Expensive vs. Cheap

nana_banana · 07-25-2010, 08:46 AM

Do you find expensive hair products to work better than cheap(er) products? Do you only like to use expensive products or are you strictly a bargain shopper type of natural?

Expensive: More than $15, often can only get online or specialty places

Cheap: Less than $15, easily found at drugstores or Wal-Mart.

I use a combination of both cheap and expensive. But if cheap works, I'll get the cheaper thing than spending the extra money on a comparable, more expensive product. I know some people will only buy expensive stuff ("You get what you pay for" mentality?).

When I first started wearing my hair natural, I used all expensive, salon stuff. After 6 months, I started getting drugstore stuff and I never looked back. But I will splurge from time to time on expensive stuff for natural hair (like ABBA). But my hair requires so much product. I cringe when I watch Youtube videos of girls putting a whole palm full of conditioner when that conditioner probably costs over $20 a small bottle. They probably get like 4-6 uses out of it.

What do you think?

Kinky Rhonnie · 07-25-2010, 08:55 AM

I'm an ingredient junkie and I have only used naturaly products since I been my journey almost two years ago.

I am a true barganista so any thing that I can get off a swap board, I'm all over it. But, certain products like shea butter and coconut oil cause my adult acne to flair to up so I have to stick to my tried and true staples and they unfortunately cost more than the products carried at walmart. It's the price I have to pay for quality.

afrosheenqueen · 07-25-2010, 09:34 AM

I haven't had much success with cheaper items. I also look for bargains and sales. My summer condish I can buy a liter for $12 during an annual sale so I stock up then. Just things like that.

I also tend to look at ingredients my hair likes first and price is a secondary concern. My hair also doesn't require a lot of product so it lasts a long time.

kayb · 07-25-2010, 09:36 AM

For me it's a strange middle ground.

I get my shea butter, conditioner and gels from Walmart, but my leave in from specialist stores.

I guess that makes cheap products the general winner?

SoulfulSista · 07-25-2010, 10:02 AM

To me expensive products don't necessarily work better, but sometimes they have better ingredients. I'm trying to transition from products with a lot of synthetic ingredients to products with more natural ingredients. This typically means they end up costing more.

When I first went natural a few years ago, I was loyal to one brand and pretty much only used those products. I found a good shampoo with them and just felt like all their products were good (even if they were doing nothing for my hair). This go around I'm paying more attention to what my hair likes and I'm just using what works for my hair.

EllyEllyOxenFree · 07-25-2010, 10:03 AM

I think it depends on the ingredients rather than the price, although often products with better ingredients cost more (but this is not always the case as we have seen with some companies charging an arm and a leg for subpar ingredients). However, some of my favorite products are less than $10. Actually, many of them are...

moodydove · 07-25-2010, 10:13 AM

I use a mix. And I find that the cheapest items I use are the ones I rinse out.

nana_banana · 07-25-2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moodydove

I use a mix. And I find that the cheapest items I use are the ones I rinse out.

Yeah. I like to use more expensive, better quality conditioners and leave-ins but I will use cheaper styling products (since I don't use them daily).

Cali Chik · 07-25-2010, 01:13 PM

Cheap and expensive are subjective. I look at the ingredients and figure out if it's worth the price.

Fact of the matter is, prices are a form of marketing. Companies know ppl think that expensive means "Quality" and that "QUality" comes with a high price tag. Which in some cases Quality does come with a price tag but the price tag doesn't reflect quality. Carol's daughter can sell $18 corn oil to ppl because they know ppl will attach quality with price. Granted Corn oil is like $2 or $3 for 16 oz but ppl see a nice name, a nice store, and a high price and think they are paying for a quality product. While the product might work for them... they overpaid.

People like to pay more because it makes them feel good. They feel like they have quality or like they can afford the "good" sh*t in life.

maysay · 07-25-2010, 01:16 PM

Well a couple months ago I went back to cheap products. What happened was I realized the more conditioner I used, the easier it was for me to deal with my hair. That made it way too expensive to keep using AO Jojoba & Aloe Desert which is 20$ for 11oz.

