Drugstore Hair Products That Rival Luxury Brands

3. Scalp treatments

Dandruff is not a glamorous category; nor is product buildup or an itchy, sensitive scalp. Solutions for these concerns are not usually prominently displayed on vanities or in the bathroom. They don’t get a lot of influencer endorsements, either. But they are a major five-star niche for drugstore hair care. These shampoos, scrubs and scalp treatments are effective at banishing flakes, and they soothe and improve sensitivity literally at the root of hair problems.

Naturally, there are pricey versions of scalp exfoliators and serums, and some brands offer trial minis for less, but the most practical and effective option is to stick with drugstore brands. The choices range from thorough but gentle shampoos like Head & Shoulders Bare Soothing Hydration Silicone-Free Dandruff Shampoo ($12, cvs.com), which reduces flakes with zinc pyrithicone; circulation-stimulating scalp scrubs like Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp Scrub ($11, walgreens.com) that reduce buildup; and pampering scalp oils like Shea Moisture Rosemary & Vegan Collagen Strengthening Scalp & Hair Oil ($11, ulta.com) to rev up circulation; and Eva & Avo Avocado Scalp Oil Treatment ($11, cvs.com) to soothe.

(From left) SGX NYC Multitasker 7-in-1 Leave- In Treatment; Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer for Fine Hair.

Meiko Takechi Arquillos

4. Leave-in conditioners and heat protectants

Anyone who uses a blow-dryer, curling iron, flat iron or hot rollers needs extra moisture and heat protection. That’s why leave-in conditioners have changed from an “extra” to an essential for women with dry, thirsty hair. While high-tag brands like R + Co, Alterna Caviar and IGK do have leave-ins, drugstore brands rule this category with their own multitasking formulas.

To clarify: A leave-in conditioner is meant to be used in addition to regular conditioner, not instead of it. Applied to damp, freshly shampooed hair, it detangles and extends your regular conditioner’s moisturizing benefits. Some leave-in conditioners are also heat protectants, others are not.

My advice? Choose formulas that do all three, like John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioner ($9, target.com); SGX NYC Multitasker 7-in-1 Leave-In Treatment ($10, cvs.com); and Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer for Fine Hair ($15, walgreens.com). You’ll also get ingredient boosts from antioxidant vitamins and botanical extracts, which reduce drying time and control frizz. It will be worth the extra two minutes it takes to apply.  

(From left) Pantene Miracle Rescue Regenerative Hair Oil; L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Glossing Lamination Mask.

Meiko Takechi Arquillos

5. Shine makers

Hair that shines looks healthy. Unfortunately, that naturally glossy finish diminishes with age, and chemical processing and heat styling can diminish the wow factor of even the greatest cut or color.

Products that fake a glossier, glow-boosting look are trending at every price. Expensive brands such as Moroccanoil, Bumble and Bumble and Lolavie are known for their excellent oil treatments, but these goodies range from $30 to $60. Does that mean go ahead and splurge? Not necessarily, especially now that research and development teams for affordable hair products have taken charge.

Oils, especially argan and argan blended with other oils like grapeseed and jojoba, are the big trend. Not only are they not oily to the touch (they have more of the silky feel of serums), these shine generators can also be used on dry or damp hair after shampooing. This should quash the fears of women, especially those with fine or thin hair, who shy away from oils, fearing a greasy mess.

Depending on the brand and formula, hair oils are applied like a face serum (you only need a couple of drops), or misted sparingly for an instant nongreasy sheen. Sprays like OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Weightless Healing Dry Oil ($11, ulta.com) and serums like Pantene Miracle Rescue Regenerative Hair Oil ($14, cvs.com) and Tresemmé Lamellar Gloss Oil ($7, walgreens.com) add polish, eliminate flyaways and the frizzies, and temporarily mend split ends. For another better-than-luxury option, consider a low-cost, at-home, in-shower glossing treatment. L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Glossing Lamination Mask ($10, target.com) delivers impressive salon-quality results in five minutes.

6. Hair strengtheners

Anyone who colors or straightens their hair knows it feels fragile, is more prone to damage and breakage, and has low porosity. (The latter means the hair cuticle is frayed in spots, causing products to not absorb well and take longer to dry.) The premium brand Olaplex kicked off the current stronger-hair trend with its “bond-building” formula designed to repair and restore hair that’s been broken down and weakened by chemical color and relaxing treatments. The concept has mushroomed as more women over 50 decide to grow their hair or keep it long.

That’s because the longer (and older) the hair, the weaker and more damaged it tends to be. While Olaplex and brands like K18, Aveda and Joico continue to emphasize bond-building, they do cost between $30 to $75. Low-cost brands have joined the competition with their own restructuring shampoos and conditioners. 
Great examples are SheaMoisture Amla Oil Bond Repair Conditioner ($15, walgreens.com); L'Oréal EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Strengthening Shampoo ($10, cvs.com); Pantene Pro-V Miracles Bond Repair Keratin + Vitamin E Conditioner ($10, target.com); and Garnier Fructose Hair-Filler Moisture Repair Gel-Creme ($10, ulta.com). Although the latter does not say “bond repair” on the label, that is precisely what it does.

7. Repair masks

Meiko Takechi Arquillos

(From left) Dove Hyaluronic + Moisture 10-in-1 Serum Hair Mask; Native Strengthening Hair Mask Almond & Shea Butter.

Like a conditioner on steroids, a hair mask can revive hair that looks dull, damaged, frizzy or dry. You might say, “Hair masks have always been around, so what’s the big deal?” First, low-cost brands have challenged what used to be a messy, time-consuming “spa night” ritual and made hair masks a quick in-shower routine. Applied in place of a regular conditioner, they take just a few minutes to work. Expensive hair brands do, of course, continue to feature appealing creamy masks that sell from $30 to $50 or more, and like pricey shampoos and conditioners, they smell great and look cool sitting around your bathroom. But think twice.

Those you may want to try include Suave Bonding Infusion Repairing Hair Mask 1-Minute ($6, walgreens.com) with amino acids (there’s that bonding benefit again!); Dove Hyaluronic + Moisture 10-in-1 Serum Hair Mask ($12, cvs.com), which works in one minute to restore deeply damaged hair and even the most heat-trashed highlights; and Native Strengthening Hair Mask Almond & Shea Butter ($10, target.com), which rescues brittle hair from frizz in three to five minutes. These light yet intensive formulas, and their short wait time, appeal to women with short crops and bobs who used to skip intensive conditioning, and also to women with long hair who like multitasking shower benefits.