The Cheap Stuff Is No Longer Working: Time To Move On

[lovinmylocs]

I'm natural and I use both - but I find myself moving more towards the high end products. The cheapies just don't work the way they once did. I save those for my co-washes and detangling sessions only.

 

[SignatureBeauty]

I no longer use cheap products either,except S-Curl, I will dish out the cash for my hair within reason, I have tried all cheap products and nothing has worked, Maybe when my hair gets longer and all the softness sets back in, I will be able to go back to the cheapies!! But my high end products last me a long time.

 

[chebaby]

my cheap products are suave and HE for co washes and CON for shampoo. most everything else is expensive. keracare is my favorite but i also love Joico and redken. im relaxed and transitioning

 

[LadyKaypnyc]

I use a combination of both...

 

[spacetygrss]

I use a combo.

 

[Morenita]

I thought this was very informative:

http://www.hair-styles.org/are-salon-products-better.html

As of right now, I use a combination of salon products, and some of the drugstore stuff like Neutrogena (I love the Triple Moisture Mask and the leave-in is great for my daughter's extremely soft, 3b hair).

 

[bbdgirl]

Since I started co-washing I have started using cheaper conditioners but what I do is add oils to them and so far my hair is loving it!! I rather spend more money for my deep conditioners.

yeah i totally agree with this

 

[BroadstreetBully]

High end products have the same ingredients with the exception of the all natural products. Even those can be made in large batches at home for less price.

 

[likewtr4chklit]

I've never had an issue with products (cheap or high-end) that just stop working because I clarify my hair with a clarifying shampoo at least once a month. Usually if it seems like your hair is somehow immune to a product after long term use, you probably need to clarify to get the cone build-up out.

 

[Barbie83]

cheapos work pretty well for me, but only when I co wash and wet bun. I use Suave coconut, green apple, and strawberry.

But I did recently discover nexxus humectress, it's FABULOUS! Start there. I think they offer trial (travel sizes) for around $5.

 

[Barbie83]

Broadstreet Bully, I could stare at your siggy and laugh all day!!!! lol

 

[poookie]

i voted relaxed- already high end.

but in truth, i use a mixture of natural & salon products.

my staples include:
aveda dry remedy
aveda damage remedy
joico silk result
joico moisture recovery
aubrey organics honeysuckle rose
aubrey organics GBP
redken all soft
redken smooth down
MOP
shikakai soap bars

my hair used to love Herbal Essences... now it laughs in the face of any non salon product.

i'm beginning to notice that my hair behaves better when i use products without silicones... cones make my hair heavier & more weighed down. eventually i'll make the switch to all natural products.

 

[vkb247]

Prices don't really matter - ingredients do. I don't see how anyone can say all cheapies don't work or all high end stuff sucks. Just because things are in the same price bracket doesn't mean they are the same. Some will have ingredients that are great/work for your hair and some won't.

 

[Lovestyr]

I am relaxed and use a combination of both inexpensive and expensive products. My conditoners cost 15 and up my hair oils are less than 20.But, most costly hair oil I have in my possession is morracan oil which a 4oz ran me about 40.00.

My vitamins are the most inexpensive item in my hair care regimen.In which I am ashame to admit( I am a serious pill popper) But It worksssssss. I swear by it.

I am willing to pay a hefty price if I believe I will reap great benefits from it.

 

[Afrobuttafly]

Cheaper is a keeper. However I may go a lil excra for a moisturizer because that is the one area my hair acts all bourgeois about.

 

[Aggie]

I am texlaxed and use a mixture of both cheapies and high end hair products. I do however use more organic and ayurveda hair products than commercial ones nowadays. The commercial high end lines I do use are by Joico and Mizani. My cheapie conditioners are used mainly with or to wash out my ayurveda pastes and hennas from my hair.

I rarely cowash anymore - too much manipulation for my fine tresses. Oh I like Elucence too, but when it's finished, I will not be re-purchasing, except maybe the liter sized Moisture Balancing Conditioner to use as a leave-in.....maybe!

I love my organic conditioners a lot - I use primarily Jason Naturals Jojoba, Sea Kelp, Lavender and Biotin, Aubrey Organics GBP, HSR, & WC, Giovanni SAS, Mills Creek Keratin poo and conditioner. I will most likely be adding the AO Green Tea Clarifying Conditioner as well. I am greatly simplifying my regimen and scaling back on the amount of products I have.

 

[Nice Lady]

Sorry double post

 

[Neith]

I'm natural and the most expensive thing I use is like 13 dollars at the most.

My AO Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner, Giovanni Reconstructor and Avalon Organics Shampoo are the most "expensive" products.

