The promise of shiny, healthy looking hair at supermarket prices can often be too tempting to resist for many. But as a general rule in life, when something seems too good to be true it normally is!
We spend a great deal of time (and money) ensuring our hair looks great, but even with regular cuts and colouring in-salon, much of this work can be undone with poor quality shampoos and conditioners.
The majority of the supermarket brands that we see advertising on the television use silicones as they make the hair easier to comb and leave the hair shiny and smooth. They create a short-term illusion that the quality of our hair has improved. However, when used over time, silicone-based hair products coat the hair shaft and seal out moisture, possibly clogging the hair follicles. So what happens is that hair can become flat and greasy or dry and straw like with a lack of moisture.
Some people are then often drawn to the cleansing shampoos to remove the build up of the silicone. These use sulphates which work as a cleansing agent to dissolve dirt, boost foam and enable dirt and oil to be rinsed away. Whilst some sulphates are required for this, too much can overly strip hair – and colour, as well as being an irritant to the skin.
Last but not least, you need to get to the root (excuse the pun) of what your hair concerns are to determine the shampoo and conditioner that is right for you. Supermarket brands will often have 3 or 4 brackets of hair types that you can choose between, at The Wonderlab we have twelve different categories available. It may also be the case that your needs for your shampoo are different to those for your conditioner.
At The Wonderlab we use Aveda products which are 97% naturally derived. If your hair has become dry and damaged from using supermarket brands we recommend Aveda’s Damage Remedy range, if you want to prolong your colour and reduce fading we would recommend Aveda’s Color Conserve. It is not always necessary to use a ‘set’ of a shampoo and conditioner, for example, you may want a deep cleansing shampoo but like a smoothing conditioner, in which case we would advise Aveda’s Rosemary Mint shampoo with Aveda’s Smooth Infusion conditioner – the combinations are endless.
There are, of course, many other salon brands available, we would advise that you look for products that are as natural as they can be and ensure you get a professional recommendation. Although they can seem expensive in comparison, they will improve the quality of your hair and can help prolong the colour, saving you money in the long run.
If you have any hair specific hair concerns you should always discuss this with your stylist who will give you have a personal recommendation. Our goal is for you to have healthy hair that looks great and leaves you feeling confident.