I have a confession to make. I spent buckets of money on my skincare, quite a lot on makeup, a decent amount on body care … yet the one thing that I’m always neglecting and put aside is my crowning glory. Whenever hairstylists ask me “what haircare products do you use?“, my answer is usually “whatever’s on sale at Coles, mate“.
There’s nothing wrong with haircare brands that you can get from the pharmacy or supermarket. My attitude towards my hair needs to be more positive and I need to put more effort into taking care of my hair. Even though my hair is so short now, I still dread washing it because the thought of having to blowdry it irks me. And I’ll have to straighten it with a flat iron the next morning.
I KNOW. I’m terrible. That’s why my hair hates me.
A few weeks ago, after I had my recent haircut (it’s now a lot shorter than before), I decided to change up my haircare products. I went to the nearest Hairhouse Warehouse and bought a set of the Matrix Biolage ColourLast shampoo and conditioner. Now, I spent hundreds of dollars on skincare without batting an eyelash but I baulked at the price of $40 for the set. $20 for shampoo?? My previous one only cost me $6!
Sigh.
White hair alert! *cue Psycho theme*
Did the salon shampoo and conditioner work better for me? Honestly, I didn’t see a difference. My hair doesn’t look nor feel any better than when I used Pantene or Sunsilk. My hair is really thick, coarse and frizzy, so it’s not easy keeping it manageable. Short hair doesn’t make it any more manageable; it’s just less product and a shorter drying time. Other than that, my hair is still pretty much a ball of frizz.
Okay, this is turning out to be a hair rant so I’m going to stop here. I think I’ve lost the plot and the point of this blog post anyway other than to complain about my hair and that I spent $40 on shampoo and conditioner. 😛
I use to have the same thoughts about expensive hair care (and anything that was pricey haha). Ever since getting my hair bleached and coloured, I have used the products that my hairdresser used on me when I go to the salon. I can’t go back!!
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I totally know what you mean. I used to do that too. Now I just tell my hairdresser, yeah sorry but I’m sticking with Pantene. Having said that, the cleansing oil shampoo by Shu Uemura really is quite fabulous. Too bad it’s so damn expensive. 😛
I just keep using Pantene because it works. I’ve used Kerastase, Shu Uemura, Loreal and everything in between but I really don’t see a difference except for a dent in my hip pocket when I spend on pricey items. So I’m sticking with Pantene 😛
Exactly how I feel! I thought now that I have nicely coloured hair again and this time it’s not just highlights, I’d treat myself to the Matrix Biolage shampoo and conditioner. I can’t say it doesn’t work but I don’t see how it differs from Pantene. Plus the Pantene ones smell far better. Imma stick to what works!
Haha! I’ve with you on this one.
I spend loads on skincare and cosmetics, decent amount on body care, but my hair care routine is incredibly basic!
My hair is also naturally coarse and fizzy, and hardly anything tames it!
Fancy brands don’t make a difference to my hair, so I stick to Sunsilk. However, recently I’ve found a conditioner that does make my hair glossy and less unruly (even if its just for a day)…Lush’s American Cream conditioner! So I’ve been using it once every 2-3 days:)
Oooh that sounds good! I haven’t tried any of Lush’s shampoos (it takes courage for me to step into that store without being suffocated by the strong fragrance :P) but I’ll be brave and check it out this weekend. 🙂
Haha I know what you mean. Lush can be very overwhelming!
Sometimes the sales assistant would try to sell me on the lovely scent of one product, but the scent of the whole store is so overwhelming that I can’t pinpoint it! 😀
I like their American Cream conditioner and Mask of Magnaminty.
Their Angels on Bare Skin cleanser is pretty interesting too, so those are the 3 items that I’d recommend!
I have straight,thick,dry and frizzy hair and not to mention sensitive scalp.
I’ve actually give up really on my hair for the past 10 years. and yes I balked out at buying expensive shampoos too
Recently, I’ve figured out that if I just use 1-2 tiny drop of VCO on my hair after washing and 30 minutes of deep mask using VCO as well I got back my OLD hair. The one that is healthy,shiny and bouncy!
I just use mo-goo shampoo and no conditioner.
Cheapest solution I had.
Now that sounds like a great recipe! So glad it works for you. I use VCO pre-shampoo from time to time and it works so well.
I use a hydrating sulphate/paraben free shampoo, Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Oil, Oribe Texturizing Spray and Dove hairspray. I only wash my hair 1-2x a week so it takes me forever to go through any one product. For me it’s not about the cost but more about what works. I’ve been using these products forever and it works for me. I recently discovered 2 white hairs lurking in my layers. I can’t complain because my husband is completely salt and pepper.
