It’s no secret that there are a lot of hair care products on the market. The long rows of shelves at your local store can make for a dizzying experience when looking for the best product at the best price. The question is, how do you know what’s best for you and your specific hair type, texture and condition? And, why would you opt for more expensive pro products when you can find plenty of “soap in a bottle” for less?
First of all, let’s address the whole consumer versus professional product difference right off the bat. You may think that because we sell professional products in our salon that we’re biased, but the truth is that there really is a difference between most professional brands and those only found on your supermarket or drugstore shelves.
The Difference
Professional products typically use a higher grade of ingredients in their formulations. That includes everything from cleansing and conditioning agents to fragrance and any active ingredients. One example, many of the cheaper direct-to-consumer shampoos use sulfates, which are technically a less expensive cleansing agent. A slight step above an industrial degreaser, sulfates can make these products be very drying and harsh on your tresses. Their high pH will react with your hair’s natural balance and can cause color fading and even severely dry out your hair. As sad as it is to think, you could actually be doing more harm than good by simply trying to care for your hair. So, the lesson here? Go for quality ingredients formulated with your hair health in mind.
Pro Products Found Elsewhere
Professional products are supposed to only be available at salons, and it’s set up this way for good reason. They are meant to be prescribed by a salon professional. After all, we know your hair best and can save you the time researching what to buy.
Finding professional hair care brands online or at the supermarket or drugstore may seem like you scored a great deal or convenient way of shopping, but the truth is that these products may not be authentic. In some cases, they could even be out of date, which may lead to foul-smelling concoctions that could easily make you sick. If you have an issue with a product, there’s also no one to talk with about it. The store will point the finger at the manufacturer and the manufacturer will likely not back products that are being sold by what they call unauthorized retailers. Now you are out the cost of the product and do not have anything to show for it.
These products also don’t come with the advice of your salon professional. As hairdressers, we really do know your hair best and can make recommendations based on your hair type, condition and desired result. So, why wouldn’t you want to take our advice to help keep your hair looking its best? You are a walking advertisement for our services and we truly want you to look good, so we are willing to help find the right solution for your needs.
As far as taking our advice and then buying at the supermarket, drugstore or online – well, our heart actually breaks a little each time it’s done. It’s important to understand that selling retail products helps us offset the cost of operating a salon. Besides, buying products from us means that the profits, and a chunk of any sales tax, goes back into YOUR local economy and helps YOUR community. Now, THAT just makes good sense!
Article courtesy of Rosy Salon Software