In theory matching shampoo and conditioner is the thing to do but in my case it isn't. I have to mix and match.
I feel the same way about Aveda Rosemary Mint! Eww! I also like my shampoo and conditioner to match and I've had problems finding a "set." I went through every Aveda conditioner trying to find one that went well with Shampure. Try the Redken Blondes line, both shampoo and conditioner are excellent and smell yummy, like grapefruit! It's the best thing I've found lately!
I am a mix & matcher and think it is the way to go! I have a great base shampoo and a variety of conditioners to help make my hair do what I want it to do (be straight, have volume, be extra shiny, etc).
You should just put the good conditioner in the matching bottle.
Totally agree with you on that Aveda conditioner. Left tons of goop on my scalp.
A little known fact is that the manufacturers of shampoo and conditioner don't really make the products so they actually "go together" from a performance standpoint. All that is done is that they are put into matching bottles and sometimes have matching fragrances.
The reason that things smell different in conditioner versus shampoo is that the starting base formulas smell much different. So, when they put a fragrance that smells great in a shampoo in the matching conditioner, it's quite possible that it will smell nothing like the shampoo.
I agree with bri, just find a good conditioner and put it in the matching bottle. Actually, just buy the shampoo from the conditioner that matches. Good conditioner is much more important than good shampoo.
I found that all Aveda products dry out my hair. I am now a faithful user of Bumble Bumble Super Rich conditioner. I switch shampoos for variety.
I do like my conditioner and shampoo to match but I have been known to use whatever is available.
I completely udnerstand about the Aveda conditioner. I bought some once and was not impressed with the quality compared to other products in the line.
I also agree with the Rosemary Mint shampoo/conditioner! The conditioner consistency is quite sticky, although I managed to use the whole bottle up. I guess I just tried to convince myself that I was the one with the problem, not knowing that others felt the same way about the conditioner being quite drying).
I'm still working on the shampoo since I bought a huge bottle that's lasted me almost 6 years. It's still going strong, the darn stuff just won't disappear! haha.
If you're looking for an excellent shampoo/conditioner system, try Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship. Best conditioner EVER!! might even be a little better than the shampoo,but both of them are excellent.
Sometimes my shampoo and conditioner match...sometimes they don't. It depends on what I have on hand and whether I've gotten to the health food store for sufate-free shampoo and/or lately (which I haven't).
I've read that shampoos don't really vary that much, so I'd rather just have a really great conditioner.
When I first saw the top of the post, I thought "EW! She likes the aveda rosemary conditioner?! This blog has lost all credibility" Then I read on, and realized you had not passed on to the dark side.
The shampoo, fabulous. Smells amazing.
The conditioner? Not so much.
I am having such shampoo and conditioner dramas at the moment. I recently switched from the Redken Curl Up shampoo and condition, which really didn't do much for my hair, to Kerastase Oleo Curl shampoo and Lait Vital conditioner on the recommendation of my hair dresser and... eugh. I typically love Kerastase, and go back to it when my fine, curly, dry-ends-and-oily-roots hair loses it, but this combination is totally not doing it for me. My ends still feel dry and crunchy and dreadful, but the worst thing is the oiliness in my roots. For realz, by the end of the day my roots will feel thick, oily and dreadful.
Sigh. The tragic thing is I finally got all my skincare right, so my skin's looking great. Why is it that when one thing goes well, beauty-wise, everything else falls apart? I've got hangnails for days, too.
In short: I think it pays to mix it up if something isn't working.
I am a die-hard "matcher" and always make sure I smell the shampoo and conditioner equally. I recently tried Nexxus's Color Assure/Ensure set and the shampoo smelled lovely but the conditioner had a slight hint of old-lady smell to it which I found so odd! That pair didn't last too long in my shower.
I, too have an awfully hard time straying from my beloved shampoo's counterpart...even if it sucks. I have however, reached a point where I am able to mix-and-match within a certain product line. For instance, why not experiment with some of Aveda's other conditioners? No matter the formula or "sub product line," the smells are complimentary and the packaging works together in a perfect matching, but not matchy-matchy way!
at last--beauty tips! And about my fave subject too--hair! :D
How's Redken? I've never tried it...
I'm totally with you on the instinct to have matching products, girlfriend - anything else feels like betrayl to my neat-freakery and I get minor OCD attacks as I shower, lol. I recently tried a set of volumising shampoo and conditioner by a brand I was previously umfamilar with. Well, the shampoo worked out okay (I don't love it, but I'll use it), but I am tempted just to throw the conditioner out, even though it cost me twenty bucks! It's that awful! Since the two are supposed to be volumising, the conditioner claims to contain no waxes, but it makes my hair feel SO waxy that I almost feel like I can scrape the excess product off my hair shaft with my fingernails, even after I've rinsed and rinsed. Hideous! So I tend to just mix and match with what I like most from different lines, and try to control my bathroom OCD by telling myself that it's for the good of my hair. 
