Just got out of the shower, and I was wondering - is there really that much difference between shampoos and conditioners that are salon brand, and those that are drugstore brand? For example, I have some Paul Mitchell shampoo that I paid $8 for, and some VO5 shampoo that I think I got for $1.50 on sale. The Paul Mitchell stuff smells nicer, and has fancy herbal stuff in it, but is it really going to make my hair look that much nicer? And if hair is dead, why does the stuff we put on it make any difference, anyways?
Probably not a lot of difference. But it’s really up to you to determine if you want to pay $8 rather than $1.50. If you get the same results then buy the cheaper product.
I find that when I buy the salon stuff, I need less shampoo to get all my hair lathered up. So the cost doesn’t end up being very different per use, even if it is rather different per ounce. If you buy large bottles on sale, the cost is barely different at all on a per-use basis IME.
Anyway, you have to experiment to find the right stuff for your hair type. My hair pretty much has a mind of its own (it’s thick and can be rather dry and frizzy if I don’t beat it into submission). I’ve never found a $1.50 conditioner that would allow me to get a comb through my hair, but there is one for $3.50-ish, and there is one for $16. Obviously I buy the $3.50 one.