Salon-worthy haircare products can be exorbitant, with some going for almost $100 for a tiny bottle of conditioner or serum.
But hairstylists across America are split on whether a high price point means superior styling – especially as normal folks peruse the internet for perfect copycats that won’t break the bank but will still lead to glossy, shiny locks.
One of the brands most often duped by drugstores is Kérastase.
Products in the French luxury hair and scalp care line run from $40 to $60, and are widely beloved by hairdressers.
Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Blake Lively and Kate Middleton are all fans, as well.
But many beauty lovers swear that L’Oréal – the namesake brand Kérastase’s parent company, L’Oréal Group – makes the exact same offerings for a mere fraction of the price.
Now, haircare experts are opening up to the Daily Mail and revealing which drugstore options can actually replace upscale brands.
They all agree that splashing out is not always necessary, and it is possible to procure the best possible products for $10 or less.
Salon-worthy haircare products can be pricey, with some going for almost $100 for a tiny bottle of conditioner or serum
Celebrity hairstylist Jacob Sirianno told the Daily Mail he wholeheartedly approves of Aussie 3 Minute Miracle ($6.39)
Celebrity hairstylist Jacob Sirianno admitted many inexpensive options work just as well as their costly counterparts – just as long as clients are not attempting to rebuild extremely damaged hair.
What are the best drugstore hair products?
Sirianno told the Daily Mail he wholeheartedly approves of L’Oréal EverPure shampoos ($10.99), which he called ‘a really solid sulfate-free shampoo that’s great for color-treated or dry hair when you want moisture but not something heavy,’ Aussie 3 Minute Miracle ($6.39) for a ‘cheap, quick, product that makes dry or frizzy hair feel super soft and easy to detangle,’ Garnier Sleek & Shine serum ($6.97) for smoothness, fighting frizz and adding shine – ‘especially if your hair is thick, wavy or curly’ – and Tresemmé heat protectant ($8.99) for a ‘lightweight heat spray that protects your hair without making it feel greasy or flat.’
The celeb stylist, who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles, is not alone.
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle has been embraced by women with long hair who call it their favorite on Reddit and say it hydrates beautifully. Garnier has been a particularly popular affordable brand ever since its 1990s heyday, especially because it offers a specialized line for curly hair that has ingredients including coconut oil, cocoa butter and plant proteins that moisturize to reduce frizz and enhance shine, making locks more manageable, and defined.
The famed Tresemmé heat protectant is a hit for fine, thin hair because it is lightweight and features volumizing formulas, which means it lifts hair without weighing it down. Many of the collection’s products incorporate collagen, proteins and silicone-free options to boost fullness.
Sirianno, who has worked with the Nader sisters, Julia Michaels, Suki Waterhouse and Trisha Paytas, revealed the vast price point difference between these and similar products like Kérastase, Shu Uemura and Oribe is not just about better ingredients.
Instead, Sirianno said it is due to ‘branding, packaging, marketing, salon distribution, smaller batches and research and development.’
Hairstylist Jennifer Korab also believes that plenty of $20 products work just as well as more expensive options. She told the Daily Mail she would happily use them on her clients, which include New York Fashion Week models and brides.
One of the New Jersey-based hairstylist’s favorite products is Not Your Mother’s Plump For Joy™ Root Boosting Spray ($9.99), which she described as ‘lightweight without stiffness.’ This would be the less expensive alternative to Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, which retails for $52. Korab promised it helps to achieve the same goal by ‘adding lift, texture and volume.’
Korab, who founded the Renaissance Salon and Spa, also appreciates L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths No-Haircut Cream Leave-In Conditioner ($8.99), which she said helps maintain volume and does not flatten soft layers. She compared it to Kérastase Bain Satin ($43).
‘When buying cheaper haircare products, the trick is to look at the ingredients, not the price tag,’ Korab said. ‘A well-formulated inexpensive product can perform just as well as a luxury brand if it has the right components for your hair type and goals.’
