Store Brand Shampoo/Conditioner Recommendations?

[Katy]

In the past, I've used some salon stuff (love Aveda and Matrix, but also used Pureology and Redken) as well as store brands. I'm almost out of my last batch (Redken for curlies) and I since I seem to be under-employed I thought I'd check out a regular brand (the kind you find at the drugstore).

Can anyone recommend something? I have thick, curly, color-treated hair (which is presently it quite good shape - might change when I start the swimming back up again).

TIA...

[MurphysLaw]

Katy-

I'm addicted to Alterna but it's SO expensive & I have SO much hair (thank goodness my SIL owns a salon = discounts) but I always keep a stock of store-stuff on hand for running out & when I can't get to her salon. My hair is thick, permed, straightened(but it didn't take because I'm pregnant) and color treated...I know YUCK. I like Herbal Essences. It leaves my hair feeling soft & silky, but CLEAN...not coated, kwim? Plus I LOVE the way they smell. :) A lot of times I go through the conditioner faster than the shampoo(my hair is SOOOO long & gets tangled SO badly) so I actually use a lot more of it than the shampoo (I'll end up with Alterna shampoo leftover & use the store conditioner till I run out of both--I have to, it's too much $$!). HTH!

[shopaholic]

Definitely Herbal Essences

[Kristy]

Aussie Moist or Aura Rosemary Mint

[juliemag]

I use the super cheap Suave. $.99 baby! :o Honestly, it makes my hair look better than the salon stuff.

[Rose]

If you go to Target, usually Dove, Pantene and similar brands are all around $3. To me they are all similar so I usually switch around. Right now I have Biosilk which is more expensive but I don't like it very much.

I do like the Brunette shampoo/conditioner but I can't think of the brand.

[Kristy]

I have to say stay away from Pantene. I've heard their new color line is okay, but the others leave a waxy film on your hair. I used it for years and couldn't figure out why my hair was always so crappy looking.

[bellaprincess]

I 2nd the rec for Dove! I use the intense moisture shampoo and conditioner and I really like it . My hair hasn't been this healthy in a while and it smells great!

[Becki1010]

I used to be a redkin girl too (thick and curly hair) but i've made the switch to DOVE! I love it! I also use their intense moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. And i also use their hair products- like their straight and sleek product for when i blow my hair out!
I'm hooked on Dove!

[julietchicago]

I am using Dove right now too! I switch back and forth between Salon products and store brands. Sometimes I will use Pantene for color treated hair too, but I like Dove better.

[Katy]

Thanks for hte suggestions. In the past Aussie gave me some sort of allergic reaction (crazy itchy head) and Pantene did nothing for me. I might check out the Dove line and see how that goes. I'm all about the aroma (which is why I love my Aveda and Matrix) :D

[TracieB]

I third the suggestion for Dove! It's a great store brand. The intense moisture is the best!

[bunnyboo]

Have you ever tried the shampoo/conditioner from Fantastic Sams? I haven't bought it in a while, but it smells soooo good and it's very affordable and works just as good as the salon brand types!! I love it and definitely reccommend it!

[Melne11]

I love the TRESemme line. I use their Anti-Breakage formula, (cause I think my hair is falling out :eek: ) but they also have one with Vitamin E and one for Colored hair. I also use their hot oil treatments. They make your hair feel soooo soft. I highly recomend it! Plus-- it's cheap i get a 32 oz bottle for like 2 or 3 bucks at Wal-Mart.

[mrstim]

Another plug for Dove! :) I love it - although I do have to alternate with dandruff shampoo to keep the white flakies down :(

But it's all cheap and smells really good!

amy

[sparkle&shine]

Infusium shampoo and conditioner work great for my hair! The conditioner works really well without having to use a ton of it.

[KeliAnn]

I use and love Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner. I have super curly hair that I keep very short and straight, and this is the only product I've found that will keep it from getting frizzy.

I also use Back to the Basics clarifying shampoo once a week to strip my hair of any product build-up.

[berry]

I love the Dove conditioner (I think it is Intense Moisture or something like that).

