Is cheap shampoo just as good?

[BrainInAJar]

Hello,

I don't mind spending a bit on a decent conditioner for my long, thick, frizzy hair. In fact, several of you recently kindly recommended a huge tub of Osmo from Just my Look which has turned out great and isn't particularly expensive.

BUT is expensive SHAMPOO just a rip-off? Surely it just goes down the plughole? So all it really needs to do is clean the hair?

Can I get away with the supercheap tesco own brand type stuff? Any particular ingredients to avoid?

My hair has a small amount of highlights in it (not bleached).

I've previously used Faith in Nature (not massively expensive) and Loreal Professional which is supposedly a dupe for Kerastase.

Thanks

I just get build up with expensive shampoo. Thick hair. Head and shoulders is my go to'

IMO, no. Cheap shampoo wrecks your hair. I think you can get away with cheaper conditioners, but a decent, gentle shampoo is more valuable in the long run.

I tend to find that the more of a product stays in my hair, the more difference the price makes. Like a pp, cheap and cheerful shampoos seem to do best for my manky scalp - mostly vosene and Schwarzkopf Live purple shampoo. Cheap as chips. The conditioners that I like tend to be round £10 a bottle, give or take eg shea moisture superfruit complex or Giovanni smooth as silk. With the exception of Cantu curl custard, the stylers I use cost a fair bit more eg Kinky Curly knot today leave in and Treluxe gel.

That sheen from head and shoulders just makes my hair sticky and gives me dandruff.

Thanks everyone, a real mix of opinions.

Interestingly, when I google the question, several glossy magazines websites tell me:
a) expensive shampoo is best (funnily enough Philip Kingsley gives them a quotation to print)
b) that a cheap shampoo is anything under a TENNER! (I was thinking more like £2!)

I'm bunging some cheapo Tesco shampoo in my basket on my next shop, if I hate it, I have my answer!

Head and Shoulders here too. I buy the minimalist ingredients one (green bottle - not for the ingredients, just because it suits my hair) and their standard conditioner. Then before blow drying use Redken One spray.

I am nothing special to look at but everyone tells me what nice hair I’ve got and how shiny it is, so that’s one thing I think I’ve got right.

I like a hydrating conditioner but not a moisturising shampoo.

Cheap conditioner seems to do nothing to my hair. The one I use isn't cheap but makes my hair much nicer.

Pureology is fantastic and you only have to use a smidge, so it's comparable to cheap shampoos because a bottle lasts so much longer.

Personally no for me. I’ve used all sorts over the years and find more expensive stuff better for me. I have long fine greasy roots hair. I will occasionally use head and shoulders for itchy scalp but only when I’m due a colour I won’t do it after I’ve coloured in case it strips my hair.

I don’t use half as much of the expensive products and can also go longer between washes.

Always get sulphate free shampoo if you have frizzy curly hair, it Dosen’t strip the hair as much….. it Dosen’t need to be expensive though, some cheaper brands are sulphate free, I also mix a bit of conditioner in with my shampoo when washing as it makes the shampoo gentler….. I always of course condition after aswell

Otherwise I think expensive shampoos and conditioners are a waste of money and believe me I have tried them all over the years

Me too, @BlueGrey1 . Usually, I am disappointed in the expensive stuff but feel I must use it up.

I stopped using conditioner a couple of years ago (as one of my save the planet initiatives) and to be honest after a couple of weeks I couldn’t tell difference. When I told my hairdresser what I’d done (after about a year) she didn’t believe me !

I’ve always used more expensive hair care and skin products simply for the excellent ingredients. However, my head has been itiching like mad for a few weeks and I’m not on head and shoulders and vosene. My hair looks amazing. Less than £3 a bottle

I rarely use conditioner these days, it looks better without it.

For me it’s Pantene Classic Clean, used to buy massive bottles from B&M and similar. Gives it that lightweight silky feeling

Yes.

@Redbrook , I'm not convinced that conditioner really works. The hydrating ones do, but only by making my hair bouncier.

I really begrudge the staying in the shower longer to rinse it off. Seems a waste of water and energy.

I often just use conditioner to wash my hair, because I care about the planet and to use the conditioner up. I've not actually seen any scientific proof that using conditioner improves the condition of hair.

If you're going to switch up your shampoo then why not switch out the plastic too and go for a bar?

You don't have curly hair do you?
I couldn't cope without conditioner

@Paw2024 , no, it's wavy.

Some conditioners have a detangling effect but seem to not do anything else other than weigh the hair down making it look straggly.

A decent hydrating moisturiser makes my hair bouncier and my hair looks better (wavier) when I use it.

I tried Kerastase and Olaplex and was massively underwhelmed. I recently bought some midprice Bed Head shampoo and conditioner and it's gorgeous, my hair feels lovely.

Cheap shampoo and expensive conditioner is the way to go.

I gave up liquid shampoo treats ago. I don't like plastic. I now use Garnier Shampoo Bar. This is magical and my hair has never been better. Give it a go

@zuve, how long does the shampoo bar last? I need to use up what I have first (that'll take a while) but I'd give it a go if it lasted a long time.

I have dry hair and tried the shampoo bars and found them quite drying and my hair just didn't feel that clean, oddly enough. Took ages to rinse out too.
I do like Liz Earle shampoo and conditioner, but they are not cheap by any means.