Shout out to those who squeeze every last drop out of their shampoo bottles. I’m with you. Finding ways to save on hair care products can be a challenge, and preserving what you have left in the bottle may feel like the right move to avoid having to stock up again. But I’m here to fill you in on much easier (and less stressful) ways to save on hair care products.
First off, if you’re paying full price for shampoo and conditioner at drugstores, cut it out. You’re throwing money away. And then rinsing it down the drain. Hair care coupons can help you slash regular prices by at least 50%. And when there’s a really good deal, you can stock up on multiples. That way you’ll find yourself with empty shampoo bottles far less often.
Second, don’t assume you have to pay full price for premium hair care brands. There are easy ways to save 40% or more on the highest-quality hair care products if drugstore brands don’t work for you. Hint: You can shop the latest Ulta deals.
If you and your wallet desperately need new ways to save on hair care products, listen up. Whether you’re looking for drugstore brands like Garnier and Tresemme or high-end products like Olaplex and Redken, use these failproof tips for scoring the best deals on hair care.
Be sure to download The Krazy Coupon Lady app for the latest hair care deals, coupon stacking opportunities, and moneymakers.
1. The best way to save on hair care in a nutshell? Shop the big sales and stack those coupons.
There are plenty of ways to save on hair care products, whether you’re buying drugstore or premium brands. However, your best money-saving approach depends on what you’re looking for. If high-end hair care is important to you, waiting for a limited-time sale is the best way to go. If you’re totally fine with drugstore brands, it’s all about stacking coupons with weekly ad deals.
Hair Care Coupons
Coupons are the holy grail of saving at drugstores and big box retailers like Target and Walmart. Stacking different types of manufacturer coupons with store offers, ideally on top of a sale price, is the key to scoring the best drugstore deals on hair care products.
Hair Care Sales
Premium hair care and coupons don’t go hand in hand, so shopping the biggest sales at stores like Ulta is your best bet for saving up to 50% on the premium stuff.
2. To compare hair care prices across different brands, stores, and bottle sizes, always calculate the cost per ounce.
So, you’re in the store shopping for a new shampoo and conditioner duo. You turn down the aisle and see hundreds of options from dozens of brands — in bottles of various shapes and sizes. Unless you’re a math genius, it’s impossible to tell which gets you the best deal by simply eyeballing the price tags.
The solution? Calculate the cost per ounce (or fluid ounce) for each item. But don’t worry. It’s nothing the calculator on your phone can’t handle. All you have to do is divide the price of the bottle by its total ounces (which are usually printed at the bottom of the bottle).
Bottle Price / Ounces = Cost Per Ounce
For example, a 28 oz. bottle of Tresseme Shampoo costs $6.29, so your cost per ounce is $0.22. If you’re worried about doing the math, don’t stress. We’ve already run a lot of the numbers for you.
3. Drugstores like CVS and Walgreens are the best places to stack hair care coupons.
Drugstores like CVS and Walgreens make it easy to stack multiple coupons on shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in treatments. Plus, they drop sales on hair care products often. So you can combine sale prices, coupons, and store-specific offers from CVS ExtraCare and MyWalgreens on a single item.
A few hair care brands that frequently go on sale are Aussie, Dove, Garnier, L’Oreal, and Tresemme. There are almost always coupons available for these brands, so you can bank on savings whenever you need to stock up.
Here’s our stash of hair care coupons for brands that regularly go on sale:
- Aussie coupons
- Dove coupons
- Garnier coupons
- Herbal Essences coupons
- L’Oreal coupons
- Pantene coupons
- Tresemme coupons
4. Stock up on drugstore brands when prices hit $0.99 per bottle (around $0.07 – $0.08 per ounce).
If drugstore brands work fine for your hair, there’s no need to pay more for the high-end stuff. Without coupons, drugstores are one of the most expensive places to buy popular hair care brands like Garnier Fructis and Tresemme. But with coupons, you can pay less than $0.99 per bottle, with a goal price of around $0.07 – $0.08 per ounce.
Stores like Walgreens and CVS have some of the lowest prices on hair care products, especially when you stack coupons and buy more than one bottle at a time.
For example, here are some of the best coupon stacking opportunities we’ve seen at CVS in the last 90 days:
| Product | Reg. Price | Deals to Apply | Final Price | Cost Per Ounce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aussie (12.1 oz.) | $4.69 each | Sale: Buy one get one 50% off
Rewards: Buy 2, receive $4 in ExtraBucks Rebate: $2 off 2 from Coupons.com | $0.75 each | $0.06 |
| Dove (12 oz.) | $5.29 each | Store coupon: $3 off $15 of Dove products
Newspaper coupon: $3 off 2 Dove hair care products Rewards: Spend $20, receive $10 in ExtraBucks | $0.54 each | $0.05 |
| Herbal Essences (13.5 oz.) | $8.49 each | Sale: Buy one get one 40% off
Rewards: Buy 2, receive $4 in ExtraBucks In-app Store Coupon: $4 off 2 Herbal Essences products | $2.79 each | $0.21 |
| L’Oreal (12.6 oz.) | $5.29 each | Sale: Marked down to $4.50 each
Newspaper coupon: $4 off 2 L’Oreal products Rewards: Buy 2, receive $4 in ExtraBucks | $0.50 each | $0.04 |
And these are some of the best offers at Walgreens during the same time period:
| Product | Reg. Price | Deals to Apply | Final Price | Cost Per Ounce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garnier Fructis (12.5 oz.) | $4.99 each | In-app store coupon: $3 off 2 Garnier Fructis products
Rewards: Buy 2, receive $4 in Register Rewards | $1.49 each | $0.12 |
| Pantene Pro-V (12 oz.) | $5.99 each | Sale: Marked down to $5.00 each
Digital store coupon: $5 off 3 Pantene products Rewards: Buy 2, receive $4 in Register Rewards | $2 each | $0.17 |
| Tresemme (28 oz.) | $6.29 each | Sale: Marked down to $6 each
In-app store coupon: $7 off 3 Tresemme or Dove products Rewards: Buy 3, receive $5 in Walgreens Cash | $2 each | $0.07 |
5. You’re better off buying name-brand hair care with coupons than buying the cheapest brands without coupons.
You may be asking, “Why bother couponing when I can buy brands like Suave and VO5 for cheap as is?”
That’s a fair question. But the truth is, couponing on the more recognizable hair care brands gets you a lower price in the end. You’re more likely to find multiple offers available on these brands at once, which you can then stack for a much lower cost per ounce.
| Store | Product | Price | Cost Per Ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVS | VO5 Shampoo (15 oz.) | $1.79 | $0.12 |
| CVS | L’Oreal Shampoo (12.6 oz.) | $0.50 | $0.04 |
| Store | Product | Price | Cost Per Ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreens | Suave Essentials (22.5 oz.) | $2.49 | $0.11 |
| Walgreens | Tresemme Shampoo (28 oz.) | $2 | $0.07 |
Couponing for brands like Aussie, L’Oreal, and Tresemme gets you a lower cost per ounce ($0.04 – $0.07) versus buying brands like Suave and VO5 without coupons.
6. Get drugstore prices at Target by stacking coupons, Circle offers, gift card promos, and RedCard savings.
Like CVS and Walgreens, couponing at Target is all about stacking. And manufacturer coupons are just the start.
At Target, you can combine manufacturer coupons, Target Circle offers, and your 5% Target RedCard discount for bigger savings. Plus, Target often throws out gift card promos on certain beauty and hair care items, like buy 3, get a $5 Target gift card. You can even stack a Target store coupon on top of that if the coupon terms allow. Either way, stacking as many offers as possible is the key to scoring those $0.10 per ounce drugstore prices at Target.
Target most frequently drops Circle offers on Purezero hair care, but you’ll also find coupon stacking opportunities on Dove, L’Oreal, Garnier Fructis, and Tresemme, too.
This recent deal on Purezero shampoo gave you a final price of $0.33 per bottle (or just $0.03 per ounce):
7. Walmart doesn’t have store coupons, but you can combine manufacturer coupons and cashback for a low cost per ounce.
Walmart’s regular prices for hair care are already pretty low. You can find Dove for $0.27 per ounce and Pantene Pro-V for $0.29 per ounce without any sales or coupons.
But when you combine Walmart Rollbacks, manufacturer coupons, and cashback from apps like Ibotta, you can cut down on already low prices.
This recent Walmart deal on Pantene Pro-V hair care got you three bottles for $5.46, giving you a cost per ounce of $0.18:
Walmart+ members also have access to Walmart Rewards, which are powered by (and often identical to) Ibotta offers. But these savings are exclusive to paid members.TIP: Unlike Target, the Walmart coupon policy allows for overages. So if your coupon is worth more than the hair care item itself, you can actually make money shopping!
8. Shopping at warehouse clubs like Costco is best for lazy couponers — but you’ll need Instant Savings to make it worth it.
If stacking various coupons, rebates, and store rewards seems like a lot of work, we get it. There are easier ways to scoop savings, but taking the easy route might not pay off as much.
Bulk prices at wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club are still a great way to save on hair care. The key is to look out for Instant Savings, aka those 3 – 4 week offers that give you $2 – $3 off certain products (like shampoos, conditioners, etc.).
Costco’s Instant Savings (in the monthly Costco Coupon Book) can get you prices as low as $0.23 per ounce. You’ll find deals on hair care brands like Monday, Pantene Advanced Care, Shea Moisture, and Kristin Ess. And with Sam’s Club Instant Savings, you can pay as low as $0.21 per ounce for hair care brands like Nexxus, Pantene Pro-V, Aussie, and Dove.
Another great wholesale perk is the satisfaction guarantee on all your purchases. Both the Costco return policy and Sam’s Club’s return policy are extremely generous. You have forever to return items. So if you end up hating the product you bought in bulk, you’re not totally out of luck.
9. Use Amazon’s digital coupons and Subscribe & Save discounts to save 45% or more on hair care.
Amazon is another great way to save without the extra legwork. For Prime members, it’s one of the most convenient ways to shop overall. But you’ll set yourself up for bigger savings with Amazon’s digital coupons and Subscribe & Save discounts. This will get you a cost per ounce of around $0.18 for drugstore brands (like L’Oreal) and $0.29 for mid-tier hair care brands (like Nexxus and TIGI Bed Head).
The only problem — Amazon coupons are impossible to predict. It’s hard to tell beforehand whether Amazon will drop a coupon and which products will get the discount. So, you’ll have to check for Amazon hair care deals regularly, even when you don’t desperately need shampoo.
Amazon’s Subscribe & Save discount is more reliable and saves you 5% – 15% on every purchase. To get the discount, all you have to do is select Subscribe & Save when you add a hair care item to your Amazon cart. That right there will save you 5%. Add four more products to your auto-delivery, and you’ll save 15%. There are also limited-time Subscribe & Save coupons that can save you an extra 20%. When those deals drop, it’s the best time to shop.
Jumbo Nexxus Shampoo & Conditioner Set, 33.8 oz. per bottle
- Subscribe & Save: 5% or 15% off
- Amazon Coupon: 20% off Nexxus Shampoo & Conditioner with Subscribe & Save
Cost Per Ounce: $0.29
Jumbo L’Oreal Shampoo & Conditioner Set, 28 oz. per bottle
- Subscribe & Save: 5% or 15% off
- Amazon Coupon: 20% off L’Oreal Elvive Shampoo & Conditioner with Subscribe & Save
Cost Per Ounce: $0.18
10. If drugstore brands don’t do it for you, stock up on premium hair care when prices drop by 40% or more.
If you’re after the highest quality hair care products, couponing won’t help you nearly as much. You’ll have more success hitting up those huge sales at stores like Ulta.
Your goal for premium brands is to save at least 40%. And since discounts aren’t that steep on the reg, limited-time sales are your best shot at saving.
