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 use Joico shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask. It's what my hairdresser uses.

I personally do think there is a difference. I don't think it works out any more expensive either.

I use just over a litre bottle per year of the shampoo and less than a litre bottle of the conditioner. I use 2 large bottles of hair masks.

It costs approx £78 for the shampoo and conditionsr and £39 for the 2 hairmasks.

Shop around online, and you can get better deals with money off vouchers and Topcashback.

Now work out how much you spend a year and there isn't much difference. Mine costs £117. Divide by 52 = £2.25 per week. Excellent products. It's not drenched in chemicals like the high street, which is why you need to wash your hair more often. You also need to use very little of the shampoo, too. Most people use too much. Works for me

I currently use Lush shampoo bars because they don’t use plastic packaging and I find it goes a long way.More expensive but lasts ages.

But to answer your question, I don’t think it matters that much. I’ve even used washing up liquid which made it squeaky clean and used conditioner afterwards. It was a good combination because my hair was amazingly shiny and manageable.

1. My hair is incredibly healthy with sulphates. I ran into so many problems when I tried to ditch them and have some annoying little scalp cysts as a reward for my efforts.

1. My hair is so thick that I simply cannot get adequate coverage of my scalp with bar shampoo. Liquid shampoo gets straight in there with a more reasonable amount of water involved.

OGX is the one I’ve been using. I normally use the white one but they only had the blue one in last time so I’ve used that one the last time I washed my hair. So far so good.
Sorry I can’t seem to post a link.

https://www.asos.com/ogx/ogx-renewing-argan-oil-of-morocco-shampoo-385ml/prd/203863597?currencyid=1&browsecountry=GB&affid=28401&_EAIaIQobChMI39rWhfGmhAMVhoNQBh0XHgXGEAQYFSABEgJtIfD_BwE&channelref=product+search&ppcadref=20753526610%7C%7C&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADqFjODZY690G-79KU00ODAo2hiJ4&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI39rWhfGmhAMVhoNQBh0XHgXGEAQYFSABEgJtIfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This might work.

I like the OGX per pp, and also Faith in Nature - pref the coconut flavour in both. When I coloured my hair I used Aveda products. My salon uses Eleven Australia which smell delicious.

@iimnotwhoyouthinkiam I've always used the ones from Lush. It's the equivalent of purple shampoo and honestly my hair feels so incredibly light and clean.

Just responding in a very late manner, but I totally agree with you @PickAChew , my hair is also healthy using sulphate based shampoos. Modern day sulphates are much gentler to the versions used in the 80s and 90s. And as much as I like the idea of soap bars, they leave my 4c hair incredibly dry, I must say.

I use a range of different shampoos - at the moment I am finishing off an Aveda conditioner but saw an ad for a Cornish seaweed shampoo which I have started using. But I don't know if it suits my hair (or the hard water area I live in). I also like Liz Earle and John Frieda.

When I go swimming I use a cheap Waitrose 2 in 1 product. But I think the cheaper products smell of chemicals and don't like using them that much.

her hairdresser said always to rinse for TWICE as long as you think you need to

I wish they'd all actually do that. Some are really good at rinsing for ages, others barely rinse at all.

I use Aldi’s version of L’Oréal Dream Lengths. Hair is silky and healthy despite foils every 8 weeks.

Eww yeah I hate those shampoos (and shower gels!) that leave a weird residue

I have wavy hair and non-curly shampoo and conditioner just leave me looking like Crystal Topps. I have some that are SLS and silicone free but still don't work in the way curly ones do as they feel a lot more liquid.

It depends on your hair type. The cheap shampoos can be very harsh. My hair is fine and frizzes up easily. Cheap shampoos create instant frizz on me, so I had to stop using them.

I'm following this trichologist on YouTube and TikTok who says silicones and suphates in haircare are unfairly demonised.

Abbey Yung - YouTube

I have mixed hair, greasy roots, dry ends. I spent years trying different shampoos but have settled on bed head shampoo & conditioner. I don’t think it’s based on cost, just what suits your hair.

Which Bed Head do you use! My hair type is exactly the same as yours.

Garnier blends silicone free for me

Completely agree, got some Redken for a birthday present, used it and now have switched to the OGX stuff, so about £18 difference - in terms of my hair not a jot of difference. I think its just the psychology of a change to a more expensive one makes you believe things are better - well it is for me. And at the beginning i probably took more time to wash and dry my hair and it was that which was making the difference. I suppose I should see this with my husband - uses cheap Aldi at home, on holiday uses their shampoo and if in an Airbnb uses my expensive stuff - his hair never looks any different.

Agree, they just wouldn't rinse out.

Fairy liquid is really damaging to hair 😯

I'm just about to try the conditioner!

Not nearly as good, no. I've seen a noticeable difference in volume, softness and shine after switching to salon quality shampoos. I also take care to make sure that they don't have parabens or sulfates (can be damaging to hair, especially if it's coloured).

My favourites are Dessange Lait Lavant or Oribe Gold Lust.

Many a moon ago I used to use Redken products, which were amazing on my over-abused hair.

I'm much less flush financially now. I remember a while back having a bottle of Alberto Balsam apple in my trolley and this random woman told me she used it on her horses lol

This one. Best my hair has ever been.

https://amzn.eu/d/3KwQK7y

@MrsSlocombesCat ( great user name btw)"Fairy liquid is really damaging to hair 😯"

Well yes so you would think but mine is so heavy and greasy it looks really good after a Fairy Liquid wash. Doesn't do much for maintaining the highlight colour though