M&S’s £3 hair washes have officially replaced my high-end staples
It’s always hard to tell people that I’m picky with my hair products without coming across as snobby. But the truth is, that has come from years of trial and error, not to mention a huge learning curve. When I was younger, the only things ever to touch my hair were whichever variant of Head & Shoulders was on offer at the time, and maybe a few spritzes of heat protectant – if and when I remembered.
But as soon as I got into beauty writing and realised that my coloured, heat-damaged hair needed much more TLC, I quickly did a full 180 and developed a multiple-step, multiple-product regime on my hair wash days.
Having tried countless different washes, leave-ins, oils and masks (you name it!), I’ve learned where budget buys are safe and where the pricier stuff is well worth investing in. Not that I’m opposed to drugstore deals, but admittedly, when my high-end shampoos edged out their predecessors, I didn’t look back.
But as they say, old habits die hard, so I was still intrigued when M&S came bursting into the TikTok sphere with a show-stoppingly affordable hair wash range. At just £3, the supermarket’s new shampoos and conditioners seem to have gone viral overnight, and not just for their price, but for their quality, too.
With true GH dedication, I decided to try them for myself and see what the fuss was about. While the brand also offers a volumising set, I opted for the Nourishing Shampoo, £3 and Nourishing Conditioner, £3, because my hair, as well as my skin, is desperate for a little extra help right now.
Both of the products in the Nourishing range use a micro algae extract to rebalance the scalp, with a bergamot water and coconut oil blend for added moisture. I was especially pleased to see that M&S’s formulas are silicone- and sulphate-free, as those ingredients are common in budget hair washes. As someone with fine hair and an oily scalp, I tend to avoid silicones and sulphates, as I find they rarely offer me a deep enough cleanse to last between washes.
From a sustainable standpoint, the shampoo and conditioner were equally impressive. Both formulas are vegan – made with a beautifully refreshing sea salt and green bergamot scent – and the bottles are fully recyclable. The only thing I’d note is that, without a pump, the shape of the bottles made it pretty difficult to get the product out with just one (soaking and therefore slippery) hand in the shower.
Nourishing Shampoo 300ml
Nourishing Conditioner 300ml
Trying out the viral M&S range
But with a couple of shakes and a firm squeeze, when I got the product out, I enjoyed just how lightweight and easily emulsifiable the formula of the shampoo was. Working it into a rich lather was comparatively effortless, and my scalp definitely felt nourished and hydrated after two rounds of shampoo were rinsed out.
As for the conditioner, one of my pet peeves with budget options (which I only realised after using pricier ones) is when the product creates a weird coating over hair, giving it a shine for an hour before leaving behind a dry, unwanted residue.
The Nourishing Conditioner avoided that completely and, I’ll admit, I was stunned. As per the instructions, I ran the silky, cream-like formula from my roots down to my damp ends, and let it sit for about five minutes. When I washed it out, I noticed slightly less of a shine than usual, but none of the unwanted dryness – instead, my hair was far softer than before.
The GH verdict
The beachy scent was long-lasting – I was even complimented on how fresh my hair smelled a whole two days later. When I took a straightener to my hair after the wash, the end result looked bouncy and healthy – something I’m convinced I owe to the M&S range. The high lasted for about three days before I noticed my roots were getting a little greasy again, which is common for my hair.
And when I hopped back in the shower on my next wash day, I surprised myself by skimming past my usual products and reaching for M&S’s.
For someone as particular as I am when it comes to my haircare routine, these £3 moisture boosters have truly earned their spot in my wash day line-up – and I suppose I have TikTok to thank! At that price point, usually I’d say there’s a lot of scope to go wrong, but I’ve certainly been humbled.
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