Expensive Shampoo and Conditioner versus Cheap – Is There Really a Difference?

You’ve seen those bottles of shampoo and conditioner that sell for $20 and up. And then you’ve seen those $1.89 bottles at your local retailer. It’s hard not to wonder if the difference in quality is really that significant.

Is there really a difference between the expensive shampoo and conditioner and the cheap stuff?

First, it helps to know just what shampoo and conditioner are all about.

Shampoo

The purpose of shampoo – no matter what the advertisers say – is to wash your hair. It’s supposed to clean your hair and scalp, removing dirt, oil, dust, and whatever other matter you don’t want there. Like washing your hands, washing your hair is supposed to clean it. This may seem super-obvious, but think about it – advertisers have everyone believing that hair care is all about what the shampoo puts into your hair. If the shampoo has any cleaning power at all, then it’s not leaving much of anything behind.

Conditioner

The purpose of conditioner is to add moisture to your hair, and other ingredients that help reduce frizz. Conditioner can also protect your hair from damage to an extent by making it more supple. That’s really it. So why do some conditioners cost a fortune? Like shampoo, it has a lot to do with the ingredients…

Ingredients: Vitamins, Minerals and Proteins

A lot of shampoos and conditioners are more expensive because they have so many “special” ingredients. From exotic oils and fragrances to magical ingredients said to repair split ends, shampoos and conditioners all seem to be trying to outdo each other. The more of these ingredients are added, the higher the price.

So How Can You Find a Quality Shampoo and Conditioner?

Even if you are confident that you don’t want to spend on fortune on shampoo and conditioner, quality is still important and it does matter. But you don’t have to spend a lot to get good quality. For example, some sources suggest steering clear of shampoos and conditioners with sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and the like. These are considered harsh detergents that can damage hair.

Other sources say that you should avoid dimethicones (and any chemical ending in “cone”) in your shampoo and conditioner. But you can find good quality products that do not have these chemicals or the harsh detergents. Just read the ingredient lists in the inexpensive shampoo and conditioner aisle!

So using a quality product to clean and condition your hair makes sense. But spending a whole lot of money on “miracle” products doesn’t.