Having great hair doesn’t mean spending a fortune. Check out these affordable drugstore brands for the latest innovations in hair care.
 

Wandering the aisles of your local drugstore can be overwhelming, exhausting and leave you with decision-making anxiety. With bottles in every shade of the rainbow lining the shelves (most claiming to give you commercial-worthy hair), can bring out anyone’s inner skeptic. Recent innovations in drugstore brands are not only competing with salon and luxury brands, but surpassing the quality of higher-end alternatives if you find the right bottle for your tresses. Take a peek at the hidden treasures lurking at your local drugstore. They’re easy to find and—here’s the best part—affordable.  

Add extra body with biotin

One of the biggest crimes against humanity is watching your freshly-coloured locks slowly fall victim to a brassy fate. It happens because blue molecules deposited into the hair cuticle are the smallest, thus usually the first to go, leaving the red and yellow molecules to produce an orange or rusty hue. To extend the time between your salon visits, the most effective tool in your arsenal is a shampoo and conditioner with blue-violet pigments. Matrix’s Brass Off retains cool tones, while vitamin oils provide up to 6 times less breakage—a necessity when using chemicals on your hair.

Incorporate coconut oil 

Organix Coconut miracle oil conditioner, $11, ogxbeauty.com.

Is your hair in need of a little TLC? Winter can leave hair dry, damaged and gasping for moisture. The new line of shampoo and conditioner from Organix incorporates everyone’s tropical favouite: coconut oil. The all-natural oil seeps deep into your hair to repair and revive your tresses back to their former glory—before bleaching, heat styling and over-washing came into play. 

Make hair feel buttery smooth

The classic Garnier Fructis (that has at one time or another held a spot in your shower) just got a re-vamp! “When we were re-developing Fructis we kept in mind that consumers wanted the ingredients to be more environmentally friendly,” says ambassador for Garnier Canada, Roger Medina. “So we took that into consideration and ended up adding more active fruit protein including Vitamin B3 and B6.” Even better news? “It’s 100% vegan and sulfate-free, the formulas are biodegradable and the bottles are made up of 50% recycled plastic.” Ridding sulfate is the key here, as the new and improved formula will gently cleanse hair without stripping it of its natural moisture. For our friends with curly or coarser hair, try the Triple Nutrition Butter Rich line which is enriched with coconut, jojoba and macadamia oils.

Maui wowee

Aloha! Most shampoos and conditioners start with de-ionized water, but with the latest hair care brand Maui Moisture, the water is replaced with 100% pure aloe juice, which is infused with coconut water before adding other über-nourishing ingredients. The vegan, Hawaii-inspired line has six separate ranges to address every hair need and is free of parabens, sulfates, silicones and synthetic dyes. A standout from the collection is the brand’s Strength & Anti-Breakage Agave Hair Mask, which is infused with rich honey, hibiscus and pineapple oil to improve hair’s elasticity so your strands can grow long and strong. 

Benefit with Canadian hemp seed oil

The pollution from urban life and product build-up can wreck havoc on your hair over time. The North American Hemp Co. created a biodegradable, vegan formula that harnesses the restorative powers of certified organic Canadian hemp seed oil. The omega fatty acids, amino acids and anti-oxidants lock-in moisture, repair split ends and add unparalleled shine. 

Strengthen strands with each wash

Nearly all hair advice starts with “don’t wash your hair every day.” But what about people who possess fine hair, have a regular workout routine or just don’t feel clean unless they get under the showerhead? Some people (like yours truly), prefer a daily lather. Plenty of shampoos can coat the surface with conditioning ingredients but don’t truly penetrate the hair cuticle to replenish lost nutrients. Enter Pantene’s new daily formula that restores the hair follicle, won’t leave hair limp and is gentle enough to be used once a day.

Reap the benefits of Moroccan Argan oil

Herbal Essences’ recently announced their biggest launch in 45 years; the bio:renew line with nine new scents and formulations that adds histidine; a signature blend of antioxidants and amino acids. When added to a shampoo and conditioner formula, it can smooth out the hair cuticle and bring hair back to life in merely 21 days. The blend with argan oil–which has been touted as the holy grail of hair oil for years–is our personal favourite.