Are expensive Shampoos & Conditioners really better?

[CathrynRose]

I checked out Paula's book and recommendations. Basically, I disagree with her. .

Me too.

My hair wont touch Suave with a ten foot strand. Well - I take that back... I use it occasionally as a build up remover.

Oh - and I use it as a body wash.

There's a HUGE difference between cheapee brands and *real* brands. I would never ever ever be swayed otherwise..... Im gonna post a pic of my hair, which I bleach and color... crazy stuff, and my hair is still fabulous! (the only reason I have a pic is cuz I had to fix a mess a colorist did to me this weekend. That'll teach me to be lazy... I didnt feel like doing it myself, and ended up having to FIX IT myself... )

 

[Christine]

Have you tried Chi's Silk Infusion? I used to love Silk Therapy by Biosilk, until I was introduced to this one. It made my Biosilk look greasy by comparison!! There is also "Hot Sauce" by FHI which is similar. I just don't care for the scent.

I laughed at your last part. I agree, I wish I could use cheaper products, but long term they just do not work!!! I've tried myself and just have had no luck. I am lucky to find things at cost though. I will spend about the same amount on the Caviar as I would on a slightly upscale shampoo. When I was using Alterna's Hemp or John Sahag, it was actually cheaper for me to buy that then Pantene or the like. I try not to be snobby about the hair, but sometimes you can't fight it and go cheap.

So, how do you get them at cost? Are you a "licensed professional?"

 

[helenabear]

So, how do you get them at cost? Are you a "licensed professional?"

It's a perk from my husband's company. They have onsite facilites for lots of extras like salons, health club and medical. We get to use the health club for $3/month. We get medicines at cost always from the pharmacy. Haircuts are only $4/person and they also will order any hair product (salon quality) at cost for you. It's a very "family oriented" business, so that makes a world of difference.

We're just very lucky with that. Personally, I think all salon products (no matter the name) are over priced. Not sure if I would ever buy them at retail again. The most I've done is discount places like spiralhaircase (before my DH worked at his company). Even then it's a bit pricey, but better than full retail!

 

[CathrynRose]

Keep in mind too - many "expensive" brands arent THAT expensive! You can get a shampoo & conditioner - liters - 2 for $20. Thats not that bad!

Im looking at these - and notice you cant see "healthy" although you may notice pretty darn good considering this was a post-mess-up I had to color correct. So, this is bleached/colored hair - using groovy shampoo's. (usually Matrix & TiGi BedHead)

 

[RC Fan]

It really comes down to personal preference. As a recovering hair products addict, I have tried a wide range of salon and drugstore products. The only salon product I have not yet found a drugstore replacement for is Joico K-Pak Protect and Shine Serum. My naturally curly (read DRY) blonde hair has been through the ringer too, as it has been red, various shades of brown, and has had lot of lowlights and highlights.

As far as a favorite, I really like the Garnier Fructis line.

 

[carone0318]

I think to the un-chemically treated hair drug store vs. salon bought shampoos and conditioners might not make that much of a difference.

But to those of us who color our hair on a regular basis, it does make a difference. I prefer Biolage products, but after reading this thread, I'm going to have to try Alterna Caviar. Paul Mitchell products leaves my hair unmanagable and just plain nasty. I occasionally use Herbal Essence, but only because it smells so good! I can only use it for about a week as it leaves a heavy build up.

This is exactly what my hairdresses at my salon told me. I don't do anything with my hair, no perms or color. I told her that I use Dove products and she said that was fine, but if I decide to color (or perm, but I wouldn't do that) that I might want to reconsider what I use. For me it is a challenge to see how long I can go before I chose to color. I am 36 and still have no gray hairs (with the exception of 1 or 2) and I am a brunette. I would love to make it past my 40th b-day without coloring!

 

[Christine]

I am 36 and still have no gray hairs (with the exception of 1 or 2) and I am a brunette. I would love to make it past my 40th b-day without coloring!

It can be done!!

I was recently at my hairdresser. Now, I've been getting my hair highlight for years. I am a very dark brunette and the brown is just so dark, I can't stand it. The highlights really help. Anyway, my hairdresser was coloring and highlighting the customer before me and the color looked soooo nice. I mentioned to her that maybe I should color also and she said "NOOOOO. Your base color is fine, you just REALLY don't want to get into that until you have to." So, at 42 I still have no gray hair!

 

[Mandabella]

It can be done!!

I hope so. I don't chemically treat my hair at all (no color, no perms, no relaxers, etc.).

I was recently at my hairdresser. Now, I've been getting my hair highlight for years. I am a very dark brunette and the brown is just so dark, I can't stand it. The highlights really help. Anyway, my hairdresser was coloring and highlighting the customer before me and the color looked soooo nice. I mentioned to her that maybe I should color also and she said "NOOOOO. Your base color is fine, you just REALLY don't want to get into that until you have to." So, at 42 I still have no gray hair!

This is my concern about my hair. I have naturally...what I will call..."blackish brown" hair. In the summer, blonde/auburn will show up on dark brown with enough sun exposure. I try to minimize that because it doesn't look good at all...not with a deep tan...ugh. In winter, it looks more black. It almost always photographs black. I know that when grays do show up, it'll be very noticeable. I was thinking that in the future I'll need to go lighter (lighter version of dark brown...LOL) or highlights.

I am hoping that I can go for at least another 10 years w/o resorting to coloring. My mother is a natural strawberry blonde (so the red just faded...the lucky duck and now she's just a blondish color) and my grandmother (natural medium brown) went blonde before she needed to...so I have no guidance on what is likely to happen to me!!!

I will NOT go blonde or red. Mother nature got me right and knew I was to be a brunette.

 

[luvwinnie]

For me, yes. I use Big Hair shampoo by CHarles Worthington on my VERY VERY FINE hair in order to have a just a bit of body. I also use Superstar gel by Bed Head...$14. But it WORKS!

 

[luvwinnie]

It can be done!!

I was recently at my hairdresser. Now, I've been getting my hair highlight for years. I am a very dark brunette and the brown is just so dark, I can't stand it. The highlights really help. Anyway, my hairdresser was coloring and highlighting the customer before me and the color looked soooo nice. I mentioned to her that maybe I should color also and she said "NOOOOO. Your base color is fine, you just REALLY don't want to get into that until you have to." So, at 42 I still have no gray hair!

I'm almost 38 and hair stylist is surprised I have NO grays. My brother is almost 50 and just has a few.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I'm almost 38 and hair stylist is surprised I have NO grays. My brother is almost 50 and just has a few.

I'm hoping that I don't start getting gray early either. I'm only 33, but my mom and my sister both started graying about this time. They both got this gene from my grandfather whom my mom never knew without his snow white hair. My dad on the other hand has just started getting a couple gray hairs in the last 2 or 3 years. Which you have to really look for even in his very dark brown (almost black) hair. And he will be turning 64 very soon.
So I'm hoping that I get his hair gene and that I don't start having gray for another 30 years. Of course, I'm the luckiest of the 4 because I'm the only one that has naturally light brown hair. Everyone else has/had very dark brown hair.


As for the Suave shampoo, I only use the clarifying to clean my eye glasses!