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I can’t get Oribe products here easily so haven’t tried but I’ve heard such good things about the Texturising spray. I really need to check that one out if I can. I agree; you do what works for you. Same goes for me and Pantene. There are people who hate it but I’m one of those who love it. So cheap, so good. 🙂
I always go back to the Moogoo shampoo and the Billy Goat conditioner. I’ve tried supermarket brands and my hair/scalp hate them. If I had the cash to splash I’d probably give Shu a go 🙂 As for blow drying (blow frying) and straightening I keep away from them because I know how bad it is for your hair. For frizz management a serum seems to help, I use a coney Loreal one on my girl’s hair, it works great to get knots out, and on myself I use the Haus of Gloi hair serum 🙂
So many comments mentioned Moogoo! It’s that good, huh? Alrighty then, I’ll need to get one to try out now. Shu’s cleansing oil shampoo is good. I initially thought it was going to be a gimmick but it’s a great clarifying shampoo (the yellow one).
As a student, I have yet to try expensive salon shampoo or conditioners but I think general drugstore ones does the job pretty ok too. I love using the Herbal Essences shampoo coupled with hair mask (in place of using a conditioner, I feel like hair mask does a better job in hydration than conditioners for my dry hair). Nowadays, I also use heat protecting spray before I blow dry my hair (I think it does help). If I’m really lazy to use the hair mask during shower, I would suggest using a leave in hair oil/conditioner/serum. It helps keeping the hair soft too 🙂 I used to have frizzy hair too, my friends would complain about my hair looking so coarse and dry so I started taking care of my hair and it made such a difference, at least it tamed the frizz and made my hair softer.
Good tip Rosalind! I’ve been using Pantene’s 3 Minute Miracle treatment (gosh I talk so much about the brand, don’t I? I’m not sponsored to talk about them, pinky promise!) in lieu of my conditioner and it works so well. Ahh Herbal Essences shampoos and conditioners bring me back to my younger days. I only use them in uni and I adored them. Oh yes, most definitely use a heat protecting spray for your hair before treating it with any form of heat. It definitely does help protect your hair. 🙂
Ok, hairstylist answer here!! The best thing to use is whatever works for you, I have never been one to do the hard push/ sell with salon products. It also really depends on the hair type, certain hair types need something extra that unfortunately supermarket stuff just can’t give, much like skin care. If you don’t have coloured hair or if you have a simple colour (like any form of an all over colour) I believe you can get away with something from the supermarket. For any hair that has bleach in any form (this can be foils, balayage or the all over bleach look) I really think you need to use something from your salon. Due to the chemicals, you need alot more moisture and protein in whatever you use than a 4 dollar product can give you.
My only peeve is pantene, I really hate the stuff and most hairdressers will agree. It’s just so heavy and ugh. But thats just my honest professional opinion. If you use it and like it, then whatever. Just know it can hinder hair colouring efforts 🙂
Woohoo thanks for the hairstylist answer Yolondi! 🙂 And I’m sooo glad you don’t push salon products. Years ago, I once went home with heaps of salon products that were just meh. Cost me hundreds of dollars too 🙁
What about the Pantene Ice range that is supposedly silicone-free? You reckon those will be all right? I haven’t tried that out yet; have only used Pantene Light which supposedly has less silicone.
Sorry for my delay on this one, the email went to my junk mail for some reason. I daresay if silicone free it would prob be alright. I mean really, at the end of the day, different things work on different hair types. I have used more natural products that leave me itchy, or dank and greasy. I have also used hotel things out of desperation (and no, not fancy Peter Thomas Roth like they give you at the Hilton!) and also been ok. I wouldn’t use them on a on-going basis but for a one off use it’s been fine. I was also always taught that ‘your hair doesn’t get used to a product, you do’, but in my experience I think it does. I will re purchase something I liked before but would never rush to re purchase it when I’m about to run out. That’s my cue for something new. But maybe I’m just a product whore and always need the stimulation of Shiny. New. Things. Buy all the things!! Ok, that’s enough of a thesis for this comment.
LOL! That’s my vice too; I want ’em shiny new things! 😛
The only difference I’ve found is when using Toni and Guy as well as using a hair oil afterwards. Using hair oil in my hair has changed my hair life! Makes my hair soft instead of frizzy.
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Have you tried virgin coconut oil? Works wonders too! 🙂