I also have thick, naturally curly, color treated hair. I don't use shampoo, I use a cleanser that is gentler for my curls. It is called No-Poo and is made by DevaCurl. I only wash with that every 2-3 days and the other days I use a lightweight, cheap conditioner to wash my hair (like Suave Vanilla Floral).

Here is a picture of my curls (which I'll probably remove later).
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5db06b3127cce925c1729353400000005108AcOGTFu3Zsw

[LeslieR]

I use and love Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner

I just read a recommendation for this in a magazine and have been thinking about trying it!

[bookworm]

I have curls too, and my favorite shampoo/conditioner is "Back to Basics Raspberry Almond." It is a salon brand, but I look for it when it's on sale--Trade Secret and some salons will periodically sell the GIANT bottles for 2/$20. I wait for a sale and stock up. I think I figured it out once--it was more $ than Suave, but less than Herbal Essences.

[WisWis]

Add me to the list of girls recommending Dove - I love it! It smells good and leaves my hair so soft. Their styling products work well too. I was feeling *really* cheap after I ran out last month so I bought Target brand shampoo (compare to Pantene) and it was a huge mistake. I used it twice and my hair felt so dry and gross. Never again - I'm sticking with Dove.

[irish74]

I actually can buy the salon stuff wholesale, but ran out day before yesterday and don't have time to get to the supply place. So last night I bought a bottle of the Dove intense moisture since it was on special at Walgreen's, I'm quite impressed! My hair is shiny, no tangles & smells nice. :)

[Baby Lust]

I have to agree that Dove works great! Love it!

I also love Herbal Essences and Garnier Nutrisse, which smells amazing!!! :cool:

[kcjaime]

I actually went out and got the Dove shampoo/conditioner after reading this thread, and I LOVE IT! Smells great, lathers even better and it just feels good on my hair. :)

[lawyerlee]

I think Pantene and Dove are good store brands.

[Melne11]

after reading this, I think I might go buy some Dove, when my tresemme runs out! Thanks ladies.

[JillyBean]

I alternate between Dove and B&BW's Sleek and Straight. Dove is a great store brand! I have several of their styling products, and they work good, too. I really like the anti-frizz lotion.

[jennylou]

I use the Garnier Nutrisse. Though, with all the rec's here, I might give the Dove a try next time I run out.

[Delaney21]

I recently starting using Suave (due to allergies to every other conditioner I've tried) and I really like it. I didn't think it would be good because its only $1, but I have been shocked by it. Suave recently started a new(?) line of hair products and they basically seem like knockoffs of the more expensive brands. It will say on the bottle if its like Nexxus, Redken, etc. so if you like one of those brands, Suave may have a knockoff.

[Katy]

I just recently tried the new Pantene curly line and did NOT like it. I thought I'd bump this up to see what else is out there to try.

[looch]

I really like the loreal vives. I am not sure what they have for curly hair, but they are reasonably priced and rinse clean.
I also like the John Frieda lines. Those products really do what they say.
As for Dove, I bought a huge container at costco and it's pretty much still there. It makes my hair too soft and limp! I wonder if I got the wrong kind!

[maplekitty]

I love love love the horse hair shampoo/conditioner called Mane and Tail. They sell it with all the other shampoos, but seriously this stuff is the shiznat!

http://store1.yimg.com/I/ebonyline51_1869_14408952

[princesse]

If you are a small junkie like I am and you have a Walgreens near you, run-don't walk, and try the Ken Paves line of hair stuff. I read about it in In Style in one on the product round up reviews and YUM. It is cheap and wonderful. It smells divine, has essential oils and is just terrific. Great styling products as well. I have super thick hair and am a color addict, so conditioner is my life and his stuff does the trick:-)

[Katy]

I love shopping at Walgreens and finding samples to try at home. I'll check it out, thanks :cool:

[LeslieR]

I started using Loreal Vive after the woman who wrote Don't Go To the Makeup Counter Without Me (or whatever it's called) recommended it when she was on The View. I bought some Dove long before that based on this thread and I also found that it makes my hair too soft.

[Amuse Bouche]

We're using the Spa Line from Trader Joe's. I like it a lot -- all organic, leaves my hair feeling very nice. We've also used Avalon Organics for years (also available at Trader Joe's) which have the best smells.

