Ever since I’ve been going to hair salons my stylists have been pushing salon products and insisting they make a huge difference in the overall appearance of hair. I’ve been sold a multitude of salon products to use in shampooing and conditioning my hair. Stylists have insisted that I needed specific salon products to protect my hair from heat damage and to promote shine. All too often your stylist will recommend products not necessarily because your hair really needs it but because they receive commission on the sale. If I used all the products that have been promoted by the various stylists over the years, I would probably have the flattest oiliest hair ever. I had to ask myself the same question that many of you have probably asked yourselves. Are salon products really necessary? Is the benefit to your hair worth that extra cost?Obviously there are plenty of store brands that will cleanse, condition, and help you style your hair. Many of these may seem much more budget friendly than the various salon products. Keep in mind that many salon products are concentrated and require only a tiny amount of product to do the job. The cost difference might not be as much as you think. I have some friends who still insist on using bargain priced store brands and it seems to work well enough for them. That said, I do believe that certain salon products work much better to keep my hair healthy and shiny.I admit that over the years I have tried store brands in an effort to save money. At first they seemed to work but over time I noticed my hair was losing that healthy shine. I also noticed that once I started coloring my hair, the color washed out faster when I was using the store brands than it did when I used my salon products. I’ve always been open to trying new salon products and rarely stick within one particular brand for all of my hair care needs. The best way to find new products is by trying them.