Beauty: Ditch the detergent

Picture / Babiche Martens

Shampoo matters. All the fancy hair masks and treatments aren't going to do much if the shampoo you've just used is basically detergent, stripping hair of moisture as it cleans.

And there goes the expensive colour straight down the drain. This lot are all about replenishing the moisture and other vitals to hair that's down and dry.

1. Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Shampoo
$10.99 for 400ml

This anti-aging shampoo is for hair that's old before its time with UV exposure, chemical damage and heat styling. It helps to revive shine, locking in moisture and strengthening hair.

* From selected supermarkets and pharmacies from October 23. From selected hair salons.

2. Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo
$26 for 300ml

So, you've dried out your hair. Book it into rehab with this great product from a new, luxury line that has Hydramine Sea Complex to help put dry, porous hair back on the right track from too many colours, sun, blowdrying or plain old genetics. It contains moisture-loving ingredients from the sea. Hair feels soft.

* From selected hair salons.

3. Sebastian Evokativ Moist Shampoo
$36.50 for 250ml

A hydrating shampoo, this has milk proteins and vitamin B5 to help with body, shine and moisture on medium hair types. Love how this feels and the citrus-floral cocktail is a pleasure. Bottle looks good but is impractical. It stands upright on the lid and the shampoo gushes out once you've had to pick open the lid, ruining nails in the process.

* From selected hair salons.

4. Kerastase Gluco-Active Bain Satin 2
$30 for 250ml

The Gluco-Active range feeds hair what it needs: glucose for energy, protein for nourishment and lipids for protection. There's a 1, 2 and a 3 - that's a small, medium or large. This shampoo is 2, which means it gives dry, sensitised hair just the right combo to leave it soft, shiny and supple. Very kind.

5. Wella System Professional Repair Shampoo
$27.70 for 250ml

This is for damaged hair. Whether it's through colour, blow drying or irons, this shampoo takes pity on dry hair and helps nourish it. It's incredibly mild and makes combing easier.

* From selected hair salons.