Stylin' on a Budget

I think we can all appreciate the convenience and, more importantly, the price point of drugstore brand hair products.  But do you always get what you pay for?  In the back of our minds, we question the quality of drugstore brand products as well as the affect the products will have on the health of our hair.

Drugstore brands are able to keep their prices low because they spend less in areas that in no way affect the quality of the product, such as packaging and marketing. However, quality is compromised when they choose their active ingredients in most cases. Professional grade products are loaded with natural and superior ingredients, sourced from all over the world. Drugstore ingredients, which are synthetic instead of natural, are typically mass produced in labs and factories.

So, are the inexpensive products ineffective and horrible for the health of your hair? No. Through trial and error, I've found many of the the drugstore brand hair products to perform just as well as professional products.  And in regards to the health of your hair, products do not make it to the shelves if they're believed to cause hair loss, cancer, scalp irritation, or any other red flag symptoms.  

For most people, I recommend using a minimum of three products in their post-shampoo regimen. A prep product is used to prepare the hair for styling by evening porosity, detangling, and providing thermal protection. A styling product gives the hair its memory and hold, such as a gel, mousse, or styling creme. And finally, the finishing product is used to enhance and preserve the style.  Find your hair type below and the three drugstore products that I recommend for you!  Your wallet will thank you!

Thin & Straight

Prep

L'Oreal Boost It Blow Out Heat Spray $3.99

Lift it. Boost it. Own it. L'Oreal Advanced Hairstyle Boost It Blow Out Heat Spray is a high-performance, lightweight heat spray that offers lasting volume and heat protection to achieve your ideal blow out. Specially formulated to work with the heat of your blow dryer, or any heat tool, this unique formula helps protect from heat damage and infuses volume for a full, touchable blow out that lasts.

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Style

Got2b Fat-tastic $5.99

Got2b Fat-Tastic Thickening Plumping Mousse is for a fast fix. This revolutionary thickening mousse is infused with collagen to make your hair feel instantly thicker, denser and full of body and life. The collagen formula also adds elasticity for overall strong, lush hair that holds style all day long.

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Finish

Aussie Aussome Volume $3.49

Lock up your knockout look! Even if you're always on the go, that gorgeous style won't go anywhere. Didn't hear that? Well then let's turn up the volume! Accented with natural Australian ginger and hops, Aussome Volume Hair Spray keeps the volume up. The neighbors will either complain or want to join the party. 

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Thin & Curly

Prep

Pantene Moisture Mist Detangler $3.99

Pantene's Pro-V Moisture Mist Detangler contains a moisture protection complex that helps leave hair feeling moisturized. It detangles, smoothes, and separates strands.  And while prepping for styling, it also protects against damage. 

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​Style

Pantene Curl Defining Mousse $3.99

Define your curls with this mousse from Pantene. It contains lightweight polymers that separate and boost curls while guarding against frizz. Curls are soft, defined and manageable, even in high humidity.

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Finish

 PTREsemme Curl Locking Styling Spray $3.99

This non-aerosol hairspray for curly hair helps hair resist humidity and lock in curls. The result is ringlets or waves and extra hold for beautiful definition. Perfect for touchable, scrunchable tresses!

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Medium & Straight

Prep

Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-in Conditioner $4.79

Protect those precious dos against damage with the ultimate softening and strengthening spray. Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner Spray keeps your bouncy mane strong, soft, and better protected. Winner of Teen Vogue Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards.

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​Style

TREsemme Thermal Creations Mousse $5.99

TREsemme has created a vitamin-enriched product that boosts volume, styles and protects. It's specially formulated to work with heat appliances. The unique polymers melt in the range of heat making your hair more flexible and easy to style while using your blow dryer. When the heat is removed, these amazing polymers solidify to hold your voluminous style in place.

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​Finish

Not Your Mother's Double Take $6.19

Double Take Dry Finish Texture Spray will definitely make people look twice because it has the secret that gives your hair texture, shape, body, and volume without a wet, sticky mess. This distinctive finishing spray, infused with quinoa, keratin, silk, and aloe leaf juice, will give your hair a unique grip so you can create instant fullness but keep the natural movement of your hair.

