Hair Care Quandary

Hair Care Quandary

Navigating the rows of hair care products at your favorite retailer can be a rather daunting task. There are so many brands, types, sizes, uses, bottle shapes, and heck, even means of dispensing that finding the right solution for your hair needs can seem impossible. What about the different brands? Is one really better over another and why are some only available in the salon or beauty supply why can others be purchased pretty much anywhere?

Even if you find a way to narrow your search to a certain brand, professional or otherwise, how do you choose a shampoo or conditioner type? How do you know if you need a volumizing shampoo or a hydrating conditioner? Is it even okay to use one type of shampoo and a different type of conditioner? Should you only use the one type of shampoo and conditioner at all times or should you switch it up from time to time? And really, why would you want to pay $20-30 for a bottle of shampoo just because it’s a professional brand versus the consumer brands that dominate the drugstore shelves?

Hair Care Quandary

To help address the array of questions, we reached out to Claire Essex, education director of Salons Unlimited, the parent company for a small chain of salons doing business across three states in the Midwest. According to Claire there really is a difference between the vast number of formulas populating the crowded shampoo and conditioner aisles. Not just in what they do but the quality of the ingredients that goes into them.

“There’s typically a reason why a bottle of shampoo or conditioner costs more and it comes down to the quality of ingredients. You simply can’t put the same quality of ingredients in a less expensive formula. However, you can’t assume that more expensive is always better. You never know if a store brand is taking advantage of consumer unawareness, offering products in pretty packages with inferior ingredients while charging an arm and leg,” said Claire. 

She continues, “The best way to arm yourself is to do some research about the types of ingredients that go into these products, what they are used for, and how they work best, which will help you in deciding what type of product you need for your specific hair type and condition.”

“Many of the cheaper options out there also come with a price tag in a different way. For example, less expensive shampoos typically use sulfates, which are technically a less expensive cleansing agent. Basically, it’s slightly above an industrial grade degreaser, which can be very drying and harsh on your tresses, causing color fading and coarse, dry hair.  In other causes, some of the ingredients come with a health warning, the worst of which being known carcinogens in varying amounts. With some of these products you may actually be doing more harm to yourself in the name of ‘caring’ for your hair.”

Hair Care QuandaryAccording to this seasoned salon professional, your choice of retailer may also be a big part of your problem. Finding professional hair care brands online or at the supermarket or drug store may seem like you scored a great deal or convenient way of shopping, but the truth is that these products may not be authentic and in some cases could even be out of date. Moreover, they do not come with the advice of your salon professional. Your hairdresser knows your hair best and can make recommendations based on your hair type, condition, and desired result, so why wouldn’t you want to take their advice to help keep your hair looking its best? You are a walking billboard for them so they truly want you to look good and are willing to help find the right solution for your needs.

“As far as taking our advice and then buying at the supermarket, drug store or online,” says Claire, continuing, “our heart actually breaks a little each time. Selling retail products helps offset the cost of operating a salon and since most salons are small mom and pop operations or local franchise owners, why wouldn’t you want to help support them over the big businesses that pocket the profits elsewhere. You’d think you’d want the profits to go back into YOUR local economy!”

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