircare can't be skimped on in my opinion!

What Aveda products were you using? I'd love my curl to come back as it's a bit meh at the moment.

I like Phillip Kingsley products and yes, they make a huge difference. Paul Mitchell are pretty good as well