looking for a good moisturising shampoo

[Nick75]

I'm looking for a decent moisturising shampoo (and a conditioner that will complement it) which won't leave my hair really dry after washing it. On the days I wash my hair it becomes a real pain to style properly as it just becomes so dry after my hair has dried out, almost like hay.. My hair today actually reminded me of the texture of my super badger shaving brush it was that dry and overly-soft. To be honest, I don't particularly want long soft shiny hair like the female models on the shampoo commercials..I'm just some bloke with short hair...

I just want to be able to style my hair properly after washing it, and not for it to just sit on my head doing nothing.. (I use brylcreem or gel to style it after I've worked a bit of water through it in the morning). I find that a little bit of the hair's natural oils helps this process greatly, and generally my hair looks better 1 or 2 days after washing it. I only wash my hair 2-3 times a week, as personally I feel that too much shampooing isn't good for my hair in the long run, in the sense that it would just keep it far too dry if I were to wash it every day. Some people may disagree with this, but if you have hair which is naturally quite thick and dry, then I think you would be able to see my point.

Basically I just want a shampoo (and conditioner) that I would be able to use possibly more frequently due to it having better moisturising properties. I find that there are a lot of shampoos out there that claim to moisturise dry hair, yet do nothing of the sort. They're good at cleansing it, at making it look 'shiny' maybe, but not at moisturising it. I've mainly used Pantene shampoo/conditioners over the past few years and find that they are probably a lot more suitable for women/men who have long hair, and not someone with short hair that is carefully styled and needs a lot more 'hold'. They make my hair too dry and it just becomes a nightmare to style properly in that state, meaning that I basically have to apply a whole load of water to my hair in order to style it (i.e. like totally drenching my hair under the tap)...and then it just flops all over the place as it has become far too soft and stripped too much of its natural oils after shampooing/conditioning. These shampoos like Pantene claim to do all these good things to your hair, but in effect they simply can't cleanse your hair without stripping it too much of its natural oils in the process. And when dry hair is stripped too much of its natural oils, it becomes too thick and very difficult to gain 'control' over..

Anyhow, any comments/recommendations would be much appreciated.

[bearbeard]

Aveda makes a good shampoo and conditioner called Scalp benefits that works wonderfully. It has always left my hair feeling soft, not dry or brittle or oily. The shampoo itself supposedly balances out the PH levels on your scalp and hair so you dont get any flaking from your scalp but also your hair feels great. The only shampoo I have ever tried that really does the trick for dandruff. But like I said my hair feels great too. And I really had a problem with swimmer's hair due to swimming laps 4-5x a week. They also sell a Scalp benefits serum that you can leave in your hair like a leave in conditioner as well. I use this on a daily basis most times and it has really moisturized and nourished my hair.

[ratcheer]

My two favorites are Pantene Pro V (which comes in several types, including an extra moisturizing formula) and Suave Humectant, which is both inexpensive and excellent. I believe the Suave was formulated to be similar to the much more expensive Nexxus.

Tim

[rikrdo]

Pert Plus.
Try it...You'll like it. :wink:
You're already using Brylcreem...my next recommendation.

[Scotto]

Once I started using Nancy Boy shampoo and conditioner, I noticed a substantial improvement in my hair quality. Great stuff.

[TraderJoe]

Avalon Organics Laveder Shampoo & Conditioner :thumbup:

Not only is this stuff moisturizing, but you'll find you can use it every day, as it doesn't have harsh chemicals and does not strip your hair of its oils. Rather gentle, yet effective.

[1 st class mail]

Try mama bear's shampoo it works for me and I have very dry hair and can shampoo every day with it. I also use Brylcream and have an easy time styling my hair. Mama Bear's shampoo is the best I have ever used.

[joea527]

I have found that dry hair and dry skin usually come from the inside. Try drinking more water. Take some omega fatty acid supplements (the gel caps are easy to take and work well) and use olive oil in your cooking. Use a mild shampoo like a baby shampoo.
It's funny when you have a dog and his coat is dry the first place you look is his/hers diet. Yet in humans we look to add something externally. The cosmetics industry is always trying to create demand. I'm sure a lot of the products are good and work fine but the don't treat the cause.