While influencers might tout the benefits of specific products, it is best to consider your own hair type before just purchasing what they use.
A lower price point on haircare products could mean harsher ingredients, which could impact a sensitive scalp
Hairstylist Jennifer Korab also believes that plenty of $20 products work just as well, and told the Daily Mail she would happily use them on her clients
Do cheap haircare products contain more chemicals?
One massive reason people avoid less expensive alternatives is because they worry the products are full of dangerous chemicals that could potentially cause health problems.
However, their worries might be misplaced.
‘People love to demonize “chemicals,” but everything is chemicals,’ Sirianno told the Daily Mail. ‘It’s more about whether the formula matches your hair needs.’
Korab said that ‘some higher end brands do use better ingredients and less harsh chemicals, but that varies from brand to brand… luxury brands are not automatically “healthier.”‘
Sephora, for example, boasts an entire ‘clean’ beauty aisle, and there are many haircare brands – including Crown Affair, Ceremonia and Maya Chia – that leave out specific harsh ingredients, like sulfates, which are strong cleansing agents that can strip natural oils.
Korab said that while some upscale brands are labeled as clean – a beauty trend that has many meanings – some ‘still use silicones, fragrance and preservatives.’
But even though ‘clean’ brands could be more expensive and luxurious, that doesn’t mean users are guaranteed not to have a reaction to ingredients. And it’s not just allergies that users should look out for – haircare products can cause reactions like acne, too.
The experts said if you’re getting a reaction to your haircare, it is best to check the product’s formulas – because whether a dry shampoo is $5 or $50, it is all about the breakdown of the components.
Korab did warn that ‘some cheaper brands do use stronger chemicals and fragrances that are harsh and can worsen scalp sensitivity, eczema and even migraines.’
‘When buying drugstore products, I would look for ingredients like protein for strength and nourishing oils like argan oil and coconut oil,’ Korab advised.
Sirianno explained that economical drugstore products work well as long as you are ‘washing and conditioning normally and not trying to rebuild extremely damaged hair’
Many drugstore products, like Tresemmé Heat Tamer Spray Thermal Creations, receive rave reviews from both hairstylists and clients
When should you spend more money on hair products?
While Sirianno is a staunch supporter of specific drugstore options, the professional said it is best to bring out the big bucks for any products that stay on your hair for a longer period, like leave-in conditioners, heat protectants, bonding treatments or repair masks.
However, when it comes to shampoo, Sirianno thinks inexpensive products are an easy way to save money.
Korab felt the same way, telling the Daily Mail that ‘luxury brands can offer measurable benefits in certain areas, especially repairing, deep conditioning and specialized treatments. But for the foundation products that most people use every day like shampoo, mousse, dry shampoo and heat protectant, well-chosen drugstore products often perform just as well.’
Celebrity hairstylist Sirianno, pictured above with Mary Holland Nader, explained that it is best to spend more money on products like leave-in conditioners and bonding treatments
How do the most popular haircare products compare?
‘Is L’Oréal as good as Kérastase? Not exactly,’ Sirianno said. ‘But is it way closer than people think? Yes.
‘Kérastase usually feels more refined and performs a little better long-term. But the gap isn’t as dramatic as the price suggests.’
Korab said when it comes to looking for a drugstore dupe that performs like a premium product – of which there are many – ‘knowing what ingredients to look for can make all the difference.’
Korab explained that L’Oreal Elvive Dream Lengths and Kérastase Bain Satin Nutritive ($43) are actually extremely similar, because ‘they both have conditioning agents, proteins and glycerin for softness. But the L’Oreal product just costs less with similar slip and detangling.’
Sirianno suggested looking for glycerin for moisture, argan oil, shea butter, hydrolyzed proteins, ceramides and silicones if you want smoothness, joking that they are not ‘evil.’
While the supermarket products might not come with the same prestige, if you look for the correct ingredients that will do the trick for your hair type, you could save hundreds of dollars in the long run and get the same exact shiny locks.
