heresyourshampoo.com

I have tried every salon shampoo around, as well as all of the chemist and supermarket brands, and as much as I hate to admit this, the salon. Formulas are generally better than the mass-market versions. After doing some research, I think I know why this is: to keep prices down, mass-market shampoos use cheap ingredients, which are usually harsh and lack the finesse of high-quality, ones. For example, I have yet to find a mass-market shampoo that doesn’t use harsh surfactants-usually sodium lauryl sulphate, but sometimes sodium layreth sulphate or ammonium laurel sulphate. One of these detergents is usually the first or second ingredient listed, meaning there is a high concentration of the ingredient. Salon products, on the other hand, are more likely to use gentle, more expensive detergents, such as sodium cocoyl isetheoinate, methyl cocoyl taurate, cocamidopropyl betaine, or cocamidopropylamine oxide. Many salon products also bury detergent in the middle of the ingredient list, meaning the shampoo isn’t as harsh and is less likely to strip hair of natural oils and cuticle bits.
Yet not everyone wants to spend too much on something that will be on their hair only a few seconds. To “healthy up” a mass-market shampoo, dilute it (try one part water to two parts shampoo) or use the recipe below to make it a bit less harsh, and a bit more conditioning.
If you’re on a limited budget, go ahead and buy a cheaper shampoo and reserve the rest of your hairdo cash for a top-of-the-range conditioner-a product that can make a huge difference to how your tresses behave.

Semi-home- made shampoo
• 2 teaspoon almond, sesame, avocado, or macadamia nut oil
• 1 tablespoon coconut milk or cow’s milk
• ¼ cup shampoo of choice (you can also use an equal amount of liquid castile soap
Combine ingredients in a bowl and whisk for 2 or 3 minutes, or add the ingredients to a blender and mix on low for 25 seconds. To use, wet hair and massage appropriate amount of the mixture into your roots. Rinse well. If desired, follow with your favorite conditioner. This makes enough for two shampoos. The remaining portion can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days.