V05 works great for me. Actually, better than my expensive favorites (AO, Oyin, Giovanni, etc.). And it's easily accessible and cheap.

Naturalfinally · 07-25-2010, 01:41 PM

The ingredients/what I want the product to do, will sway me first. Price is relative. I use Suave conditioner to co-wash ($1.00 per bottle or less) and Eluence, AOHSR, AOGPD, Sitrillini (spelling?) and other stuff for Dts. I use Castor oil, Coconut oil and EVOO as well as Cocasta oil. It just depends on what I want it to do.

hippychic · 07-25-2010, 03:28 PM

if i can get good results with a bargain product, i am all over it. i rack up at the discount stores like ross, tj maxx and marshalls.

seems as though finding conditioners without silicones had moved me towards the more expensive products until i discovered trader joe & elasta qp intense conditioner. i love elasta qp intense. they also make elucence and kenra. i love elasta the best.

i absolutely love shopping on the ground. if i can get one more product for what i'd pay in shipping, i'm all over it.

CityGirl81 · 07-25-2010, 04:40 PM

Honestly, some of the best products I have used are under $10 bucks. To each its own, but the "cheaper" products have been more beneficial to me. I am dying to try henna though.

greenandchic · 07-25-2010, 05:38 PM

It depends on what it is and what I'm doing.

Cheap (for me)
Gels - Usually from Sally's for ~$2
Certain daily conditioners
Shea butter
Oils
Hair pins, clips, head bands, and other styling tools (Sally's, Nordstrom Rack, Ross, etc)

Spurge
Hair butters/balms
Leave-in conditioners
Brands like K-C, Diva Curl, Mozeke, etc.
Denman brushes though they are pretty reasonable IMO

All in all, ingredients come before price.

~Curly~ · 07-25-2010, 06:01 PM

I don't even bother with the "expensive" "popular" "advertised" products the ones i have tried have sucked, Miss Jessies, Mixed Chicks, and others i can't think of at the moment.. only thing i'd probably waste money on is KCCC and they say it works just like ECO and ECO is aight but I try not to do gel sooooo

sobecurl · 07-25-2010, 07:11 PM

I think I went through my phase of expensive products so I dont really buy anything anymore. I just have so much to use up in my closet.

Lines like Qhemet's and Anita Grant I will splurge for ONLY when there is a sale. Otherwise, I look for good conditioners like Aubrey's and Giovanni at online vendors where I can get them 40-50% cheaper than in the stores and stock up. Now my "expensive products" are more affordable. I find my staples like coconut oil and jojoba oil locally along with my shea butter. I wait for a good holiday sale to replenish the more expensive ones. I refuse to break the bank for my hair products.

DerbyCityNaturals · 07-25-2010, 07:52 PM

I use inexpensive products because well I'm broke. But I agree with others when they say it is not about money its about ingredients. I have a do-it-yourself attitude and would much rather use my sweat equity to make my own products. However if a product works, it works. The only expensive product line that I have found that works is Kinky Curly. There whole line is the business for me. I have sampled other expensive lines and they either did not perform, or performed similarly to a product I already had.

nana_banana · 07-25-2010, 08:59 PM

Great feed back!

ImSoLexy · 07-26-2010, 12:47 AM

My cheapies that I have to have are

Tresseme Naturals Shampoo and Condish for Moisture
VO5 Smoothies
Eco Styler
Shea Butter

Those can carry my hair just fine

Now my indulgences are my Oyin Honey Hemp and Burnt Sugar, Koils gel, KBB Hair Milks, Butters and anything Qhemet. I leave all of those in my hair. These provide me my over-the-top days of moisture

lisa6 · 07-26-2010, 02:41 AM

I will try/use both cheap and expensive products, but the products that work best on my hair tend to be at higher price points. The cheap ones are always runner-ups.