[Foley42]

I have straight as a stick that holds no curl, silky, not thick but not thin hair. I used Dove for about a year and it made my hair even more limp. I traded off for Pantene.

[Elizabeth]

It makes my hair too soft and limp! I wonder if I got the wrong kind!


I had this problem with Dove too. I even got the volumizing kind. I have oily hair, though. For people w/ dry hair, it would be great. I've been using the Vives lately and like them. I've used them on and off for years. My hair is fine and limp so I'm always looking for something to give it body. I'm using whatever the Vive shampoo is for volume and the conditioner for highlighted hair. Pretty happy with it, and will try Aussie for combination hair (oily scalp, dry ends) next. I never buy the same shampoo twice in a row!

[Sposa06]

I have thick, curly color-treated hair. I'm currently using Pantene's curly line and I don't like it at ALL! I'm almost out, though, and as soon as I am, I'm going to try Dove! Thanks, ladies!

[jimmysgirl424]

Well, I only ever use salon brand of shampoo and conditioner. But I have had the worse problems with static electricity in my hair for ages. I recently bought Garnier Fructis Smoothing Milk and I LOVE IT!! No more static, no more flyaways, no nothing! Plus it smells awesome. I think I may buy stock in this product. :)

[popculturejunkie]

I like the John Frieda Highlight Activating shampoo and conditioner. They smell good and clean/condition well without weighing down my hair.

[FoxyBlue]

I really liked Be Brunette by Marc Anthony.

[Sposa06]

Ladies, I am in LOVE!

I was fed up of having blah hair, so I told FH the Pantene products were now his to use (he couldn't care less what he uses!). I bought Dove Moisture Rich Color shampoo and conditioner and have been using them for the past few days. They were $4 each, they smell incredible and my hair has looked amazing! It's clean, soft without being weighed down and my wavy/curly hair has turned to curls with bounce and without frizz. That's unheard of for my hair in December! This has to be the best $8 I've ever spent!

[Myra]

I use Neutrogina Clean & Clear.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

Ladies, I am in LOVE!

I was fed up of having blah hair, so I told FH the Pantene products were now his to use (he couldn't care less what he uses!). I bought Dove Moisture Rich Color shampoo and conditioner and have been using them for the past few days. They were $4 each, they smell incredible and my hair has looked amazing! It's clean, soft without being weighed down and my wavy/curly hair has turned to curls with bounce and without frizz. That's unheard of for my hair in December! This has to be the best $8 I've ever spent!
I'll second that. Because of the recommendations here, I decided to try it (same as sposa, the Moisture Rich Color), and I love it. I have straight/slightly wavy, highlighted hair, and it leaves my hair very soft and moisturized without weighing it down.

[mgrace]

I like Dove, too.

[myshel]

I use Dove too (Moisture Rich Color) and like very much. Once in a while, I add in some Infusium conditioner. When I've put a lot of product in my hair, I've found the Sauve professionals clarifying shampoo (it claims it's like Rusk's clarigfying shampoo) works really well too.

[Jenessa]

I use Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner & it is great! It makes my hair shiny and smooth with less knots. Plus, it smells great.

[Kanga]

I have to say stay away from Pantene. I've heard their new color line is okay, but the others leave a waxy film on your hair. I used it for years and couldn't figure out why my hair was always so crappy looking

Ditto. It actually has an ingredient in it that's basically liquid plastic. So the first couple times you try it, it's wonderful because it has coated your hair, but with prolonged use, it will eventually build up and suffocate it leaving it dry and unhealthy.

I also have to say stay away from v05 and suave. They were formulated a long time ago when women didn't wash their hair but once a week so if you use it every day or every other day, it will be too powerful and eventually dry your hair out. Somebody said they have a new suave line out? I don't know anything about it, but since it just came out, it's probably alot better than the original stuff.

[ceaserbride]

I alternate between~
a. Garnier Fructis shampoo & Conditioner (makes my hair ultra shinny but with prolonged/regular use almost greesy?)
b. LaCoupe (so so so soft results)
c. Nutragena Dry Scalp (for the dead of winter when I need a little help with my most embarrasng dandruf :S)

I find that if I use any one thing for too long it doesnt work the way it once did so I rotate.