Let me start out by saying I am terrible when it comes to doing my hair. I have never been good at styling hair, etc. So, I have relied on what my stylists have told me. Unfortunately, the products they recommend are quite pricey.

In the past year, I have purchased
Straightening Bed Head Shampoo ($10)
Aquage Paste ($15)
Logistics smoothing serum (I don't remember, other than it was expensive)
Aquage smoothing gel (?)
Aquage Uplifting Foam ($15 at least)
Flat Iron (you don't even want to know- around $100)

Do you see the problem here? I am normally very frugal, but since I lack knowledge in this area, I defer to what the commissioned stylists tell me. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a great haircut and good products, I just think it isn't in their best interest to tell me cheaper ways to smooth my hair.

What shampoos and styling products do you find work the best? I am particularly looking for something that will smooth my hair, which is thick, but fine. (Lots and lots of fine hair)

I am coming to the experts! I appreciate any advice you can give me!

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Darcilew

I use the Matrix line and I buy my products at Beauty Brands during their Liter sale: $10.98. I stock up on my shampoos and conditioners and I'm set until their next annual sale!

I also use their straightening spray with a flat iron. If you like your hair to be smooth and silky, I recommend doing the same.

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Come Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping With Me In ONLINE BARGAINS

I use Nexxus Products. They have some great straightening products. I like the brand, and I can pick it up at my gorcery store or Walmart. My grocery store (Giant) even runs sales on them.

I also use the Frizz Ease line...they have some straightening things also. Again, I buy them on sale at my grocery store or at Walmart. Typically, you can find coupons for them also.

Good luck!

Well...I know for me, often, the salon products just outperform cheaper versions. I stopped using cheaper shampoos/conditioners a long time ago. They just really made my hair feel so 'waxy' - Pantene and Garnier were the worst offenders.

I am using all Aveda products now, I just gradually switched over from Bumble & Bumble. I like both lines though. It really just depends on how many products you use on a daily basis. I don't use a lot of styling products, so one bottle of spray or smoothing creme lasts me almost a year. So for me, it's worth it to buy something that works well for me. I used to try to use different drugstore brands, but I would never find one that worked as well for me. They were too smelly or sticky, or flat out, just didn't work. So in the end, I'd spend more on all the unused bottles...than if I had just bought what I wanted in the first place! LOL!

I love this B&B product. I use this as a spray in conditioner. It leaves my hair light, shiney and healthy!

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Come Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping With Me In ONLINE BARGAINS

I use Biosilk products. I have ALOT of hair and find their products have worked for me.

I use Biolage Shampoo and Conditioner, and mostly drugstore hair products (I go through a LOT of product - my hair is the same as yours, but curly and LONG). When I straighten my hair, I use a volumizing mousse or spray (last one I got was Sunsilk) on my roots, and a leave-in conditioner on the rest (curly hair is very dry!). Then I blow dry with either a paddle brush or round brush depending on the look I'm going for, and touch everything up with a flat iron. Then I use this Biolage stuff that is for shine/smoothing and rub it in my hands and apply that evenly all over.

I don't know what you mean by smoothing, but a stylist trick (my sister does hair) is to spray hairspray into your hands, rub them together so there is a fine layer of spray all over, and then lay your hands on top of your head (for broken flyaways, and don't push too hard or get too much spray ) and let the spray dry, and it helps keep the appearance of flyaways to a minimum.

You ladies are great! Thank you for all of your advice. I will be trying out these tips.

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Darcilew

I use organic shampoos. Im not into a specific brand but I have a friend who made those and it makes my hair more alive.