Is there any difference between salon and supermarket shampoos? It’s a question that has raged through households all over the western world, and other rich nations, since the late 20th century. And yet remains seemingly unanswered.

My own research points to a ‘definitely maybe’. I’ve tried hundreds of shampoos over a number of years, always mindful of the utility and hopeful for the miracle that all shampoos promise. And yet I can’t tell whether my favourite supermarket brand is any better than my favourite salon brand. Neither seems to do anything more than clean my hair and make it smell nice, as far as I can tell. ( I should add that my least favourite brands are discernible from others because they noticeably dry or frizz or grease my hair.)

So I was quite excited to find a NZ Consumer Magazine report (issue 476) that set out to answer this question. Consumer tested the ingredients of 58 supermarket and salon shampoos, and asked the opinions of three hairdressers. The testing concluded that ‘for the most common ingredients in shampoos there appeared to be very little difference between salon and supermarket shampoo’. But the hairdressers argued that it was the quality of ingredients or concentration that was difference. Consumer didn’t go any further in their study to prove this though.

It’s a real shame Consumer hasn’t gone that extra step to see if any difference exists – like testing concentrations, cost effectiveness, and actual difference in hair. Salon brands cost around three times more than supermarket brands, and I think people pay the extra believing the product is somehow better. It’s a real consumer issue.

But here’s some interesting facts I’ve gleaned for you from Consumer:

• If you’re buying ‘natural’ shampoo look at the ingredients list – it’s written in descending order of quantity. Many of the ‘natural’ ingredients may be listed below the manufactured chemicals and are in such small quantities that any benefit is questionable.
• Sodium lauryl sulphate is commonly found in shampoos, toothpaste and mouth rinses as foaming and cleansing agents. Several years ago chain emails alleged it caused cancer. Consumer’s scientist says it is not proven to cause cancer, though it can irritate skin.
• Shampoo brands come in many formulations (like defrizz, nourishing, men’s, for colour treated, etc etc). This increases the supermarket shelf-space for a brand, but may not actually benefit consumers.