When my clients ask me what I’m putting in their hair, and then they closely examine the bottle, I know what their next move is… online or department store product shopping. Before they leave my chair thinking they’ll find that same product “discounted” somewhere outside of the salon, I educate them on the importance of buying Professional products from an authorized and licensed distributor.
We have all seen popular Professional haircare brands such as Paul Mitchell, Bed Head, and Sebastian on the shelves of stores like CVS, Walmart, and TJ Maxx.. If you’re guilty of purchasing your products from these stores or even Amazon.com then keep reading!
I’m sure you’ve heard of the black market where you can find everything from Gucci to Prada for dirt cheap prices. Guess what, there’s something similar that’s taking over the salon industry! “In the beauty industry, diversion is the sale of professional salon products outside of their normal channels of distribution, otherwise known as a “grey” markets.”
If you see professional salon brand products and you’re not at a reliable salon or licensed distribution location.. RUN the other way. You might be tempted, because it’s convenient or maybe they’re having a sale.
But guess what you’re actually paying for.. product that’s diluted/watered down, expired, or even completely replaced with another product!
Did you ever notice how the department store barcode is usually covering the barcode on the actual bottle(of salon quality brands)? This is because diversion companies have overstock of salon products or have actually gone into salons and bought out products and they let them sit in their warehouse on shelves collecting dust for anywhere from months to years.. they wait until the original barcode expires so that the product cannot be traced. Which keeps them from getting in trouble.
Sometimes it can be totally obvious that you are getting diverted product simply because the packaging is out of date or the actual product has been discontinued.
A lot of department stores will also jack up the prices of these products since they are labeled as PROFESSIONAL.. but in reality, you’re paying for expired and diluted product.
**Most, if not all, Professional haircare products are only guaranteed if sold from a professional salon environment or licensed distributor**
Just like your doctor, who recommends and prescribes medications for you based on your needs.. a licensed hairstylist recommends what is best for your hair by determining several different factors such as it’s health, porosity, texture, density, and if it’s been chemically treated.
FUN FACT!
Did you know? … When people try to ‘self diagnose’ their hair conditions, they usually end up buying the wrong products. Like a lot of people will buy moisturizing products because their hair is frizzy but in reality, it’s really because your hair is so damaged from over the counter products. As an example… if you’re dealing with greasy hair, it might actually be because your hair is extremely dry(from using the wrong or expired products), so your scalp is producing extra oils to overcompensate and protect your hair! This is especially true if you’re using what I like to call “over the counter” haircare brands like Suave, Pantene, TreSemme, Herbal Essence, etc. Those brands have such a high pH because of their lack of quality ingredients that they strip your hair of their natural oils! Just think of it as washing your hair with Dawn Dish Soap. BUT you would never know that because of they are ‘enhanced’ with Protroleum based waxes that coat your hair to make them seem silky and shiny! Little do you know, underneath that layer of wax, your hair most likely looks like that nasty coating of white mildew that buildsup on your shower door, ewwww.
Just some of the things we learn at Cosmetology school that I thought I woud share with the world 😉
That’s why you basically get what you pay for… cheap ingredients = cheaper prices = poor integrity of your hair 😦 And we don’t like that. Although some professional brands do have lower prices, this does not automatically mean they aren’t good for your hair!
Always ask your hairstylist what products are best for you, your hair, and your lifestyle. And if you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford professional quality, express that to your stylist. If they truly care about the health and integrity of your hair, they’ll probably be willing to give a discount:)
If you would like to know more about professional vs. “over the counter” products, and why you’re really paying more for the ‘cheaper’ option.. check out my other blog
Changing people’s lives, one head of hair at a time ❤
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