If your bathroom is overflowing with half-used bottles because you've been told to regularly switch your shampoo and conditioner, celebrity hairstylist Garren has some surprising news: you may be wasting your time.
The veteran hairdresser, whose transformative cuts have helped shape the looks of stars including Madonna and Victoria Beckham, has dismissed the widely repeated idea that hair becomes 'used to' a particular shampoo and conditioner and therefore requires constant product changes.
Instead, Garren says the key is finding a quality formula that suits your hair and sticking with it–advice that could force beauty lovers to rethink one of the most common habits in their shower routine.
Garren, who co-founded the R+Co and R+Co Bleu haircare lines, said the belief that people need to frequently switch their shampoo and conditioner is 'not true, if it's good product'.
That means there is no need to abandon a shampoo simply because you've been using it for months, provided it continues to work well for your hair's needs.
The Haircare Habit Garren Wants You To Ditch
For anyone frustrated by dull, unmanageable or lacklustre locks, Garren's advice starts with a much simpler approach: pay attention to what actually works for your hair rather than chasing the latest bottle on the beauty shelf.
His own R+Co Bleu range includes products aimed at different hair concerns, including reparative, essential and blonded collections. But his broader message is that consistency matters more than constantly changing products for their own sake.
Garren has also stressed that the foundation of a polished hairstyle begins in the shower. Once the hair has been properly cleansed and conditioned, styling products can be used to achieve the desired texture and finish.
His recommendations are particularly targeted towards people trying to achieve smoother, shinier hair without weighing it down.
For very curly hair that needs to be smoothed, Garren recommends R+Co Bleu Smooth and Seal Blow-Dry Mist, saying it can help create shine and make a blowout take 'half the time'.
His all-purpose pick is R+Co Bleu Essential Hair Tonic, which he says does not weigh hair down while helping to close the cuticle and provide protection.
And for anyone battling Britain's notoriously unpredictable humidity, his Daily Forecast Finishing Spray is designed to help a finished style hold its shape. Garren says hair can then be brushed or worked through with the fingers after arriving at an event, allowing the style to bounce back.
Garren's Biggest Lesson: Stop Playing It Safe
But his philosophy is not limited to products.
Garren is equally passionate about encouraging clients to take risks with their cuts–something he says is desperately needed as he grows tired of repetitive hair trends.
'I'm just so bored with it, so I started doing interviews and saying, "Please cut your hair. Whack it off, chop it - do something to it",' he told Page Six Style.
One of his most famous transformations came in 2008, when he encouraged Victoria Beckham to ditch her extensions and embrace a dramatically shorter pixie cut.
Garren recalled Beckham saying she wanted to 'take the Posh out of me'. After seeing the finished cut, she reportedly felt she looked younger and less stiff. She then stayed inside her hotel for almost four days before unveiling the new style at a Marc Jacobs show, turning the haircut into an instant fashion moment.
His advice, therefore, is surprisingly straightforward: don't keep changing products simply because you've been told your hair will stop responding to them.
Instead, find haircare that suits your texture and needs, use it consistently and focus on technique and styling when you want to transform your look.
And if your hair still feels uninspiring? Garren's answer may be even bolder – perhaps it's time to stop playing safe and finally pick up the scissors.
