Cheap Shampoo

We spoke to the pros to find out what they really think about online cheap shampoo trends

The internet is awash with hair hacks, and these often centre around ways to save money whilst achieving healthier hair. Most of these are on TikTok where followers are told healthy hair doesn't need to come at a price. Cheap shampoo enthusiasts claim there is very little difference between the ingredients found in high street brands and those found in designer products – disputing those who claim cheaper shampoos are full of harsh chemicals and ingredients. So, is this true? Should you be directing clients who can't afford pricier products towards cheaper brands, or will they end up paying for the damage in the long run?

What the Pros Think

"When it comes to choosing your shampoo, it is not necessarily about the price but the quality of the product and the beneficial ingredients. Professional or high-end products are superior in quality and therefore tend to come with a higher price point. Cheaper products often contain sulphates and chemicals that can strip your colour or even worse, dry out the hair and scalp. You will find that clients go through the product quicker. So, spending more money on a higher quality product is more cost effective and better all round for hair and scalp," says Teri Lowe, creative director at The Hair Surgery.

WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING YOUR SHAMPOO, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE PRICE BUT THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT AND THE BENEFICIAL INGREDIENTS

Barry Maddocks, UK creative director for Haringtons, agrees that quality is key. "I’m a true believer in you get what you pay for,” he says. “Of course, some shampoos are going to work better on different hair, but using a professional shampoo is always better. With professional products you can really tailor it to your client’s needs, not only do you get a product that’s had extensive research when it comes to the ingredients and performance, but if clients buy from a salon they also get that personalised recommendation from their stylist."

"Shampoos are designed to do a specific job: to get your hair and scalp clean. Cheap shampoo will do that, but the cheaper, supermarket or high street shampoos are mostly just detergents and water that remove the oil from your hair, and the pH is usually higher,” says Anne Veck, creative director for Anne Veck, Oxford. She adds that a professional shampoo usually contains higher quality ingredients, such as essential oils, plant or fruit extracts and botanicals. “Cheap shampoo is lower quality, as a result clients will end up using more, so it's a false economy.”

For the sustainabilityminded client, salon manager, Adam from Samuel Chapman Salon, adds that, "Most people don’t realise that a lot of the stabilisers and life prolonging ingredients within cheaper product brands are bad for the environment and bad for your hair. So by buying cheap, clients are just perpetuating the impact that the products have on not only their hair but also on our planet as well."

What Should I Tell Clients?

You can educate your clients about the difference between cheaper shampoos and professional brands, and explain that over time their hair will reap the benefits of purchasing better products. For clients who cite price as a factor it is important to let them know that in the long run, they will save money by opting for a professional brand – it might just be what gets them to rethink their buying habits.