| Favorite Hair Care Products |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Date: 10/4/2001 |
Introduction
Hair care products are right up there in the list of controversial
topics. How did hair care
products become such a hotly debated subject?
Hair care product issues concern best ingredients, pricing and
whether salon or consumer lines are better.
For the past four years I have been the CEO and editor-in-chief of
the award-winning HairBoutique.com hair site.
During that time I have subjected my hair to countless trials
of hair care products that ranged from the consumer’s lines of Suave
and Clairol Herbal Essences to the top of the salon line’s
Phytotherathrie, Aveda, Paul Mitchell and ARTec.
My bathroom has been so clogged with so many products that at times
I could barely squeeze into my shower. My blowdryer would often
disappear for months, covered by gels, mousse formulas and styling
products. Luckily I only blowdry my hair for special hair
events.
During all the years of lathering, rinsing and evaluating I have
continuously pondered the most popular questions about hair care
lines.
These basic questions include:
- Are all shampoos created equal?
- Is there a difference between a $1.19 shampoo and a $52
one?
- Are special ingredients really beneficial or pure hype?
- Does hair ever really need more than just shampoo?
- Do conditioners, styling products and special treatments
really make a difference?
- What products would I take with me on a deserted island?
Although my life as a girl scout was cut short, I have always
believed that truth and honesty are the best policy.
I have not managed to personally try all of the zillion
different hair care products currently available on the market but I
have tired a large majority.
Based on my own experiences and the reports that I have reviewed
from all the HairBoutique.com visitors, independent consumer testers,
experts and stylists I have formed my own brazen opinions.
Are All Shampoos Created Equal?
The simple answer is that not all shampoos are created equal.
Most shampoos, no matter what brand or cost, is designed for
the purpose of washing dirt, grime and environmental toxins from hair.
After you look at the primary goal of cleaning hair, all shampoos
go their separate ways in their ultimate goals.
Shampoos can fall into many different categories that promise
results that are clarifying, moisturizing, volumizing, color enhancing
and soothing. A shampoo
line can also treat for hair thinning, hair loss, dandruff, oily scalp
and other scalp conditions.
Experts and hair care specialists disagree intensely on what makes
shampoos different. Is it
the ingredients that separate them?
Do they offer different measurable benefits or not?
What brands are really the best?
When it comes to the right or wrong answers, I can only share my own opinions and experiences.
Is There a difference between a
$1.19 shampoo and a $52 one?
Hair consumers who have no muss, no fuss hair, that is in great
condition, can get away with using off-the-shelf consumer brand
products that are found in drug and retail chains. Two products that
are considered to be good for general problem free hair is Clairol Herbal Essences
Shampoo (12 fl oz 3.99) or
Aussie Mega Shampoo for Everyday Cleansing (33 oz for $5.99).
Does everyone agree with that assessment? Probably not.
However, in a poll of hair care professionals, when asked what
consumers should consider if they were shopping in the grocery store,
the majority listed Clairol and Aussie as good choices. Other
products listed included Alberto Culver and Pantene. Bottom
line, find what works best for you and then give it a whirl.
Consumers with problem hair or scalps are a different story
completely. Do I
recommend the same products for everyone?
Absolutely not. My
hair is a good example. Falling
several inches below my waist, my hair is naturally wavy and coarse.
It is also chemically highlighted and dry.
My hair requires special treatment which involves a limited
range of moisturizing shampoos, conditioners and styling products.
I have experienced personal hair nirvana with a limited number of
products from ARTec, Aveda, Edwin Paul, Phytotherathrie, Lazartique,
Mine and Rene
Furterer. I have also had
some hit and run great hair moments with select products from such
great lines as Philip B, John Sahag, Paul Penders, Aubrey Organic and Giovanni.
Will the products that work for my hair work for everyone?
Definitely not. All hair is different and will encompass a wide range of
variables from hair texture, type, thickness, color, condition and
overall health. The key
to your own hair care product success is finding the right products
for your hair type.
Are special ingredients beneficial or pure
hype?
Depending on who you talk to, special ingredients found in salon
quality hair care brands are either fantastic or pure hype. Based on years of lathering my hair through hundreds of
brands I believe that there is a definite difference in hair care
products that include special ingredients.
Salon quality hair care products, as a rule, contain a much higher
quality of ingredients. How do I know?
I have actually priced individual ingredients when researching
different product lines. It
really is true that higher quality moisturizing conditioners work
better, penetrate the hair shaft more completely and work better to
lock in added softening agents. Although
there is always an exception to the rule I personally believe that
special ingredients do make a significant difference and are worth the
higher cost of the products.
