I've recently been getting my hair highlighted -- I very much like the look. Unfortunately, the process leaves my hair extremely dry, and living in Colorado's zero humidity certainly doesn't help any. I've been using Thermasilk products for a while, but even the "moisturizing" ones have no benefit. Any recommendations for shampoos/conditioners/etc. that will work for my situation? I prefer not to use products with silicones in them.
I'd guess that salon products are probably better than drugstore products. If you can provide any pointers to web sites selling salon products, that would be great. Thanks.
It seems most everything out on the market contains silicones. I have read rave reviews about the professional line, L'Anza, and its shampoo specifically formulated for long hair, but when I went to a salon to check the stuff out, it was VERY expensive and silicones were very high on the list of ingredients. I left it on the shelf. I mean, dimethicone is *still* dimethicone and sodium lauryl sulphate is *still* sodium lauryl sulphate whether in L'Anza or Suave, right? They're the same ingredients.
My hair is not chemically treated but is naturally somewhat dry and coarse since it is about 75% grey. My personal current favorite shampoo/conditioner combination is CitréShine Revitalizing Shampoo and Reconstructing Conditioner. The shampoo does contain dimethicone, but it is about ½ way down on the list of ingredients. From what I can tell, the conditioner contains no silicones at all.
You might also want to try Redmond's Aussie products. I don't think their shampoos contain silicones. I like their Aussie Mega shampoo, too, and their 3 Minute Miracle conditioner is good.
Through personal experience, I have yet to be convinced that professional hair care products are "better" than the stuff you can buy at grocery and drug stores. Personally, I say what is "best" for any one person's hair is what makes it feel and look best for that particular person. If professional products work, then by all means, buy them and use them. If some cheap generic brand makes your hair look like a million bucks, then why spend more money than you really have to?
I am using these Kava products. the ingredients are:
Shampoo:
Extract of kava, Kelp, Seaweed, Watercress, Sage, Soapbark, Rosemary, Nettles, Chamomile, Rosemary and Honey, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Cocomide Dea, Lauramide Dea, Glucose Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Protein, Soy Protein, Lecithin,Hydrolyzed Keratin, Coconut Milk, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Palm Kernel Oil, Glycol Stearate and other Ingredients, Panthenol, Vitamin A & D, Vitamin E, Allantoin, Glycerin, Fragrance, Phosphoric Acid, Octyl Dimethyl PABA, DMDM Hydantoin.
Conditioner:
Extracts of Kava, Kelp, Seaweed, Watercress, Peppermint, Chamomile and Lemongrass, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Polyquatemium-11, Polysorbate-20, Olealkonium Chloride, Palm Kernel Oil, Jojoba Oil, Coconut MIlk, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Awaphuhi, Sunflower Oil, Polyquatemium-7, Octyl Dodecanol, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, FD&C Yellow No.5, Octyl Dimethyl PABA, Fragrance.
It has a lot of different ingredients, and I don't think any of them are silicone. It really is very conditioning. Good luck!