5 of the best... shampoos

As a self confessed product junkie I've become dissilusioned with the 'tried and tested' section in magazines and newspapers who have sponsorship and corporate deals which may influence the subjectivity of the products they're promoting. So after years of 'research' these are my wholly independent recommendations:

Redken All Soft

My favourite 'special treat' shampoo. I became hooked on this after using my flatmates treasured supply in preparation for a date. Yes, it's expensive. It tends to find its way onto birthday and Christmas wish lists as I can't justify the expensive to myself, however I've yet to find a shampoo that compares in leaving my brittle, over-straightened hair soft and shiny. My only criticism is that it leaves it too soft which can make 'up-dos' a struggle. I've heard some people say it makes the scalp itch, however I've never had a problem (and my skins usually quite sensitive). The bottle has a simplistic classic design which looks good in any bathroom. I would recommend searching the Internet for good deals, you can usually find it about 25% cheaper than buying direct from a salon.

Tigi Moisture Maniac

I have to confess I'm a big fan of the whole tigi range, however I've found moisture maniac to be the best for over-processed or dry hair (closely followed by control freak). The smell is simply divine, and lingers in your hair long after you've rinsed. Not as expensive as a lot of the salon ranges it's still worth a look on the Internet where many site do offers up to 40% off. The bottle designs are urban and funky and add a splash of colour to my white and cream bathroom. Can be used everyday with no noticeable build up.

Aussie Moisture Miracle

This is quite a recent discovery and the shampoo that graces my bathroom shelves at the moment. One of the best high street shampoos. I use the moisture miricle and also the one for long hair, both seem to produce the same results. My hairs left soft and manageable and the 3 minute treatment that comes in the range is excellent. You can find some good deals on the Internet and it also comes up quite regularly in boots '2 for 1' offers, I've also seen it on offer in various supermarket chains. Not a huge fan of the packaging, lacks the originality and class of some of the more expensive ranges but all in all a very good buy.

Clinique Exceptionally Clean Shampoo

I absolutely love the delicate, subtle scent of this shampoo. Again it's a bit on the pricey side so worth shopping around for. Also hair care tends to be excluded from there bonus time promotions (as I found out to my detriment). I've found this one the best of all for removing product build-up and is my Sunday morning hair hangover cure. Can leave hair a touch fly-away but a small amount of serum usually sorts that out. The elegant, classic design looks at home in any bathroom.

John Frieda Sheer Blond

Loved this when I was a bleached blond, however not so keen on the brunette version. The 'champagne' blond really brings out highlights and stops hair looking brassy and/or dull. Was also good at taming the frizz and damage of bleached hair. Appears quite regularly on '3 for 2' offers, although with the excellent range of styling products very easy to get carried away! (I especially like the purple tinged mousse). The only criticism I would have with the design is that I prefer bottles that open at the top rather than the bottom, but I'm sure that's just a pet peeve of mine. A good buy if you can get it on offer and some Internet sites do quite a decent discount, especially if buying in bulk.