Hi, ladies. Mainly a lurker, because I don't have much knowledge to contribute. I just soak it all in from you all. 
I don't spend a lot of money on beauty products, but hair is something of an exception. I used to go to Amoy's Beauty in New York and send $$$$ getting permed and curled. Then I got into grad school and started economizing. The last time I went to her was back in March. She told me, though, that to keep my hair up, I needed to use the Phytospecific line, especially their leave-in, because it was what all her clients used - not, as she said, that "Duane Reade crap."
That was fine with me, because for the most part, drugstore shampoo and conditioners were hot garbage on my hair. Pantene dried it out, I was never a big fan of the Loreal version of Kerastase, etc. So for months, I turned my pockets inside out to get my hands on Phyto, which to be fair, was lovely for my hair.
But! I've started noticing all these new lines in the drugstore. Dove has some new stuff out and Pantene has its new lines with fewer cones and such. And now I think I am in LOVE with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. I used that to C.O. and added a dollop of None of Your Frizzness. I wasn't expecting that much, but O-M-G. I look like I just blowdried my hair, and I'm 5 weeks post-relaxer! Seriously, not even Phyto made my hair feel this good this late in the game after a relaxer.
My roommate, who is Indian, said that she has noticed that since brands such as Nexxus and (bootleg) Redken and Paul Mitchell have started showing up in drugstores, the mainstay brands like Pantene and Garnier have had to bring more to the table in order to compete. Do you believe that this is a part of what's going on? Herbal Essences used to be hot mess on my hair, but Hello Hydration is like a breath of fresh air! And I sealed my ends with some of my roommate's Garnier Fructis long and strong leave in, and my hair looks fantastic. Maybe I won't be having to eat Ramen and stale bagels to support my "hair habit" after all!
I don't spend a lot of money on beauty products, but hair is something of an exception. I used to go to Amoy's Beauty in New York and send $$$$ getting permed and curled. Then I got into grad school and started economizing. The last time I went to her was back in March. She told me, though, that to keep my hair up, I needed to use the Phytospecific line, especially their leave-in, because it was what all her clients used - not, as she said, that "Duane Reade crap."
That was fine with me, because for the most part, drugstore shampoo and conditioners were hot garbage on my hair. Pantene dried it out, I was never a big fan of the Loreal version of Kerastase, etc. So for months, I turned my pockets inside out to get my hands on Phyto, which to be fair, was lovely for my hair.But! I've started noticing all these new lines in the drugstore. Dove has some new stuff out and Pantene has its new lines with fewer cones and such. And now I think I am in LOVE with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. I used that to C.O. and added a dollop of None of Your Frizzness. I wasn't expecting that much, but O-M-G. I look like I just blowdried my hair, and I'm 5 weeks post-relaxer! Seriously, not even Phyto made my hair feel this good this late in the game after a relaxer.
My roommate, who is Indian, said that she has noticed that since brands such as Nexxus and (bootleg) Redken and Paul Mitchell have started showing up in drugstores, the mainstay brands like Pantene and Garnier have had to bring more to the table in order to compete. Do you believe that this is a part of what's going on? Herbal Essences used to be hot mess on my hair, but Hello Hydration is like a breath of fresh air! And I sealed my ends with some of my roommate's Garnier Fructis long and strong leave in, and my hair looks fantastic. Maybe I won't be having to eat Ramen and stale bagels to support my "hair habit" after all!
. I had tons of body but it made my hair smooth and silky as well. I haven't yet posted a full review yet for everyone to read but it was better than any high priced leave in I have ever bought. Alot of hairstylist are also putting lines in drugstore too such as samy, marc antony, charles worthington and so on which I believe is giving pantene and etc.. competition too. I also think that when pantene but out the relaxed/natural line, other lines got to see that black consumers spend lots of money on haircare and that overall consumers are becoming more and more savvy so now they make better products because they see that but appealing to more than one "ethnic" market, they can really increase profits.
Sorry, that is the way it read to me.
) For the person who asked my hair type, I'm 4 a/b, one inch from bra-strap length.