Otherwise, I use lustrasilk cholesterol, V05 shampoo/conditioner and natural oils.

There are good, cheap products out there imo

 

[LushLox]

I only use organic oils, and I think I might move to organic shampoos also. As for the rest of products the more expensive stuff works so much better for me than the cheaper products. Perhaps I've 'spoilt' my hair.

The last conditioner I got (as a gift, I hasten to add) cost £28, I dread to think what that is in $! The tube is so tiny too!

 

[lollyoo]

I don't necessarily use high end as my hair is really silicone sensitive, and a lot of this high end salon products are silicone rich. My hair also don't work well with most cheapies for similar reason, also because they are not rich enough.
Since I went natural even AO HSR just sits on my hair, no slip whatsoever, It may work as a deep conditioner but not as a regular conditioner.
All in all my hair just love natural ingredients without silicones, so for me it id not so much hish end or cheapie, more about ingredients. So I will say most of my products are medium range.

 

[KhandiB]

I dont use anything that I cannot buy in the store. The only foray that I plan on possibly taking is maybe trying some Dominican conditioners. Other than that.. I use Motions, Suave, V05, ORS, Elasta QP. My hair is doing pretty good.

But to each its own. I also use shampoo's with sulfates, cones and mineral oil based products so Im all the way to the left, LOL

 

[beans4reezy]

I voted for a combination of both high end and cheapies. But I am mostly a cheapie girl, if it ain't broke...

 

[Nice Lady]

I think that you may be onto something--I used to used a combination of cheapie and moderately high-end. Now, I have made a switch and I have tried the cheapies and the only one that is result producing is VO5 Moisture Milks. Now, I have a combination of moderately high-end to expensive high-end. I discovered that the high-end products get the job done.

So, now that I purchase stuff at Trade Secrets--I look for sales and use coupons and discounts to have high-end products. I can't wait until my tax check b/c I will be getting all of Kenra Products, some Joico Products and other products such as Dominican products.

 

[lesedi]

The cheapies are working for me...
I find that technique and getting a good regimen is the most important thing IMO..
All my staples are cheap

-Tresemme (co-washing)
-ORS replenishing pak
-AtOne with nature botanical reconstructor

I'm a cheap date I guess cos they are working for me!

 

[MizzBrit]

im cheap all the way..ive been trying to stray away from commercial product period and go the au natural ingredient route..my hair loves shea butter and natural oils,baking soda,avc's and i use the "cheapies" for co washing..im now on the market for a good DC..i may try coconut milk mixed with honey and evoo.

 

[longhairlover]

I always end up going back to the high end pricey stuff, and there is a difference. I can use the cheap stuff for a while but then my hair just craves the high end.....I need to win the lottery to keep up with my high end hair lol!

 

[chebaby]

i use a combination. my co wash conditioners are od course pretty cheap, vo5 and suave. i try to use mostly natural products so even the stufff i get off line is pretty cheap. the only things i use that are a little high in price is kbb hair milk, deep conditioner and hair cream. everything else is cheap. and i can find a lot of my things at whole foods, vitamine shopp and target.

 

[chebaby]

im cheap all the way..ive been trying to stray away from commercial product period and go the au natural ingredient route..my hair loves shea butter and natural oils,baking soda,avc's and i use the "cheapies" for co washing..im now on the market for a good DC..i may try coconut milk mixed with honey and evoo.

try bananas mixed with coconut milk, honey and evoo.

i love that mix but only make it if you have a blender because otherwise you will be picking chunks out your hair.
i have also made a mix of coconut milk honey and 1 avocado which was so good. just the right amount of protein.

 

[SimpleKomplexity]

I tried to cowash with Vo5 and Suave when I first became a member here, and that was a bad mistake. My hair was jacked up because it was so dry.

I started cowashing with KeraCare and my hair really thrived. Even though it's expensive, I feel like it's worth it. If I didn't use it, I would just be buying hair products everyday lol

 

[suburbanbushbabe]

When it comes to conditioners, I tend to go high end. Conditioners whose ingredients start with "aloe vera" or "extracts of", rather than "water", and you have to pay more for that. I have discovered a couple of lower priced conditioners and I use them. I do use a Sally's GVP conditioner for co-washing - the generic Biolage Matrix Conidtioning balm. And I use a 32-oz EO conditioner I got from TJ Maxx, as well as Renpure Organics moisturizing condish from Rite Aid. But my faves are in the $15 to $20 range - Mop Top Daily Conditioner, Robert Craig, Loma Pearatin Nourishing Moisturizer, John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli.