Which organic shampoos are head and shoulders above the rest?

I'm a little suspicious of expensive shampoos. Is a $20 bottle really that much better than the generic drugstore stuff priced at $3.49? Do "salon-quality" products really give you that much more shimmer and shine?

Today we have the added marketing buzz of "green" and "organic" just to confuse the issue further. Luckily, Sprig dove right into the bathtub to critique dozens of hair care products in search of the "best green shampoos and conditioners." And just to make it comprehensive, the blog broke down the results by various hair types.

Those of you with dry hair should try John Masters Organics gentle Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing shampoo and Hair Reconstructor, which contains linolenic and hyaluronic acids, honey, and hibiscus. The drugstore pick is Alba Organics Gardenia Hydrating shampoo and conditioner, which "unleashes a heady floral mood-booster and is packed with 100% vegetarian ingredients like pineapple and kukui nuts." And at $8.95 it's cheaper than salon products.

For the oily among you, Sprig suggests Dr. Hauschka's Nasturtium and Lemon shampoo, "a light citrusy blend of sustainably grown lemon and grapefruit extracts with oil-regulating nasturtium, neem, and watercress." Wow, sounds like salad dressing.

Of course, the best way to get inexpensive and truly natural shampoo is to make your own. Most of the recipes I dug up are made of readily available ingredients, although you may have to detour to the health food store for some of the recommended scents and oils.

Don Willmott's blog posts are provided by LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company.