Joe

[LorenzoJunkie]

I've gotta agree with Scotto. If moisterizing is what you need, you'll definitely be happy with Nancy Boy shampoo and conditioner.

[Austin]

California North makes a very nice shampoo/conditioner. I don't find this brand mentioned very often but they make great products.

[chop-chop]

I have found that dry hair and dry skin usually come from the inside. Try drinking more water. Take some omega fatty acid supplements (the gel caps are easy to take and work well) and use olive oil in your cooking. Use a mild shampoo like a baby shampoo.
It's funny when you have a dog and his coat is dry the first place you look is his/hers diet. Yet in humans we look to add something externally. The cosmetics industry is always trying to create demand. I'm sure a lot of the products are good and work fine but the don't treat the cause.

Joe

Good advice on the nutritional side, Joe! :thumbup:

Baby shampoo has a very high PH, and as adults, we'll do much better with lower PH cleansing products. Aveda, which has already been mentioned is a very good product line. I often showered after doing laps... washed my hair, put conditioner on, and went into the sauna for a few minutes.

If you have dry hair/scalp, more frequent washing, and really massaging the scalp would help tremendously.

I would hazard a guess that your gel is what may be drying your hair out. I'm sure that if you read the label, alcohol is going to be listed as one of the first ingredients. That said, here's some information about alcohol:


In cosmetic labeling, the term "alcohol," used by itself, refers to ethyl alcohol. Cosmetic products, including those labeled "alcohol free," may contain other alcohols, such as cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl, or lanolin alcohol. These are known as fatty alcohols, and their effects on the skin are quite different from those of ethyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol, which some consumers may think of as drying the skin, is rarely used in cosmetics.

Shopping for products may take a bit longer, but reading the labels may help you out in the long run. :wink2:

chop-chop

[bananimus]

Hair type (curly, coarse, straight, thin, etc) and color may influence your choice, but I would try to pair a very gentle shampoo (or a genuinely moisturizing one) with the strongest possible conditioner.

Also, as mentioned before, certain styling products can dry out or damange hair.

Having a similar problem, I've tried almost all of the supermarket standards, and have been met with little to no success. I would start by looking at the following brands, though. I haven't tried Nancy Boy, but have heard good things. Also, mixing brands won't (shouldn't?) make your hair fall out. :smile:

Lush
Philosophy
Kiehl's
Nancy Boy

Additionally, I'm sure that there a bevy of other, smaller companies out there with quality product lines. The best advice I can provide is to read up on the various products out there, as well ask around about the ones that you are considering. Good luck.

[chop-chop]

Nick,

I should have mentioned this previously... hair salons or barbershops usually carry very fine product lines... and, the stylist or barber is knowledgeable about them. Relying on their recommendation is a lot easier than standing in the hair care aisle of any other type of store, looking at a wall of products, trying to decide which ones to buy.

Typically, you won't find the same products in grocery stores, pharmacies, discount, or retail stores. In general, by the time the product reaches their shelves, it is often not the formula that was originally created to be sold in salons/shops.

chop-chop

[bordeaaj]

Kind of goofy but I read some head-to-head review of several brands and types of shampoos in one of my wife's beauty magazines that had results showing those L'Oreal children's shampoos that come in colorful bottles with eyes on them and look like some kind of fish performed as well or better than most of the very expensive, high-end brands for a fraction of the cost. Surprised the hell out of the reviewers. They only cost a couple of bucks each, have various fruity smells, and come in different formulations for different hair types. I used them for about a year or so after reading the review and they do work as well as my wifes fancy stuff (Philosophy, etc) on my own hair at least. I am not sure how well it will work when used with your regimen of 3-4 days worth of Brylcreem between washings, but, if you're just some bloke with short hair who just wants something that works well but who doesn't need anything fancy or expensive one of these might be a good option to try out.
http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/92/a2/Loreal_Kids_2-in-1_Shampoo_in_Strawberry_Smoothie-resized200.jpg

[AJCFD]

I love Bumble and Bumble products they make an incrediable styling creme but the shampoo I use is Creme de Coco.
AJ

[bordeaaj]

I love Bumble and Bumble products they make an incrediable styling creme but the shampoo I use is Creme de Coco.
AJ

Is the styling creme you like the one called SumoTec? I have heard it works well and have been curious to try it.