I'm a fan on the matching shampoo/conditioners, although, I never match my socks. I'm a fan of John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette or Herbal Essences anything, really.
I try to match but I always have shampoo left when the conditioner runs out. Artec's Texture shampoo made my scalp so dry and tight but the conditioner was a miracle worker on my hair. I'm addicted to L'Oreal Professional's new color care line, even if the scent is questionable.
I'm a matcher as well, though I have the same problem with conditioner running out first. I'm a huge fan of the Pravana Volumizing set- it works wonders on my long, fine hair without making it stiff or dry.
I'm bad. I'm so much of a system user that I'll actually buy the coordinating styling products too. I think it has to do more with smells for me. If I like the smell of a product, I have to continue it with the other products. Crazy...I know.
I have just recently started using a clarifying shampoo once a week that is not the same as my beloved Kerastase (they don't make a clarifying shampoo here in the US- I could buy it from overseas, but I refuse to pay that much money). It works well...but I really wish I had one from Kerastase. : (
My instinct is to match, but it doesn't work for me. I have somewhat oily roots, with color-treated and highlighted hair. Shampoos for color-treated hair tend to make my hair oiler and my scalp itch! So, I usually end up mixing. Right now I'm mixing among Paul Mitchell, so it's kind of like matching. I'm using the Tea-Tree shampoo with the conditioner for color-treated hair; I just don't condition my roots and scalp.
Have to disagree with you about the All Soft conditioner! Personally, I love it! The way it smells, feels, everything! Oh well- to each his own, I guess!
I like my shampoo and conditioner to match, but it's not a necessity. Sometimes I do use different ones like right now I'm using Herbal Essences shampoo and Garnier Frutis conditioner.
I love Aveda products but I was not happy with the rosemary mint shampoo or conditioner. They did not do anything for my hair. I ended up using them for my dog so I got the scent without ruining my hair.
My current favorite is Abba shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair. It is amazing. You only have to use the tiniest amount of shampoo and the conditioner leaves my hair so soft! They are ALS free and not tested on animals, which I love!
Ive also used the Abba moisture shampoo and conditioner, which smells like mint, they are great too.
I always find it hard to get a good conditioner for my hair! I have the whole greasy roots, dry ends combo - it's a killer!
I'm not a fan of Bedhead Dumb Blonde at all. I feel like I'm just putting wax on my hair.
I'm not a huge user of better shampoo, but I use Aveda Shampure conditioner or Color conserve.
Although, my hair does feel so much better after using Aveda products -- hands down.
i'm completely baffled by the need to have shampoo and conditioner match.my cosmetics are made by different brands.the company that makes my face wash doesn't make my antioxidant serum or my zit cream.i don't match my body wash to my shaving oil to my body lotion,either-why the fanaticism with hair products?
I have finally found the perfect shampoo and conditioner (matching sets) regimine:
I reccomend Bed Head Superstar, both the shampoo and conditioner are sulfate free! The scent is a little strong on the shampoo but the conditioner does a good job of neutralizing the scent and both make my hair feel wonderful. This is my first set of volumizing s/c that didn't make my hair feel weighed down or waxy.
I also switch on and off with Redken Blonde Glam when I want that squeaky clean feeling. It's the only shampoo that I feel like gets all the gunk out, but its too drying for me to use everyday.
Deep conditioner: Brocato Cloud 9: AMAZING! I can't say enough good things about it!
huge fan of aveda! i love this conditioner.
i agree with juniper - why do they need to match in the first place? unless it's about how it looks in your shower, which part of me can understand considering i sort everything by color.. lol. part of the reason i read blogs, makeupalley, etc. is so i can find the best products in each line, and not get duped by marketing ploys. you don't *actually* have to use the whole line like it says on the back of the bottle. just use whatever works best for you.
ha! I thought I was the only one being crazy about this. I haven't tried any Aveda products so far, but for instance I tried herbal essences conditioner.. and though it smells wonderfull it also leaves an oily film! Guess what I have been using which has been the best so far? Lol. A "creame mint thyme" conditioner I got at a hotel we stayed at. I'm on the look out for one which will work as good and leave no residue.
My favorite conditioners of all-time are the tiny 4-use bottles that come in drugstore hair dye. Why oh why don't they make normal size conditioner bottles of those?? I'd give anything to have an 8-oz bottle of Natural Instincts hair dye conditioner--The BEST.
Aveda makes an Icelandic Sap Moss detangler/conditioner with a fresh, outdoor and also faintly chocolate-like background scent that's light, effective and a nice followup to our household favorite, the aforementioned Rosemary Mint shampoo.....
It seems like I once heard or read something an expert said (I think it was a dermatologist). He said that you should use a shampoo that's formulated for your scalp, since it's essentially just an extension of your face, then use a conditioner that's formulated for your hair type. Kind of makes sense...
As we are on the subject--anyone know a good conditioner for very curly hair? Still can't find a good one . . .
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