Hair dilemma now I'm sixty!

When I moved house and was clearing the bathroom, I found loads of half-used bottles of shampoo. I poured them all into one big bottle, shook it up and this is now my shampoo - a mishmash of goodness knows what. Seems to work!

I can’t imagine not washing my hair for ages. It happens a lot less often nowadays but frequently used to notice the unpleasantly stale, musty smell of unwashed hair, e.g. when sitting behind someone on the bus.

It was a major job to get my mother to shower and wash her hair once she had dementia, and hers used to smell decidedly unpleasant, too.

I've skimmed past this thread heading several times because it puzzled me why being sixty suddenly made any difference, then curiosity got the better of me.

I think if one hasn't made peace with one's hair by the time one's sixty the chance of one's ever doing so is pretty low. I think simplifying is usually a good idea. If the shampoos you've got don't work as you would like them to why don't you give up with them, get a nice cut or wear long hair up, and just use something you like the smell of?

I have been using Living Proof Full shampoo, conditioner and styling cream for a while now. My fine thin hair is much shinier and looks better . It is pricier than supermarket brands but lasts for months so is probably just as cheap in the long run.

Gumtree, doesn’t your hair smell if you haven’t washed it for ten years?
OP, you haven’t said how long your hair is, if it’s coloured, thin, thick, dry etc so it’s difficult to recommend anything, but I have long thick hair and use Percy and Reed Wonder shampoo and conditioner plus a Wella serum from the hairdresser which is the best combination I’ve found in my 70 years.

To cut down on plastic bottles and packaging, I now use a bar shampoo (and a bar conditioner) which I purchase online from Friendly Soaps. DH is using it too. I like their products because they're free of additives & my (fine) hair is happy.
(We've no connection with the company, other than as customers!)

Gumtree

At 78 I haven’t washed my hair for over ten years and even my family (my honest critics) say that it looks great - why not try it? Hair goes back to its natural quality very quickly.

Gumtree Very interesting! I know this has been suggested for years, I suppose it's the 'leaving it to go through the grotty bits' is off-putting?

So, how do you actually look after it, style it etc?

I share the pain of the OP!

I have very thick, coarse hair and have never found the right products.
I've spent an absolute fortune over the years and nothing has worked very well.
A few friends have suggested Pureology or Aveda so they are going on the list!

I left my hair to go grey naturally. I use a Faith in Nature shampoo bar. It lathers really well and lasts far longer than a bottle of shampoo.
My hair is in the best condition that I have ever known it.

At 78 I haven’t washed my hair for over ten years and even my family (my honest critics) say that it looks great - why not try it? Hair goes back to its natural quality very quickly.

I like Pantene, always leave it on the scalp/hair for 5 minutes, then wash it out and always end with a cold rinse. All this has been suggested already. But I definitely DON'T like Tresemme products, they leave my scalp flaky. Never again will I use anything by Tresemme, but we all need to experiment to find what suits us. Finally, consider your diet, or try vitamins designed for hair health.

The Aussie range of hair products are brilliant

I used to be Pantene fan but now find Adli just as good. I only ever use 'once' rather than rinse and repeat or is that still given on instruction label? I swim a lot so sometimes put conditioner on before swim and shampoo as normal after, seems to work the same and helps protect hair from chemical in pool or salt/sun on beach.

Bazza

I’d recommend Aveda hair products, I never use anything else. Quite a range depending on your hair type. Expensive, but a little goes a long way, and I only wash my hair every five or six days, so a bottle lasts a long time. Maybe something to put on your Christmas list.

I love Aveda hair products and have used them for over twenty years - I have thick wavy hair (which matches my thick wavy body) so I am lucky - the smells of the products are divine and a little goes a long way - and I too wash my hair every five to six days.

Don’t forget, your hair could be affected by menopause. Mine was. All better now it’s over. Don’t know if this would apply to you.

I’d recommend Aveda hair products, I never use anything else. Quite a range depending on your hair type. Expensive, but a little goes a long way, and I only wash my hair every five or six days, so a bottle lasts a long time. Maybe something to put on your Christmas list.

I have spent a fortune over the years mainly on Kerastase & She Umera. With very fine (thinning) hair I have recently found Olaplex and find having conditioner treatments at the hairdressers really help!

I've tried probably the best of products in the world! Funnily enough when I always return to pantene ?!?! It used to be named Silkience! When pantene appeared and Silkience went, I had bought the EXACT same stuff rebranded! And it still delivers the best even after decades of wasted dosh on numerous others I always return to silk....er.....pantene!

helgawills

Go to Lush, the staff there are happy to recommend from a variety of shampoo bars, suitable for any hair. They also sell little tins to keep the bars in. Very economical and plastic free.

Soul Good Stuff sell bar shampoo and conditioner loads cheaper than Lush. They also sell eco friendly cleaning products etc

I have started using Body Shop shampoo and conditioner which I find works well with my fine coloured hair.
You would have to ask the consultant for the one that suits your hair best. Not cheap but you only need very little of shampoo or conditioner. I am nrly 73 and am sticking to this brand as have many of my friends.

Charles Worthington's Thicker and Fuller range is excellent. Don't get it mixed up with the Volume and Bounce range - unless you wish to try that too? I did but the T&F range was better for my hair

I could open a shop selling hair products: I’ve got so many! None of which did what it said on the bottle. I’ve found now that washing my hair a couple of times a week and just rinsing it on other days, works better! Mind you, I’m still going to send away for some nettle shampoo and scalp balm ( I never learn).

Go to Lush, the staff there are happy to recommend from a variety of shampoo bars, suitable for any hair. They also sell little tins to keep the bars in. Very economical and plastic free.

My hairdresser said that most people use far too much shampoo - then just don't leave it on for long enough. It doesn't have to produce foam to clean.

It's important to make sure there's plenty of water on your hair too, as shampoo can't work well without it.

My hair dresser advised Tresemme, and other hairdressers seem to say the same. I’ve found it good.