Budget Haircare Products: Expert Tips on Where to Splurge & Save
We spoke to two experts to find out where to splurge, and where to save your pretty pennies with budget haircare products.
Girl world is fun, but it sure is expensive. Haircare, makeup, skincare, self-care, and having a social life all add up, quickly turning into a significant chunk of our budget. Are they all necessary? Or can we skip out on the monthly manicure or the hundredth lip liner (don’t worry, we lose them the second we buy them, too)?
As a curly girl, one thing I spend a lot of time and money on is my hair. Buying salon-quality products to nourish my chronically dry locks and keep them shiny and curly has become a top priority of mine. Still, I can’t help but cringe every time I click ‘check out’ or tap my card on yet another pricy haircare product. Which got me wondering…do we really need to be spending hundreds of dollars on haircare products? Or can budget haircare do the trick?
I spoke to two haircare professionals to get their two cents. The short answer? It’s complicated. The long answer? Read on, my friend.
Kristy Midley, owner of Giggles Hair Salon and Revlon Professional stylist, tells Sitchu that salon products are truly worth the price.
“I only believe in haircare that is of salon quality because these products have been designed for targeted concerns that drive results and leave your hair feeling its best,” she says.
“The ingredients used are scientifically backed and are of a quality that will be gentle on your strands without skimping on results.”
South Australia and Western Australia Operations Manager for Price Attack and qualified hairdresser, Victoria Haynes, explains that coloured hair especially benefits from professional at-home treatments to enhance colour longevity.
“The difference in Professional Hair care is that when it's prescribed to you...by a haircare professional, you are addressing your hair concerns…with the correct ingredients to repair, moisturise and maintain your colour,” she points out.
However, while both professionals believe that salon quality haircare is better than budget options, that doesn’t necessarily rule the cheaper ones out. Kristy explains that it’s most important to focus on the ingredients the product is formulated with, rather than its price point.
“While higher priced haircare often contains higher quality ingredients like proteins and plant extracts for extra nourishment and help with specific hair concerns, it is becoming more common for affordable haircare also to feature the same,” Kristy says.
Kristy tells Sitchu the red flags to look out for when shopping for budget haircare are sulphates and silicones, which are cheaper ingredients that can damage the hair.
“There is a real ‘clean beauty’ movement toward products that are vegan, paraben and sulphate free,” Victoria says.
“You can definitely find gentler formulas at a lower price,” Kristy continues.
Best Budget Haircare: Affordable Shampoo
People Haircare Hydrate Shampoo, $16
The People Haircare Hydrate Shampoo is a nourishing, hydrating formula that feels like a tall glass of water for your hair. Free from parabens, sulphates, silicones and other harsh ingredients, this moisture-rich shampoo softens your hair and does it a world of good—especially if you find your strands tend to be on the drier side.
Ogx Nourishing + Hydrating Coconut Milk Shampoo, $19.99
A classic in the budget haircare world, Ogx delivers a coconut-infused dream with this shampoo. Designed to moisturise and strengthen damaged or dry hair, its blend of coconut milk, coconut oil, and whipped egg white proteins leaves your locks feeling healthier and smelling incredible.
Sukin Bond Build Repair Shampoo, $25
You can’t have healthy hair without healthy/strong, intact bonds. If you’ve gone a little too hard with the heat tools or colour treatment recently, chances are the bonds of your hair follicles may be damaged, which is exactly what the Sukin Bond Build Repair Shampoo aims to amend. With 94% naturally derived ingredients, this shampoo repairs and nourishes without any nasties, making it a must-have for damaged locks.
Best Budget Haircare: Affordable Hair Conditioner
People Haircare Hydrate Conditioner, $16
Pairing perfectly with the People Haircare Hydrate Shampoo, this conditioner is like the butter to its Vegemite. Comb it through wet hair after shampooing, leave it in for a few minutes, and voilà—silky, smooth strands await.
Tresemme Conditioner Cleanse & Replenish, $10.99
Struggling with hair that gets oily too quickly? Tresemme’s Cleanse & Replenish Conditioner is specifically designed for oily hair. Free from parabens, alcohols, and dyes, it nourishes your locks without weighing them down, leaving you with shiny, soft, and manageable hair.
Monday Smooth Conditioner, $10
Multi-award winning, cruelty-free, and free from parabens and sulphates, Monday Smooth Conditioner is a game-changer for curly, wavy, or frizzy hair. At an affordable price, this conditioner smooths out frizz while deeply hydrating your strands, making it a winner in budget haircare.
Invest in Treatments, Save on Products
While budget shampoos and conditioners can deliver clean and effective results, where should you splurge? Experts agree that hair treatments and masks deserve your investment.
“If you are someone with very damaged hair, I would definitely look at splurging on a really good hair mask for deeper nourishment and hydration,” says Kristy.
For coloured hair, treatments are essential. “A good-quality mask is crucial for maintaining colour longevity,” Victoria adds. She also suggests trying travel-size options of pricier products to test their suitability before committing.
Victoria shares a savvy tip: “Look for multi-functional products like AG Care’s Fast-Food leave on conditioner. It doubles as a mask and conditioner, letting you skip the conditioning step and save money.”
Best Budget Haircare: Affordable Hair Masks
Garnier Fructis Hair Food Nourishing Banana 3-in-1 Mask Treatment, $13.99
Affordable and effective, Garnier’s Banana 3-in-1 mask is a dream for dry hair. Leave it on for five minutes before conditioning, and your hair will be lusciously soft and hydrated.
Revlon RE/START Hydration Moisture Rich Mask, $27
Kristy recommends the RE/START Hydration Moisture Rich Mask from Revlon post-colour treatment thanks to its thorough moisturising benefits. Enriched with natural oils and extracts, it offers salon-quality care at a fraction of the cost.
Best Budget Haircare: Affordable Hair Oil & Hair Styling Products
While it’s important to be giving your hair the nourishment it needs through quality hair treatments, Kristy says it’s okay to save on your ‘everyday products.’ These include items like oils, heat protectants and detanglers.
“You can get away with a less targeted formula that still delivers exactly what you need.”
L'oreal Treatment Elvive Extra Ordinary Oil, $21.99
There’s a reason why this L’oreal Elvive Oil is called extraordinary. This versatile hair oil combines six flower oils—lotus, chamomile, Tiare flower, matricaria, rose, and flax. Perfect for styling or nourishment, a few pumps on your ends will leave your locks silky soft and full of life.
Schwarzkopf Extra Care Keratin Heat Protect Spray, $15
Keep your hair safe from heat damage with this Schwarzkopf classic. Enriched with keratin, it strengthens and smooths your hair, leaving it shiny, healthy, and ready to withstand the heat from styling tools.
Loved reading about the best budget haircare and want more hair and beauty advice? Continue your hair journey with the best hair masks in Australia right now, or treat yourself to some brand new skincare.
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