Love it or Leave it: The Best and Worst Shampoos and Conditioners

Message in a Bottle

Some say that all shampoos and conditioners, regardless of price, are created equally, whether they cost a buck or $80 (more on that to follow). The logic behind this argument is that, at the core, most shampoos are just detergent gussied up with a bunch of other ingredients that make them more desirable to consumers.

Which makes that pleather knock off you picked up on Canal Street just as good as the real thing. And the $69.95 Jimmy Choo for H & M gladiator sandal must be the same quality as the $600 Oak Street version. Oh, and MAC’s lipglass is no better than Wet n' Wild’s one dollar “Silk Finish.”

The truth is that inexpensive hair care products often call upon cheap ingredients, including cocamide MEA, a chemical lathering agent, as well as preservatives, fragrances and parabens.  Meaning, you get what you pay for.

So this week, we’ve rounded up the best and worst hair care products; shampoos and conditioners plucked from both the shelves of your local pharmacy and the pricey product boutique at your favorite salon.  

Love it! Ookisa Fortifying Shampoo and Replenishing Conditioner

Ookisa’s paraben-free, sulfate-free shampoo and color protecting conditioner left our hair soft, smooth and healthy looking. At $39.95 each this duo is far from cheap, and while we wish we could say it wasn’t worth the dough, it’s practically a beauty bargain given the shiny locks left behind.

According to the company, the shampoo is designed to Increase hair strength, reduce split ends, and prevent color fading.  And it works, which means we’ll be lucky to afford even a D-list knock-off of that new Gucci bag we’ve been coveting. Not to worry, we’re sure to find comfort in our A-list hair.

Leave it: Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner and Shampoo

At less than four dollars a bottle, this product is well within most budgets, but despite promising to moisturize hair, it left our locks dry and unruly. Plus, we’re not thrilled with the bargain basement ingredients listed on the bottles including parabens and sulfates.

Love it! Rusk Sensories’ Shampoo and Conditioner

Your dishwasher and your washer/dryer may very well run on “High Efficiency” products and now, thanks to Rusk, your hair can, too.  Rusk’s Compressed Formula Technology (CFT) promises to deliver all of the results while requiring 30% to 50% less product to get the job done.

Freshly colored locks will heartily approve of the Brilliance Grapefruit and Honey Color Protecting Leave-in Cream Conditioner ($13), a vitamin C packed product that seals in hair color. Another winner is the Full Green Tea & Alfalfa Bodifying Conditioner ($13). The Rusk Sensories collection is available at local salons as well as StyleSource.com.

Leave it: Burt’s Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar

We love Burt, truly we do, but this shampoo bar fell short ($6 at burtsbees.com). This bar just isn’t right for long locks, ladies. Meaning, unless you’re sporting a G.I. Jane ‘do, the Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar will leave you a tangled mess.

Love it! Neil George Intense Illuminating Shampoo ($22) and Conditioner ($24)

You know how your hair always looks best after a mind-blowing in-salon shampoo and  style? Well, the makers of Neil George have bottled that feeling. The collection is the brainchild of Amanda George and Neil Weisberg, founders of the Neil George salon in Beverly Hills.

The Intense Illuminating Shampoo is ideal for dry and colored hair while the paraben-free conditioner left our hair shiny, tangle-free and oh-so-pretty. Shop the collection at NeilGeorgeSalon.com or head to L.A. and stop by the salon in its 90210 naib.

Agree? Disagree? Tell us all about your favorite products. Post your own review at www.prettycity.com/product_reviews.cfm

Need more hair help?

Read our article, Expert Help for Damaged Hair.

Read our article: What is Sulfate-Free Shampoo?