Just say NO to Pantene!!!
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free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:37 am

So I got my hair cut last night by a good friend who works for a very reputable salon.

When I got done, she asked me what shampoo I was using. I just said usual drugstore stuff...Herbal Essence, Garnier Fructis, etc...essentially anything that's on sale.

She told me that was fine as long as I avoided anything by Pantene.
Why? Apparently Pantene can coat your hair so much that it blocks the cuticle and can literally STOP your HAIR from GROWING! She told me that other brands were good, but just to say NO to Pantene.

Just thought I should pass that along. She been doing hair for 8+ years and has an excellent education (she goes to class once a month to learn new things...and has since she got her advanced position on the floor 8 years ago...).

No Pantene! I was actually contemplating going back to this the next time I needed shampoo/conditioner because I like the smell. Embarassed

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:03 am

ACK! I bought some Pantene (Time Renewal) a few months back when my hair was getting really dry because I always remember Pantene rating well in all those polls in the magazines (best shampoo, etc.). I usually don't use drug store stuff but I was trying to save money.

I always thought my hair felt less dry when I used it ... but maybe it was because it was just coating it with something! I also bought their Ice Shine (I think that's what it's called) hairspray and mouse. Doesn't seem to work any better or worse than anything else I've used ... I was just trying to save money again.

Well, maybe I'll set aside my Pantene and use up my Bumble and Bumble for now. Smile

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:15 am

Thanks for the great info, Paris! Actually, I used to buy whatever shampoo or conditioner was on sale at the drugstore, but I finally realized what a disservice I was doing my hair. I figured out that a good quality shampoo sometimes only costs a little bit more--- for example, Alba Hawaiian Honeydew Hairwash is hands down the best shampoo I've ever used, and it's on sale at drugstore.com right now for $6.71. I also love the Baby Bee shampoo and wash and again, it's only around $6. I also have Pureology's Volume Shampoo in my rotation--- it's way expensive, but I love the smell and since I rotate it it lasts longer, but quality-wise it's probably on par with my beloved Honeydew Hairwash. So ladies, do your hair a favor and kick Pantene to the curb--- there's better out there!

Edited to add: I forgot another high-quality, affordable classic: Nature's Gate Organics Shampoos and Conditioners. They come in yummy scents like Red Tea/Asian Pear and Lavender/Aloe, and they lather really well, plus they're only around $6 a pop.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:41 am

Are you sure her word is very reliable?

I've been using pantene 2 in 1 for 6 years now (sometimes i try a new shampoo now and then) i think it leaves my hair well balanced

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:04 pm

yes, I'm sure...she's very educated in haircare. She has taken intensive courses and has been in the hair business for almost ten years (cutting hair/styling for 8+). It probably doesn't happen to everyone. But the fact that she wasn't trying to pass off ALL drugstore brands as doing it...not trying to sell me anything, but instead just telling me to steer clear of this one brand, yes I trust her and credit her as reliable.

Now if she were trying to tell me that all drugstore haircare lines do this and only "said line" sold in her salon did not...then I might be cautious.
Plus, she's a good friend of mine. I don't think she'd pass along information that wasn't reliable. It's an ingredient Pantene includes in their product...maybe not in the 2 in 1, but in some of their other stuff.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:13 pm

I've also heard this about Pantene several years ago from a reputable hairdresser, I haven't used pantene shampoo since!

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:28 pm

Thank you sooo much for this post Paris! I have been warning people of the evils of Pantene for ages! It's just the worst thing for your hair. Some people can use it for years and be ok.....like my mom. But then her hair started to get really dull and frizzy, and was thinning a little. I'm a self proclaimed hair care snob, so I only use Kerastase. I decided to do a little research into Pantene, and found out that it was nasty coating terrible stuff. It can work well for a time, until your hair starts to kind of disintegrate under all the coating, and sometimes fall out! I gave my dear mum the research, she stopped using it and switched to Fructis. Her hair got better, though not fixed totally. She has waist length hair, and refuses to cut off the Pantene damaged bottom half of her hair. Just for reference, she does not blow dry, heat style, or perm or dye her hair. I gave her a bottle of Kerastase Oleo Relax shampoo, and it looks a little shinier, though still rather damaged.

So please, for the sake of your hair, step away from the Pantene!!! Shame on you

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:29 pm

moosette wrote:

I've also heard this about Pantene several years ago from a reputable hairdresser, I haven't used pantene shampoo since!

