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Exploring Drugstore Haircare Hey there, haircare buddies! Today, I am going to spill the beans on some awesome and not-so-awesome drugstore hair products. I will be sharing the lowdown on my top favorites that won my heart without breaking my wallet.
We will also discuss the less-than-great ones that you might want to avoid—the ones that left me disappointed. So continue reading if you are searching for reasonably priced hair care that genuinely works!
The Pantene Pro-V Shampoo is not the newest kid on the block, but a solid go-to. I have been searching for a shampoo that really gives my hair that clean feel. Most shampoos out there do an okay job, but I have noticed they do not always leave my hair feeling super fresh. So, I gave this classic a shot.
This shampoo brings back the basics with good cleansing ingredients, including sodium lauryl sulfate. Yep, the one some people are not a fan of. But you know what? Sometimes, you just need it to get the job done. Now, I am not saying use it every wash, but every now and then, it is good to clear out any build-up. This shampoo does the trick, thanks to ingredients like dimethicone and citric acid – they help balance things out.
Dimethicone, especially, swoops in to condition and counter any stripping effects from the sulfates. Long story short – my hair felt super clean after using it. Sometimes, you just need a straightforward shampoo that gets the job done.
I recently tried out the L’Oreal Sulfate-Free Shampoo, and I have got some thoughts to share. While I was excited about the sulfate-free formula, my main hope was that it would tackle buildup effectively. You see, some volumizing shampoos lack ingredients that condition and coat the hair, but unfortunately, this one did not quite hit the mark for me.
Despite having promising ingredients like citric acid, amodimethicone, and salicylic acid it did not work well on my scalp. If anything, I felt like my hair got greasier faster than usual. However, it is still not a bad shampoo. It just did not deliver that extra oomph or volume I was hoping for.
Let’s talk about the L’Oreal Curl Conditioner – and before you wonder, you do not necessarily need to have curly hair to give this one a go. Why? Well, at a chemical level, there is not much separating straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair. It is mostly a marketing thing, right?
This conditioner caught my eye, not just because of its potential for curls but because it proudly shows coconut oil on the label. And let me tell you, coconut oil is a rockstar ingredient for damaged hair. Another key player here is amodimethicone, and the creamy texture made it so soothing to apply.
Now, while it felt nice during application, I have to be honest – it did not top my list of L’Oreal conditioners. I am a fan of the Glossing Conditioner and the Bond Repair Conditioner.
This one is a duo boasting apple cider vinegar, colloidal oatmeal, and the much-loved Amo dimethicone. Now, these ingredients are known for promoting scalp health, which got me intrigued.
I have been noticing Amo dimethicone more frequently in drugstore products, and it has become a personal favorite. The standout feature for me with this Aveeno set, though, is the texture. Both the shampoo and conditioner feel silkier and smoother than many others I have tried, both high-end and drugstore.
Application-wise, it is a dream. The shampoo, in particular, had me going, “Whoa, this feels incredibly soft for a gel!” But here is the catch – despite the claim to clarify and add shine, it did not do much clarifying for my hair. In fact, it seemed to get greasier quicker. So, if you have a super greasy scalp, this might not be the one.
On the flip side, the conditioner was a star for me. It worked like a charm with my hair type, leaving it perfectly conditioned with no complaints. Price point aside, I am all about finding products that feel good and make my hair look good, and Aveeno nailed that for me.
Oh, and the scent? It is like a sweet candy apple and I am obsessed!