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Medium & Curly

Prep

Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Silkening Detangler $4.19

Enrich your hair and unravel unruly strands with Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Silkening Detangler. This rich formula infuses hair with moisture, hydrating shafts from root to tip and leaves curls silky, manageable, and tangle-free. While packaged in a convenient spray bottle for easy, all-over application, you'll also love the Tropical Mystique fragrance that stimulates the senses!

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​Style

Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Cream $5.99

Don't let your sad waves & curls get you all in a knot. Kinky Moves help encourage natural curls by giving them that extra oomph they so desperately need. It eliminates frizz and flyaways to show your true locks who's boss! Infused with natural grape seed and jasmine, this salon formula will add that extra bounce to your step and your hair.

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Finish

OGX Moroccan Sea Salt Spray $5.99

Tousle your strands to sexy perfection with this weightless leave-in surf mist. Texturizing sea salt adds fullness and moisturizing sea kelp and Moroccan argan oil adds shine for perfectly undone, breezy, beach- bombshell waves. Like all other Organix products, the Moroccan Surf Collection is packaged in eco-friendly bottles manufactured from materials containing recycled post-consumer resin. Organix is for all of us who aspire to make better choices and are aware of the integrity of ingredients. It contains exotic active ingredients and uses a unique blend of sulfate-free surfactants.  Plus, they smell absolutely amazing. 

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Thick & Staight

Prep

Suave Pro Keratin Infusion Leave-in Conditioner $4.99

Defend your hair against heat without giving up your favorite heat styling tools. Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Heat Enriched with Suave KERALOCK® Technology, this leave-in conditioner infuses keratin into hair fibers to moisturize and help defend during heat styling. It also seals cuticles for up to 48-hour frizz control for smooth, manageable hair that is easy to style. Suave Keratin Infusion leave-in conditioner is salon-proven to moisturize as well as Kérastase® Resistance, the professional rival.

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Style

Pantene Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip $4.99

Pantene's Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip contains a moisture protection complex that acts like hair's natural lipid layer to leave hair feeling moisturized for up to 48 hours and protect hair from heat styling damage in just one use.  By regulating your hair's natural moisture, it creates silky hair that shines.

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Finish

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray $4.29

All-day humidity resistance with natural bamboo extract. Provides bounce-back hold as well as long-lasting hold with natural, healthy-looking movement. Selected for its strength, suppleness, and resilience, bamboo bends but never breaks. Smoothing properties wrap hair strands to create an instant barrier against frizz for an ultra strong hold that gives your hair shine and smoothness, even with moisture in the air, all day, every day.

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​Thick & Curly

Prep

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk $7.99

Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk for thick, curly hair detangles, controls curls, and protects hair from heat and chemical damage. Enriched with Silk Protein and Neem Oil, this all-natural conditioner strengthens hair, reduces breakage, smoothes, and imparts amazing shine for bouncy, healthy-looking curls.

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Style

OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream $7.29

Beauty pure and simple.  A moisturizing and lavish cream which instantly penetrates the hair shaft with exotic pure Moroccan argan oil to revive and define curls.   It's the perfect indulgence for soft, seductive, silky perfection.  Enter the frizz-free zone while protecting your hair from harmful styling heat and UV damage. It gives greater definition, bounce, and shine. This rare formula has a centuries-old history of providing natural vitamin E and antioxidants while renewing your hair's cell structure, sealing in shine, and creating lush softness.

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Finish

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray $5.39

Curl perfecter transforms wilted waves and curls into sexy swerves, curves and spirals. 
Alcohol-free formula leaves hair super silky and never crispy. The innovative magnesium-enriched formula penetrates hair to restore elasticity and spring. Boosts and enhances your natural curl pattern. Special conditioning and glossing agents help fight frizz and leave hair glistening with healthy-looking shine. 

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