Got to second this. Last year when my hair started to leave in busloads, my stylist asked if I had switched to Pantene. I told her "No" and she said, "Well, don't. I thought maybe you had. I see a lot of women who have destroyed their hair with Pantene."

Ari

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:40 pm

I also used Pantene a few years back after hearing all the hype, and after about 6 months, my hair never looked worse. I could actually feel the gunk in it esp. at the roots! Confused

That's when I purchased a folli-cleanse product and changed brands. It took quite a while for my hair to finally regain its pre-Pantene health, and personally, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:01 pm

I've heard that about Pantene before, too. Just stay away from it! Smile

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:11 pm

whoaaa, it is a good thing that i'm a kerastase/phyto snob too! never would let that stuff touch my hair...

--avalange

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:13 pm

Pantene gave me loads of dandruff and an itchy scalp.
It is vile stuff.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:14 pm

That is scary how pantene can really stop your hair growth.. Good thing I don't use it. I heard head&shoulders is also bad for you.. My friend's dad uses it and said he got bald from it! Embarassed

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:26 pm

I stopped using Pantene when I realized that it was giving me dry scalp.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:59 pm

I was also told to stay away from it, by a hairdresser, which I found easy to do, as it made my scalp itch.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:15 pm

I hadn't heard any of this about Pantene, but stopped using it because it caused awful dandruff for me. No other shampoo does this to me!

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:35 pm

I do use only Salon namebrands...I was thinking of going back to drugstore brands of shampoos because my thought was that it is in your hair not for long and it goes down the drain. I got a cut today and we were just talking about that. My hairdresser said that Salon brands don't have a very high level of pH Confused

I was not aware of that.

Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:37 pm

I also had been told by two different hairdressers that its the worst for permed hair, one even asked before she started if I used Pantene because the perm would probably not give the results that I wanted.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:43 pm

This probably could explain my dandruff problems recently but i am not postively sure it is comign from pantene because so many commercials i see of pantene with women known to having beautiful hair (kelly from regis and kelly) but i guess getting sucked into those adds is what it is about.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:45 pm

Glad I'm not the only one who heard this. Sounds like Pantene has caused even more complex problems than just clogging the cuticle! Stopping hair growth was enough to warrant caution from me, but I'll never buy it again (most definitely) after hearing some of the other problems it has caused!

Sad...I used to love it. However, i wonder if this also means one should stay away from the knock-off drugstore brands that have a similar formula (you know, the generic "Pro-Vitamin" Shampoo that has right on the label "Compare to Pantene Pro-V). I'll steer clear of that as well.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:47 pm

I have heard the same thing...that it was leaving a Waxy/sillicone residue on hair and that it was really bad for long term use. So I never use it.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:56 pm

COMPTON wrote:

This probably could explain my dandruff problems recently but i am not postively sure it is comign from pantene because so many commercials i see of pantene with women known to having beautiful hair (kelly from regis and kelly) but i guess getting sucked into those adds is what it is about.

Please don't be fooled by those silly Pantene commercials. Those models they show have never used the actual product a day in their life. That, I would be able to wager my life on!!

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:15 pm

moosette wrote:

I've also heard this about Pantene several years ago from a reputable hairdresser, I haven't used pantene shampoo since!

I was also told this over 10 years and have not used it since. But I do believe it is correct in what they are saying.

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:44 pm

mper1327 wrote:

COMPTON wrote:

This probably could explain my dandruff problems recently but i am not postively sure it is comign from pantene because so many commercials i see of pantene with women known to having beautiful hair (kelly from regis and kelly) but i guess getting sucked into those adds is what it is about.

Please don't be fooled by those silly Pantene commercials. Those models they show have never used the actual product a day in their life. That, I would be able to wager my life on!!

I was told that the models have a large amount of shine products plastered on their hair before the commercial is shot. I do have some Pantene shampoo's, darn it. So, any other shampoo's to add to the no use list?

free skin care · Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:49 pm

I've been using the Pantene- thick and full shampoo and conditioner for years now. My hair is really healthy, and everytime I try to switch to a different- higher end salon brand (redken, AG, scrupples, etc) my hair looks flat and dull. I use blowdryer, flat iron every 2 days.

I haven't had any problems with Pantene at all, I actually get a lot of compliments on my hair.

What is the best salon brand shampoo that people have tried out there that gives thickness and volume to fine hair?

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