Does hair really need more than
just shampoo?
This question almost always generates a lot of controversy.
Some hair care experts believe that you should routinely rotate
your products to prevent hair from becoming immune to the special
benefits a product will offer. Others
believe you should never have to switch.
The right answer is that everyone should make their own decisions
on whether to rotate products or not.
Some consumers will have hair that changes with the seasons
becoming drier in the summer and more oily in the winter.
Situations that have cause damage to the hair may be cause for
rotating in products designed to remedy a challenging situation like
chemically damaged or sun burned hair.
If your products work well for awhile but stop working, chances are
that something has changed with your hair and switching to another
brand for awhile could be very beneficial.
Products that are great during some seasons are not right
during others.
Do conditioners, styling
products and special treatments really make a difference?
Depending
on the condition and health of your hair, using the right combination
of shampoo, conditioners, styling products and special treatments can
make all the difference in the world.
This
statement comes with the caveat that all hair is not created equally
and that all products may not work for all people.
What I find to be fabulous for my naturally dry and wavy
chemically highlighted hair may not work well for other hair textures
or types.
My Favorite Products To Take On A
Deserted Island?
I
have often been asked what are my favorite products. What I find to be fabulous for my naturally dry and wavy
chemically highlighted hair may not work well for other hair textures
or types. However, I do
have a list of favorite products that have stood the test of time for
my hair condition and type.
If I were going to be stranded on a deserted
island like Tom Hanks in the Castaway and could take any hair care
products with me for the duration, listed below are my favorite picks:
Pre-Shampoo
Treatment: Aveda
Beautifying Oil - $18
Moisturizing Shampoo: Phytotherathrie
Phytocidre Shampoo - $18
Color Enhancing Shampoo: Mine
Sunny Sunday Shampoo - $18
Moisturizing Rinse Out Conditioner:
ARTec Smoothing - $9.90
Deep Conditioner: Phytotherathrie
- $9
Leave In Conditioner: Phytotherathrie
#7 - $20
Detangling: Aveda
Curessence Detangling Spray - $14
Frizz Control: John Sahag
No Frizz Spray Gel - $12
Shine: ARTec PureHair
Neroli Reflecting Spray Shine 4 oz - $13.50
Assuming I could take a portable blow dryer (with a ten year supply of
batteries), a paddle brush and combs I would also snag:
Straightening Gel:
Edwin
Paul Smoothing Lotion - $13.95
Volumizing Gel: Matrix
Amplify Volumizing Gel - $9.00
Styling Spray: TIGI Hold
& Gloss Spray - $12.00
Hair Wax: Redken
- $15.00
Hair Paste: Edwin
Paul - $8.95
Hair Grease: Kusco Murphy
Lavender Hair Crme - $18
If there was only one product I could take to
protect my hair I would take cases of the following product:
Phytotherathrie's Phytolage- Protective
Sun Veil 3.3 oz - $19.50
Conclusion
If I had to condense this article to just one major truth I would
say that all hair is NOT created equal and therefore not all products
work for all people. Is this really true?
Absolutely. I see this every day in my dealings with thousands
of hair care consumers.
Some products are designed for hair that is not damaged, straight
(not wavy or curly) and short to medium length. Simple hair care
formulations sold through retail chains and grocery stores can work
well for that type of hair.
People like me that are born with naturally dry, wavy/curly hair
that have abused it with hair color, blow dryers and other damaging
tools absolutely NEED the more complicated and sophisticated formulas
that are not usually sold in retail chains or stores.
Do we need the $52 bottle of deep conditioners? Probably
not. Can we get great results with $1.19 shampoos?
Definitely not, based on my many years of hair care testing
experiences.
How do you find the answer of what works best for you and your
hair? The answer is to know your hair, know what works and then
evaluate what price you are willing to pay to achieve the results that
you desire.
My super long hair is very old (it has been growing for years) and
it needs lots of TLC. I definitely notice that when my hair is
having a bad day I am more grouchy. For me, having soft, shiny
and healthy hair makes me feel better. So I am willing to pay
the price.
Do I think everyone should share my opinion about this?
Absolutely not. I believe that everyone should follow their own
hearts and pocketbooks to their hair nirvana.
At HairBoutique.com we all try to help by offering a consumers
viewpoint. After all, most of us are consumers. Yes, we
have licensed experts on staff and consultants that we work
with. However, the core of HairBoutique.com is a group of
consumers that are out there looking at bottles on shelves on a
regular basis.
I know that we don't always do it right or the best we can, but I
promise that we sincerely try. |