Shampoo - Kew Gardens,NY

Updated on May 06, 2015
F.B. asks from Kew Gardens, NY
22 answers

Mamas & Papas-

Any suggestions for a good shampoo? My hair is wavy, thick, colored and medium length. I've been using cheapy shampoos without a problem (vo5, suave, CVS brand etc). But seems like I can no longer get a good lather, get my scalp feeling clean, or get a lasting "clean" look. It doesn't go greasy, but in a day or so, it seems heavy and drab.

Once upon a time I used finesse, and salon selectives, but can't seem to see either in the pharmacies.

Open to suggestions.
F. B.

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So What Happened?

Great suggestion BD, but I'm allergic to tea tree oil.

tried the no shampoo conditioner thing when I last read that you had done it. It worked alright for a few goes, but then started to look dull, heavy, lifeless. I think we've just got too much dust/ dirt/ soot/ environmental toxins which get caught in the conditioner and start making the hair look bad. Also, my scalp felt clogged and itchy.

I tried and fell in love with PERT. goes on smooth, penetrates my hair to my scalp, gives a good lather, and rinses clean without tangles. leaves my hair shiny too.

Thanks for all your suggestions.
F. B.

Featured Answers

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i love alba botanica's shampoos. i use gloss boss, but have different hair than you. but they have a full line for different hair types.
khairete
S.

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

Agree with Diane B -

I like Joico or Redken - for color treated hair. Here's the Redken line:

http://www.redken.com/products/haircare/color-extend

I have used both and like both equally.

I find they are not as diluted so I mix with a little water and just use on scalp. I only condition on ends. So the bottles tends to last me a long time.

Hope that helps :)

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Definitely try the vinegar & water rinse.
I put about 1/2 c into a gallon of warm/cool water for a complete rinse. Really brings the life back to your hair. Shine, body.
Use once per week.
At the drugstore--try Pantene BB shampoo.
Sulfates are ok. Don't drive yourself bits trying to eliminate them.
No way can I skip more than 1 day between shampoos.

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M.P.

answers from Asheville on

You might try rinsing your hair in luke warm beer once a week. That clears out the residue and leaves it fuller and shiny. I have also used vinegar with same results, but I personally prefer the beer smell. Vinegar is a bit overwhelming to me.

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B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

If you want to feel "alive" and have that clean feeling, try a tea tree shampoo.

ETA: I'm sorry to hear that you're allergic to tea tree. I still see Salon Selectives in a store called Big Lots. I am not sure if you have those stores in your area.

Sometimes I think shampoos and conditioners can build up. You could probably get a lather just by switching shampoos every now and again. If you don't want to try the vinegar suggestion to remove the build up. Neutrogena makes an anti residue formula shampoo that is supposed to 'make you love your regular shampoo again'

I could never go a day without shampooing my hair. I also need that residue buildup to give my hair some sort of volume...yeah it sucks.

3 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Try rinsing your hair with 1/4 cup vinegar + 1 3/4 cup water.
I use it after I shampoo, rinse, use the vinegar water then towel dry.
The vinegar smell is gone after it dries and it leaves my hair shiny and soft.

3 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

There's a chemical in shampoos that allows you to create a lather. But there are some studies that suggest it's not good for you, and it's eliminated from a lot of professional products and higher end shampoos. It's actually not a factor in whether your hair is clean.

You would be better off spending a little more and getting a good shampoo for color-treated hair. If you massage it into the roots, you hair will get clean, lather or no lather. In fact, the cheap shampoos may be leaving a residue on the hair which his why it doesn't appear to be "clean" to you. It may also strip the color or strip away too much of the oils that are necessary to close down the cuticle of the hair shaft which is what makes it look healthy. Try a good conditioner too, but not on the roots, just the rest of the hair (especially the ends).

Everything I've read says that it matters less what you use for shampoo and conditioner, and more that you use companion products that are made to go together. I bought some Joico K-Pak Color Therapy shampoo and conditioner from my hairdresser. I think it was $28 for the pair, but that was in October and I'm still using it. It doesn't lather so I just massage into the scalp and use the conditioner everywhere except the 2 inches or so close to the scalp, as I described above. I put the conditioner on and then wash my body and even shave my legs while the conditioner does its job, then rinse at the last second. I don't shampoo every day - sometimes I just wet it during my shower so as not to strip the oils. If I work out at the gym or work in the garden/yard then I definitely shampoo completely, but the less I do, the less my color washes out. My hair is longish - a few inches below my shoulders, and it's really healthy.

3 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I use Pureology in the lavender bottle. It is a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. The conditioner has peppermint or something like that in it that smells so good and feels good while you have it on your hair.

Double check the ingredients... I don't think it is tea tree oil but be on the safe side and check. I love this shampoo, it is a bit on the pricey side but a little bit is all you need and it lasts a long time. I get it at Ulta.

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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

The cheaper shampoos can do OK but they create buildup you can't see. Get some white vinegar; dilute it with hot water (but it should still be pretty strong, maybe half and half) and really, really scrub it into your hair right down to the roots; using a plastic, wide-toothed comb can help do that. If possible, leave it on your hair for maybe 10 minutes then rinse very well and wash with a good shampoo like Neutrogena's Anti-Residue Shampoo (comes in a small, clear bottle and the shampoo itself is clear). If you can't leave the vinegar rinse in for 10 minutes, just do it at the start of a shower and then wash.

This will really help get rid of buildup if you do it once a week; it may take doing it twice a week or so to start with. You probably can use the cheaper shampoos if you take time each week to do a good buildup removal with vinegar and the Neutrogena shampoo. The anti-residue shampoo can be pricey in some places but I get it for a lot less at Bed, Bath and Beyond stores--not sure why it's less expensive there but it is! It's worth what you pay, especially if you're only using it once or twice each week.

