Dear Paula Question of the Month: December 2011

Dear Paula,

I have a nagging question and I've always wondered how you would reply. You have said that, generally speaking, shampoos and conditioners are mostly the same and that the consumer's preferences and experiences are also a factor. What I wonder about is the recommendation [by the brand] that for "best results" you should use hair-care products from only one brand, that you shouldn't use a shampoo from one brand and a conditioner from another. I recognize this as a marketing strategy, but can't help but wonder if there really is—in some cases—a way that the shampoo sets up the hair for the conditioner, or that the preparation by the shampoo and conditioner actually enhances the effectiveness of the styling product? Within products that are all for a specific hair type, is there some kind of chemical compatibility?

Jan, via email

Dear Jan,

Great question! Let me put your mind at ease by stating emphatically that, in most cases, there is no strong need to use matching hair-care products from within a line. Given the limited range of hair-care ingredients from which the entire hair-care industry must choose, there is endless repetition, and in no way are certain shampoos or conditioners more chemically compatible. You can prove this yourself by using similar shampoos and conditioners from the same brand and then switching one of the products for a similar option from another brand. I am betting you won't notice a difference—and even if you do, it may be from other factors that affect our hair, such as the day's weather (especially humidity level) or other products you may be using.

Pantene products are a great example of why you don't have to use products from the same sub-brand: they offer shampoos and coordinating conditioners plus styling products for numerous hair types and concerns—but a quick look at the ingredient lists reveals that, more often than not, the formulas for the various products are nearly identical. It has much more to do with labeling than it does with unique formulas that somehow have a magical effect on our hair when combined.

Are there some variances between two shampoos with identical ingredient lists? Most likely, yes. But you probably won't notice much, if any, difference in your hair despite the slight formulary differences. Think of it like your favorite dessert (let's say it's chocolate cake): You enjoy a good piece of chocolate cake regardless of minor changes in the recipe because ultimately the differences don't change the fact that the cake still tastes really good and satisfies your sweet tooth. The same concept applies to hair care: Even if you use a shampoo for dry hair from L'Oreal and a conditioner for dry hair from Pantene, your hair should respond just as well (or perhaps even better) than if you used only one brand's coordinating products.