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Reviews of the best drugstore products for your hair
Ready to have a good hair day? Read on for reviews of some of the best drugstore hair care products you can buy.
Photo Credit: Emrah Turudu
By Victoria Miller
Just about everyone strives to have a good hair day at least once in a while, but high-end salon hair care products can be quite costly. Fortunately, there are a many wonderful hair care products available at your favorite drugstore. From shampoos and conditioners to styling agents and coloring products, read on for reviews of some of the best drugstore hair care products around.
Shampoos. The purpose of shampoo is to clean your hair, so don’t be misled by ads for shampoos that claim to add vitamins and volume to your hair. It is best to buy simple shampoo products for cleansing, and then buy a fortified conditioner if you want a little more volume or shine. Products to try:
Pantene Pro-V. Pantene is the crème de la crème of drugstore shampoos. There are many varieties of Pantene shampoos available depending on your hair type. This product does a great job of cleaning and doesn’t leave any heavy residue on your hair.
Dove. Known for years for their mild soap products, the Dove shampoo line is just as gentle. Your hair will feel soft and manageable after you try this product.
Suave. You’ve seen the ads– and it’s all true. Suave shampoos really do work as well as higher prices salon shampoos. Available in dozens of fragrances and for all hair types, Suave is one of the most inexpensive brands on the market. Top picks: Suave Healthy Shine or Suave Fruit Energy shampoo.
Neutrogena. Neutrogena is a no-frills product meant to remove the residue from all of your other hair care products. Try it once a week to give your hair a break from your regular products.
Conditioners. Heavy conditioners will weigh down your hair, so look for light-weight formulas that will add shine and eliminate tangles. Products to try:
Pantene Pro-V. Just like their shampoo products, Pantene conditioners are at the top of the list. They are great for removing tangles and they and never weigh your hair down.
Aussie Mega Instant Conditioner. If you want lots of shine with no buildup, try the Aussie Mega line of conditioners. For an extra treat for your hair, look for Aussie 3 Minute Miracle (a quick deep conditioning treatment).
Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner. This great smelling conditioner is another favorite. It contains fruit concentrate and helps to nourish and strengthen your hair.
Styling products. The days of heavy styling mousses and stiff hairsprays are gone, but today’s styling products do a great job at helping to manage unruly hair– giving your hairstyle a truly finished look.
Citre Shine. The Citre Shine line carries some of the best styling products on the market. If you have wavy or frizzy hair, tame it with Citre Shine’s Straightening Balm. If your limp hair could use some more volume, Citre Shine’s Big Volume Styling Foam will give it a lift. To make the most of your curls, use Citre Shine Making Waves Curl Booster. All of these products really work– and they have that trademark Citre Shine scent to boot!
Tigi Bed Head. This trendy product line includes products like “Bed Head Control Freak Serum” (which smoothes flyaways while giving hair a glossy finish) to “Bed Head Hard Head Mohawk Gel” (to help keep a Mohawk spiky all day long) these hip product are a must have for those of us who have a little bit of attitude.
Got 2B Volumizing Gel 2 Mousse. This ultra-cool product goes on easily like a gel and then turns into a silky mousse. It will give dull, lifeless hair incredible volume. Really!
L’Oreal Studio Line Mega Spritz Finishing Spritz. This product offers maximum hold so your hairstyle will stay put. It’s lightweight and doesn’t make your hair feel stiff or sticky. Some other fantastic Studio Line products include Studio Line Styling gel and Studio Line Styling Mousse.
Coloring products.
Clairol Natural Instinct Hair color. If you’re not ready to dive into permanent hair coloring, try this product which lasts for approximately 28 shampoos (I find that it usually lasts a little longer than that). It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, is easy to apply, and comes in dozens of natural looking shades.
L’Oreal Color Expert. This is one of the pricier drugstore brands, but with good reason– it’s a permanent hair color and highlighting kit all in one. If you’re longing for fresh color and some gorgeous face framing or all-over highlights, this combo kit makes it easy. You can transform your hair in about an hour.
Clairol Herbal Essences highlights. If your goal is to have bold highlights, then this product is for you. It comes with a special highlighting comb which enables you to create dramatic highlights in no time at all. Highly recommended if you have never done home high lighting before.
Other tips for great hair:
Always consider the texture and type of your hair when selecting a shampoo– there are formulas for dry, normal and oily hair as well as types for unmanageable or frizzy hair. If your hair is colored or highlighted, look for products that will help to protect your hair color.
Unless you have very oily hair, try washing your hair every other day to give your hair a rest and to avoid product buildup.
Alternate products. Find two or three products that you like and alternate using them each time you wash your hair.
When using home hair coloring products, always do a patch test 24 to 48 hours before coloring. Instructions are usually found inside the product box.
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