My Favorite Shampoos and Conditioners

I have thin, lifeless hair that breaks easily and takes a lot of punishment-I spend many hours out in the sun every week, saturating my hair with dirt, sweat and sand. I mash it under a helmet when I ride horses and pull it into a pony tail when I go ballroom dancing, usually with any rubber band that I can find, which is not always hair-friendly. My hair is not dry, nor is it oily as long as I wash it regularly, so I mainly look for products that will increase the volume.

I am also cheap, so I am always looking for shampoos and conditioners that will repair the damage to my hair, make it look fuller and keep it looking shiny and feeling soft without straining my wallet. I generally change brands every time I get a new bottle to avoid build-up and take advantage of whatever is on sale. Here are a few of my favorite shampoos and conditioners.

Shidon Naturals Calming Lavender Eucalyptus Shampoo is not cheap, but it's worth every penny. When you use it, the eucalyptus immediately makes your head feel cool and tingly, but it is also very good for headaches or respiratory trouble. The lavender is soothing and relaxing. This shampoo leaves your hair feeling luxuriously soft and fragrant and you feeling relaxed and deliciously cool.

Garnier Fructis is enriched with natural ingredients to make your hair strong and healthy. Mostly, I like the way it smells! It has a delicious fruity scent that I enjoy all day long when I wash my hair with it. It does make my hair very shiny and soft, and it feels very luxurious. I use the volumizing formula, and it does help my hair look a little fuller for the first day.

Herbal Essences is another one that I enjoy for the scent. It works about as well as Garnier Fructis as far as leaving my hair clean, shiny and as full as shampoo is capable of making my hair.

Pantene Pro-V Blonde Expressions claims to bring out your natural blonde highlights and give your hair multi-dimensional shine. This shampoo also removes deposits from the environment to keep blonde hair from becoming dull and losing its brilliance. I do notice a diamond-like, multi-faceted shine in my hair when I use this product. My hair does not seem to get any blonder by using this shampoo, but I do notice more highlights. However, my hair does not feel as soft as it does with other shampoos and conditioners.

T-Gel is a good shampoo for those rare times when I have dandruff. This is strong stuff-you can feel it working its magic deep in your scalp. Despite its harshness on the dandruff, it still leaves your hair feeling soft. I do not use it on a regular basis.