Ulta is one of the best places to shop for premium hair care brands. They have frequent sales, coupons, and bonus offers for Ultamate Rewards members. Shopping during an Ulta sale can save you 35% – 50% on premium hair care brands (more on that below).
Related: These Ulta Beauty hacks will save you serious cash on hair care.
11. Save 50% on premium hair care during Ulta’s twice-a-year Gorgeous Hair event.
The 21-day Ulta Gorgeous Hair event happens in May and October, and it’s one of the best times to stock up on high-quality hair products. A mix of premium shampoos, conditioners, and treatments go on sale for 50% off, with a new rotation of half-price items each week.
Here are a few 50% off shampoo and conditioner deals from the last Ulta Gorgeous Hair event:
| Shampoo/Conditioner | Reg. Price | Sale Price | Cost Per Ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pureology Hydrate (9 oz.) | $36 | $16.75 | $1.86 |
| Virtue (8 oz.) | $40 | $20 | $2.50 |
| Verb Hydrate (12 oz.) | $20 | $10 | $1.20 |
| Seen (8.6 oz.) | $26 | $13 | $1.51 |
| Klorane (13.5 oz.) | $20 | $10 | $0.74 |
TIP: The next Ulta Gorgeous Hair event kicks off May 14, 2023, with deals starting at $5.
12. Buy liter-sized shampoos and conditioners for up to 40% off during the Ulta Jumbo Love event.
Ashley Moore
Ulta’s Jumbo Love event happens twice a year in late June and December and offers deals on value-size bottles. Even with savings of only 40% off, you’ll likely save more than you think. Value-size shampoos and conditioners usually have a lower price per ounce as it is (hence the name “value size”).
Another perk of the Jumbo Love event (unlike the Gorgeous Hair event) is that you can use Ulta coupons, like the $3 off $15 purchases.
These are some of the best deals from the last Ulta Jumbo Love event:
| Shampoo/Conditioner | Reg. Price | Sale Price | Cost Per Ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biolage (33.8 oz.) | $32 | $21.49 | $0.64 |
| Joico (33.8 oz.) | $43.50 | $29.49 | $0.87 |
| Paul Mitchell Tea Tree (33.8 oz.) | $41.50 | $29.49 | $0.87 |
| Redken (33.8 oz.) | $46 | $29.49 | $0.87 |
13. Keep in mind: Target Ulta locations don’t participate in the same sales as Ulta.
When Ulta runs a sale like the Jumbo Love event, you won’t find those same discounts at Target Ulta locations. However, you do get to double up on both Target Circle earnings and Ultamate Rewards points on your Ulta purchases from Target.
Target doesn’t drop nearly as many offers and sale prices on Ulta products, but once in a while, you’ll find a Circle offer for 30% – 40% off a certain Ulta brand.
14. Save 35% – 40% on premium hair care during JCPenney’s Liter Sales once every three months.
Did you know JCPenney runs Liter Sales about twice a month? Yup! You have plenty of chances to save on premium hair care throughout the year. However, not all Liter Sales at JCPenney are created equal.
Once every three months, JCPenney Liter Sales have prices as low as $27.75 – $34.50 per product. So, for a 33.8 oz. bottle, you’d get a cost per ounce of around $0.82 – $1.02.
Plus, there’s usually a 10% off JCPenney promo code you can use to save even more money.
Related: Keep these JCPenney shopping hacks in mind as you hunt for the best hair care deals.
15. Zulily deals on hair care are hit-or-miss, but it’s worth keeping an eye out anyway.
A Zulily hair care sale is hard to plan for, but if you don’t at least check for deals, you could be missing out.
Zulily recently had a deal on a Luseta Shampoo & Conditioner duo, which included two 16.9 oz. bottles for $17.99. That gave you a cost per ounce of just $0.53.
This is a great deal for premium hair care brands. But there are a few things to know about shopping at Zulily. First, beauty products — including hair care — are not returnable. Ever.The second thing to keep in mind is that you’ll have to pay for shipping, which is $5.99. There are a few hacks to getting free Zulily shipping though, like placing multiple orders in one day. You’ll only pay for shipping on the first order.
Tell us what you think