Hair and Now
Shampoo, Shampoo Everywhere...
In today’s care hair industry, there’s a plethora of products to choose from, and it’s very confusing. Which shampoo, conditioner, spray, gel, mousse, moisturizers, etc., should I buy? The local grocery store carries a gazillion brands and products. Many people ask me which products are best and if the professional products sold at the salons are any better than those available at the grocery store. Yes, the professional products are better, but the "best" product really depends on you and your hair.
The main thing that separates salon products from generic products is what constitutes them: the ingredients. Ingredients are listed on the bottle-check them out. At the top of the list is the basic lathering agents and water, or surfactants. Salon products have milder surfactants than generic products. For example, ammonium laurel sulfate is common in over-the-counter products, while the less harsh sodium laureth sulfate is usually found in salon products.
Next on the list is conditioning agents, which moisturize and allow moisture to penetrate the hair shaft and be locked in. Salon products have protein-based conditioning agents and are generally of higher quality than over-the-counter products.
Although professionally sold products are superior, you may prefer one salon brand to another. A good salon has two or three different brand choices. When there’s only one brand sold at a salon, you have no choice about what product you buy, and in turn, it may not be the right product. Also, if there are too many products, there’s no way for a stylist to be completely familiar with each product and know its ingredients and benefits.
The important thing to remember, however, is that in a salon, your stylist can recommend a product for your specific hair and color. Mixing brands and using cheaper products can result in color and texture changes of the hair. Stay with the products your stylist uses or recommends.
You may be thinking, "But I saw products that are sold at my salon in the local grocery store." This is called diversion, and professional products-like Redken, Rusk, Biolage, etc.-sold anywhere other than a licensed salon shouldn’t be trusted and aren’t guaranteed. The products can be diluted, and ingredients can be changed or removed. Redken has an Anti-Diversion policy, which you can read about at www.Redken.com, as well as find information to help stop diversion. In a nutshell, you get what you pay for.
Just as prescribed medicines are different than over-the-counter medicines and are only available from your doctor, salon products are better than over-the-counter products and are only available from your stylist. It’s important to trust your licensed stylist’s professional opinion. TPW
The main thing that separates salon products from generic products is what constitutes them: the ingredients. Ingredients are listed on the bottle-check them out. At the top of the list is the basic lathering agents and water, or surfactants. Salon products have milder surfactants than generic products. For example, ammonium laurel sulfate is common in over-the-counter products, while the less harsh sodium laureth sulfate is usually found in salon products.
Next on the list is conditioning agents, which moisturize and allow moisture to penetrate the hair shaft and be locked in. Salon products have protein-based conditioning agents and are generally of higher quality than over-the-counter products.
Although professionally sold products are superior, you may prefer one salon brand to another. A good salon has two or three different brand choices. When there’s only one brand sold at a salon, you have no choice about what product you buy, and in turn, it may not be the right product. Also, if there are too many products, there’s no way for a stylist to be completely familiar with each product and know its ingredients and benefits.
The important thing to remember, however, is that in a salon, your stylist can recommend a product for your specific hair and color. Mixing brands and using cheaper products can result in color and texture changes of the hair. Stay with the products your stylist uses or recommends.
You may be thinking, "But I saw products that are sold at my salon in the local grocery store." This is called diversion, and professional products-like Redken, Rusk, Biolage, etc.-sold anywhere other than a licensed salon shouldn’t be trusted and aren’t guaranteed. The products can be diluted, and ingredients can be changed or removed. Redken has an Anti-Diversion policy, which you can read about at www.Redken.com, as well as find information to help stop diversion. In a nutshell, you get what you pay for.
Just as prescribed medicines are different than over-the-counter medicines and are only available from your doctor, salon products are better than over-the-counter products and are only available from your stylist. It’s important to trust your licensed stylist’s professional opinion. TPW