Vinegar -- best stuff ever.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I go between Panteen and Dove, mostly. My hair is no longer colored, but it's wavy and my DD's hair is also wavy/curly. I tend to only condition from the ears down and I often wash my hair every other day, especially in winter. We like Dove Intense Conditioner in winter especially to hold down the flyways.

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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I use any old shampoo and conditioner. But I have a small bottle where I mix white vinegear with water (1 tablespoon vinegear to 1 cup of water). Once a week after shampoo and conditioner, I put it in my hair in the shower, let it sit for a minute, then rinse it out. My hair is so much nicer since i started doing this!

Just a tip - some people use a lot higher concentration of vinegear, like half and half, but if you do, it can strip the color out of your hair. I color my hair also, and the 1T/1C ratio gets the buildup out and doesn't hurt my color.

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J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I started using a tea tree shampoo form Herbal Essences. I usually get stuff without chemicals but I really like this one. My scalp feels clean and it doesn't leave a build up.

FYI: bugs don't like the smell of tea tree oil so it helps when I am outside (lots of bugs here in FL).

http://us.herbalessences.com/en-US/collection-page.aspx?i...

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M.S.

answers from Portland on

I use volumizing shampoo and conditioner because my hair is the opposite of yours. But, it is also really good for doing a good cleanse and removing all the build up. Or, try a clarifying shampoo. This will take out all the build up, I think they are recommended once every week or two, depending on the need.

I have also had really good luck with beer and vinegar. I buy the KPak conditioner for my daughter because her hair tangles so badly, and she and my husband love it. I can't handle how much it weighs down my hair, but mine is super fine. I hope some of these help.

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J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

i loved finesse and havent found it in years. Awhile back Big Lots had salon selectives. I haven't checked recently. I do like the dove shampoo and conditioner. I have a little dandruft so I use head and shoulders. I alternate that now with the herbal essences cleansing conditioner (like wen but way cheaper).

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I stopped using any shampoo about a year and a half ago. I only only only use Dove intense conditioner. I put a bunch in my hand then rub it in the hair. I massage it into the scalp and the ends, all over. Then I comb the tangles out and rinse. If I have been working out in the yard of anything I do it again.

I have prettier hair now and my scalp no longer itches. I had been having problems with the itching and it was so bad that I was almost bleeding in places.

If you're having a bad shampoo time try it. I promise I am the most negative and cautious person out there. I just don't try new things and conditioner? Nasty right? Greasy and limp and gross right?

My hair is shiny and soft all the time, the curls are bouncier and overall my hair looks a lot healthier.

I do not use a sudsing conditioner, a specialty shop conditioner, nothing but a normal everyday conditioner.

Just give it a try for a week and see what happens. Rinse it well though. That's important but it will feel so soft you might think there is still conditioner in it but it's all gone.

ETA

I have a friend who has really bad psoriasis and it's mostly on her scalp. Her dermatologist told her to clean her hair at least once or twice a month with a baking soda paste. Get the baking soda wet and then grab a handful and massage it into the scalp really well and then all the hair too. Rinse well.

It strips out all the old build up and opens up the scalp.

1 mom found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Thank you to TFPlano!! I was drawing a complete blank at the shampoo/condition I use..it's too early :).

I also use Pureology. I use the lavender bottle for shampoo (I think it's called Strength Cure) and the blue for condition (I think it's extra moisturizing). I LOVE the mix. There is one shampoo that basically is a mix of all of them and that's what they give me at the salon, so next time I need a new bottle I will likely get that.

I will say that these bottles are stupid expensive. I get the liters, and they run me over $100 for two at the salon. HOWEVER!!!!! That will last me at least 9 months. I have long and think color treated hair, and you honestly need so little of the product that it truly lasts that long. I bought them the first time when the conditioner was free, so it was a great time to try it. Now I'm addicted. It breaks down to about the cost of Herbal Essences that I was using years ago when I split the cost by month. Get the trial sizes at first if the price scares you, but your hair will love you for it!

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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

I got ION at Sally Beauty - for curly hair. It's sulfate free, so it doesn't lather, which is weird, but my hair seems healthier since I started using it.

1 mom found this helpful

T.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

tresemme deep clean. it strips my hair of everything and leaves it looking great. i use this 1x a month and use the cheepie stuff and garnier fructis for all other shampooings.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Infusium is the only shampoo that works on my thick, wavy, coarse hair. I have used everything - expensive to cheap! It does not weigh hair down or make it look greasy AND it is not expensive. I have used it for decades. Good luck!

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L.M.

answers from Chicago on

I have your type of hair (add a course texture to the list). I use Pantene smoothing. I don't feel any build up and my wash lasts 2 days. Mostly to get the look I want (straight and smooth) it's more in my flat iron and creme I add when it's wet.

My aunt is a hair dresser and has bought me very expensive salon shampoos and I don't see the difference in my hair after using them.

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M.R.

answers from Seattle on

The shampoos you list are exactly the shampoos I avoid. I don't mind buying my shampoo / conditioner at the drug store, but I do buy the nicer brands like Dove, Infusium, Nutri Garnier, Herbal Essence, Aussie, etc.

I really, really, love Aveda products, but they are pricey if you're not used to spending at that $$ level, but my goodness if you buy the large bottles, it will last you practically a year.

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M.C.

answers from Louisville on

I have good luck with Dove and Loreal brands... They do a decent job, but don't break the bank.

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