Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post with Very.co.uk. I was sent these Premium Hair Care products to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. See more information here.
My hair has always been a royal pain in my side. It’s not straight, it’s not really properly curly, in the humid weather it gets very big and as I get older it’s changing so what worked before doesn’t necessarily now. Added into the mix that regular gym-going has lead to daily washing, which definitely hasn’t improved the condition.
I decided to trial three premium hair care products from Very.co.uk for my slightly ageing hair, and see if they could be my saviour!
Is paying for premium hair care products worth the investment?
I’ve long been on the fence about premium hair care products. Although there are loads of people that swear by expensive products to keep their hair looking sleek, glossy and well managed, others wonder if paying more for premium hair care is a waste, whether budget options get the job done just as effectively and it’s really just an Emperor’s New Clothes type thing.
Before reviewing the products individually, I thought it might be useful to look at the differences between budget and premium hair care products, examining popular brands like the ones I’ve been trying from Very.co.uk; COLOR WOW, Hairburst and Olaplex.
Budget vs. Premium Hair Care
Ingredients and formulation
- Budget Shampoo and Conditioner: Budget-friendly hair care products often contain basic ingredients that cleanse and condition the hair. These ingredients often include sulfates and silicones, which can strip the hair of its natural oils and cause buildup over time.
- Premium Hair Care Products: Premium hair care brands typically use higher-quality ingredients, such as natural oils, botanical extracts, and advanced formulations which target specific hair concerns, for example colour protection, hydration for dry hair, repair for damaged hair, products especially for curly hair etc. These ingredients can be gentler on the hair and provide additional benefits beyond basic cleansing and conditioning, such as moisture and shine. For example, the COLOR WOW COCO-MOTION Lubricating Conditioner that I tried contains coconut oil, marula oil and profaxil 18 complex. Now, I don’t actually know what profaxil 18 is, and when I googled it, the only results that came up was the COLOR WOW COCO-MOTION Lubricating Conditioner so I’m none the wiser there, it could be entirely made up for all I know, but the other ingredients (coconut oil and marula oil) are known for adding shine without weighing hair down.
Performance
- Budget Shampoo and Conditioner: While budget-friendly options can effectively cleanse and condition the hair, they may not deliver noticeable improvements in hair health or appearance over time. Results can vary depending on individual hair types and concerns.
- Premium Hair Care Products: Premium hair care products tend to offer superior performance and results compared to budget options. They may provide noticeable benefits such as enhanced shine, increased hydration, less tangling and improved manageability.
Price and availability
- Budget Shampoo and Conditioner: The most obvious difference between budget and premium hair care is the price. Budget-friendly hair care products are typically more affordable, with the average bottle of shampoo or conditioner costing between two and five pounds, and they can often be found on offer in local supermarkets.
- Premium Hair Care Products: Premium hair care products often come with a higher price tag due to their quality ingredients, advanced formulations, and targeted treatments. They’re also more likely to be stocked only by salons or specialist online retailers.
Hairburst Shampoo, £15 for 350ml
This is for ‘longer, stronger hair’, and claims to enhance volume. It has over 95% natural ingredients including amino acids, wheat proteins and vitamin B5.
Hairburst shampoo has a pleasant, fresh but not overpowering scent to it, of avocado and coconut, and a non-sticky formula. I noticed that it lathered really well, so unlike other shampoos I’ve used I really didn’t need a lot of product to clean my hair.
I felt it cleaned my hair very well, however after a week of use I have not noticed that my hair has increased volume and in terms of breakage.
CURL WOW Coco-Motion Conditioner, £26 for 295ml
CURL WOW Coco-motion lubricating conditioner from COLOR WOW claims to restore fluidity and elasticity for springy curls. It contains coconut oil, marula oil and the mysterious ‘Profaxil 18 complex’. It doesn’t contain silicones or drying alcohol. It is applied onto damp hair, and then rinsed after five minutes for a deep conditioning treatment. I thought I’d give it a try and see what it could do to my naturally wavy hair.
It wasn’t heavy or sticky, and I felt my hair was nourished after the treatment. However if you have long or thick hair, you won’t get that many treatments out of the tub, as you probably need to use quite a bit each time.
Olaplex No 9 Bond Protector Hair Serum, £28 for 90ml
Olaplex is a premium hair care hair treatment that has gained popularity in recent years, particularly among people who have bleached or damaged hair. I’ve had it recommended to me by my hairdresser and was excited to try the products outside of the salon, at home.
Here’s a bit more about Olaplex and its benefits:
- Bond Multiplying Technology: Olaplex works by repairing and strengthening the disulfide bonds within the hair shaft. These bonds can become damaged during processes such as colouring, bleaching, or heat styling. Olaplex’s patented ‘Bond Multiplying Technology’ helps to rebuild these bonds, restoring the hair’s strength and integrity.
- Versatility: Olaplex can be used as a standalone treatment or added to color and lightening formulas during salon services. It helps to minimize damage and breakage, allowing for more dramatic color transformations without compromising the hair’s health.
- Results: Users often report significant improvements in hair texture, strength, and overall health after incorporating Olaplex into their hair care routines. It can help reduce frizz, increase shine, and prolong the life of color treatments.
- Compatibility: Olaplex is compatible with all hair types and textures, making it suitable for virtually anyone looking to improve the condition of their hair.
- At-Home Maintenance: In addition to salon treatments, Olaplex offers at-home maintenance products, including shampoos, conditioners, and treatments, to help prolong the benefits of the in-salon service.
This Olaplex serum goes on washed, towel-dried hair to soften and improve manageability, detangling and shine. It can be used for straight, air-dried or diffused wavy/curly hair.
I have used all three products for two weeks
I’ve mainly used it before air drying/scrunching my hair (but not diffusing or curling, this is as basic as it gets!).
I’ve also used it on blow dried/straightened hair (Yes, straightened. My hair doesn’t like being straight) and I feel like the Olaplex serum is better for this. I prefer the weightlessness of cheaper hair serums for creating curls/waves.
Of the three products, my favourite is the HairBurst shampoo, which also happens to be the cheapest! I like the way my hair feels after it’s been washed and it doesn’t leave any residue. In general though, I’m pretty happy with how my hair has been using the premium hair care products.