Expensive Hair Products That Aren't Worth The Money

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In the market for new hair products but don't want to break the bank? Many hair care products can be inexpensive and work just as well as big name brands with hefty price tags. It is not always necessary to buy the most expensive high-end products to combat problems like dryness, body, and dullness. Of course, you'll want to do your research to make sure you're getting a product that can address the unique needs of your hair — whether that is color correction, adding volume, or preventing future damage.

According to Goop, what you use every day in your hair care routine matters the most. Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner, as well as oils, masks, and heat protectants is important to keep a healthy routine for your hair type and texture. No matter how many times you wash or style your hair a week, these products are vital to maintaining your hair's health now and in the future. But as important as choosing the right products is avoiding the wrong ones.

Oribe is another cult favorite hair care brand with many amazing products that tend to fall on the pricier side. However, the reviews for this particular shampoo show a lot of customers regret spending the money. The Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo for Beautiful Color is described by the brand as "a daily, brightening shampoo for blonde and silver hair that corrects brassiness and yellow tones, optimizing shade, tonality, and luminosity." It is also marketed for all hair types and textures. Unfortunately, though, it only received 3.5 out of 5 stars on Sephora's website. 

The shampoo retails for $46, which according to many buyers, is not worth the hefty price tag for a shampoo — especially when you can find alternative options that work just as well, or better, for a fraction of the price. One 3-star review claimed "I have tried so many purple shampoos in my lifetime when I came across this brand. It is pricey, but based on the reviews I decided to give it a try. I had high expectations, but unfortunately it doesn't live up to the hype." Although the reviewer praised the scent, they claimed it didn't moisturize as advertised and just wasn't worth the cost.

If you're in search of a new blonde shampoo, skip Oribe and try the more budget-friendly Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo recommended by Byrdie.

This hair treatment mask from Serge Normant claims to reverse damage, restore hair's elasticity, and protect color — what more could you want in a hair treatment? Unfortunately with its $60 price tag, the Meta Morphosis Hair Repair Treatment is not a fan favorite.

On Amazon, the product received an average of 2.2 stars out of 5, with more than half of the reviews ranking in at 1 star. Many users claim they were excited to try the hair mask because they love the shampoo and conditioner in the line but they were extremely disappointed once they tried the mask. Some found the product left their hair greasy — not even close to looking healthy or shiny, which the product claims to do.

One buyer left a review that reads, "I would give this a zero if I could. Worst conditioner I have ever used. It was chalky and runny like soup. It did absolutely nothing for my hair except leave it dry and unmanageable. What a waste of $60."

In the market for vitamins to boost your hair care routine and promote healthy growth? For men and women, finding the right hair loss vitamin can make a world of difference. However, not all of these products are created equal. Wick & Strom's vitamins have earned negative reviews on Amazon. 

While some claimed the product works, others said it does nothing for hair loss. One reviewer wrote, "I don't see improvement in number of productive hair follicles or in the quality of root growth. ... I don't think I'm impressed enough to buy again." Another wrote, "I am using this product little over 2 months almost 3 months now and I did not see any [difference], still [the] same amount of hair falling off when I taking show no new hair [growth]."

If you're interested in adding vitamins to your routine, you don't need to spend $35 for a bottle promising hair revitalization. You can simply purchase biotin, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, keratin, or zinc at your local pharmacy. According to Forbes Health, these are all good options to ensure your vitamin deficiencies are not causing unnecessary hair loss or breakage.

CurlSmith Shine Oil has earned 3.9 stars on Ulta's site. While that is not the worst rating, it's hard to accept for a product that costs $30 for only 2 fluid ounces. It is marketed as a "weightless oil blend that locks in moisture and smooths hair, making it look shinier than ever." It includes a mix of oils — watermelon seed, babassu, sea buckthorn — as well as murumuru butter. This combination is supposed to soften curls, prevent frizz, and ultimately add shine, as the name suggests.

However, some people who tried it said they didn't notice a difference in shine — and one user even said it made their hair look crunchy. Another user dubbed it a knockoff of Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil – the packaging does look nearly identical.

While Gisou's hair oil gets better reviews (4.3 stars on Sephora), it is even more expensive at $46 for 1.7 fluid ounces. Coming in at a better price point with better reviews — $24 for 1.7 ounces and 4.4 stars on Sephora's website — is JVN's Complete Nourishing Hair Oil Shine Drops.

The Tame: Infrared Flat Iron from the Sephora Collection is marketed for all hair types, from straight to curly to tightly coiled. At $85, this flat iron is on the pricier side. And as of this writing, the product sits at 3.1 stars on Sephora's site.

Many reviewers complained about the quality, with some writing that the product initially works as intended but completely shuts off over time. One buyer doled out a 1-star review, writing, "Same as other [reviews], bought the straightener in September of 2018 and it started shutting off in April 2020. Any well made straightener should last longer than that." Another reviewer said she loved the flat iron so much but was extremely disappointed when it stopped working. The buyer addressed Sephora directly in her review, writing, "Shocking that so many of your customers that purchase this iron are telling you that it works great and then just stops working and you still have it on the market???"

If you're looking for a new flat iron and have the room to splurge, try a higher-rated flat iron like GHD's Original Styler 1" Flat Iron, which has an average of almost 5 stars on Sephora. If you'd prefer a flat iron that is more budget-friendly, you can't go wrong with HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron.