Do you dye your hair? Heat style it? Those are two big causes of dry, brittle hair, I'm told. Also chlorine exposure could be a contributing factor.

You might try using a hydrating shampoo. Two that I like are Bed Head's Moisture Maniac and Fructis Hydra Recharge. Both have conditioners, but I haven't tried them.

If you use a blow dryer, turn down the temperature. At the salon they cool the air to somewhat warm.

My hair is fine, but not brittle. I can't advise you on deep conditioners or detanglers because I avoid anything that weighs my hair down.

I'm not doing anything(dying, chlorine, curling irons) to damage my hair. It's just that fine that even shampoos make it damaged. Just wanting some product recommendations to try. I have been doing the conditioner only washing for quite a while now hoping that would help, it has helped a little but it's still very dry on the ends. Hoping for some people that have fine hair that have found good products that do not damage their hair to recommend somethings for me to try.

This post was edited by arkansas_girl on Fri, Aug 22, 14 at 21:01

Maybe the hydrating shampoos I mentioned would help. They shouldn't make it worse, anyway. Also, what about a product that contains one of the beneficial oils. Coconut oil, maybe. My daughter likes Argan Magic shampoo, which contains argan oil.

What does your hair stylist think you should do?

I'm interested in tried and true products for fragile hair. I've used coconut oil to deep condition, it's ok but I really need everyday shampoo and conditioners and maybe even detangling sprays. Of course the hair stylist has products they'd like to sell me that cost an arm and a leg and would probably still dry my hair out.

This post was edited by arkansas_girl on Fri, Aug 22, 14 at 22:09

I too have thin hair, but when I had soft water my hair wasn't too bad, but when I move--hard water. I use Paul Mitchell's Shampoo One==gentle wash and or/Matrix--Amplify Volume. But I only wash my hair once a week and I am on high blood pressure meds and that along with my age does affect my hair. No these are not cheap, but the seem to work for me.
Marie

My hair isn't thin, it's fine...that is to say that I have a lot of hair but each hair shaft is very small in diameter. Unfortunately, I inherited my Mom's baby fine soft hair. It's not that I am damaging my hair through improper care, I am schooled in Cosmetology so I have a grasp on caring for my hair. My problem is trying to find decent products because I'm just wasting tons of money buying this and that only to have the "wonder product" turn my hair to straw. I think unless you have baby fine hair, it's really hard to empathize. So that's why I was hoping maybe others here have found gentle products to use. I don't think a lot of people have such fine hair though...lucky for you! HA!

You might try posting on the MakeupAlley message board devoted to hair.

Here is a link that might be useful: Makeup Alley

Have you tried baby shampoo? Just a thought!
Marie

I've been a member of makeup alley for many years. Their message boards are like chat room format, I have tried asking questions there and the message just gets lost in the shuffle. Every time I try to ask this question, all I get is advice on how to care for my hair. I don't need a long dissertation of how to not damage my hair, that is Cosmetology 101. There are so many products on the shelf that it's just mind boggling to go to Cosmo Prof and try to choose something that's not going to damage my hair. The sales people have no clue about their products either. It's very frustrating!

Baby shampoo is like acid on my hair, it eats my hair up and turns it to straw. Whatever you do, don't use baby shampoo on fragile hair!

I have fine, (read: flat, in dry weather,) hair and use Trader Joe's shampoo. It used to have a lemon scent but they did away with that, so now I use the new one which is quite plain. I don't use anything else as those will just weigh my hair down further. I can't think what would make your hair feel like straw... Maybe you could go to Whole Foods and see what they have to offer.

I think the biggest problem is a lot of products have alcohol and I believe because my hair is so fine, the alcohol is just too drying. I even tried to use Dr. Bronner's OMG don't even get me started on that! It is one of the reasons my hair is in such a mess! It is so drying it's unreal!

I was just reading a blurb about a new product created by the founder of Bumble and Bumble. I'll link it below. I haven't tried it because I need to use a medicated shampoo, but it sounded interesting. The live link is to the product. Here's the link to the article. https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/bumble-and-bumble-founder-says-no-one-will-use-shampoo-94742095488.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Non-Shampoo Shampoo

Awapuhi Wild Ginger Moisturizing Lather Shampoo by Paul Mitchell from a salon. Very expensive down here but worth it.

MATRIX biolage fiber strong
it's fantastic,
broken wrist so can't type

Sorry you have a broken wrist! YIKES! :(

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm going to go to the Cosmo Prof store probably tomorrow and look around. They don't carry all brands though. I think their Paul Mitchell selection is limited but I bet they have all the Matrix products.

I can't remember the last time I used anything but Redken products for my hair - decades. I don't need to buy those formulated for fragile hair so I don't have a specific product out of their many to recommend to you....

But I don't buy them from my stylist and she never questions, it's a non issue. I shop from a variety of online hair care sites, buying in bulk from whichever has a free shipping special in effect. Sometimes the drugstores will carry some of the Redken products although not the full line. The beauty supply places located in some malls will have BOGO specials other times....if the price is right, I stock up. I'd imagine that's true of any of the salon brands, you really don't have to buy a favorite product paying the in-shop full price.

My mom had thin, fragile hair and always used Pantene.

All products are not created equal. I have dry frizzy hair. I use Frederick Fekkai products only. I have found what works for me after experimenting with the shampoos, conditioners, products to be used before drying and finishing products.

Yes, they are pricey, but you use small amounts of everything so things last. Yes your salon wants to sell you their products, but who knows, maybe they will work for you.

There are always magazine articles insisting that some of the cheap products are just as good. And they might be, for someone who has good hair to start with. Not dry, not frizzy, not oily etc.

Well because I'm a licensed beauty operator (I keep my license current) I buy salon products at the beauty supply store (not Sally's) that only sells to hairdressers. I can say that I'm not impressed with salon products...I've tried many! I do love Kenra's blow dry spray though. I had been trying a bunch of Paul Mitchell products and they didn't do much to impress me either, no better than Pantene.

Too much build-up with Pantene on my hair.

As you probably know (especially since you're a licensed beauty operator), hair is dead. There's not much you can do for it from the outside; the best way to strengthen it is from the inside, with good health and nutrition. You might try taking a look at your diet. Biotin is often recommended as a supplement.

Biotin isn't going to make my hair texture change as it's been this way my entire 51 years.

Thanks to all that have >>recommended products