21 Mar Salon Shampoo vs Store bought shampoo
This has been a debateable topic ever since the option or choice became available to the general public. Let me say upfront that the choice is yours to make. My desire with this article is to help you make an informed choice. The biggest factor that deters you the consumer from choosing salon products is the cost. In the present day and age, who isn’t watching their budget and tightening their belt, cutting corners with costs whenever possible? The initial argument in favour of salon shampoos and conditioners is that they are concentrated and so you would need to use less thus it would give you value for your money in how long it would last. This however is only truly valid in the sense of how long it lasts you depending on how frequently you wash your hair and how long or thick your hair is. So, for some people this point is enough to sway them, but not all.
So, what is the benefit of salon bought shampoo and conditioner to a store bought one? We are seeing many professional lines appearing in the supermarkets now so why does your stylist still recommend you buy from in salon? For starters the many of the cheap products you see on the supermarket shelves are no better than dishwashing liquid; cheap to make and cheap to sell. The professional name brands are often ‘old technology’. They are no longer top of the range and so actually not equal in benefit for you and your hair. The manufacture of hair products is an evolving business and it is a growing movement to provide and build better upon better for optimal hair care. As science and nature combine and the idea of synthetic and chemical is no longer desired so a more pure and healthier product is sort after and in demand to be developed. These most recent or top of the range line of products become available for salon retail only. Often these new products will contain plant extracts which make the product more expensive to make in the first place; much like the argument and cost involved with organic foods. It is more expensive to eat healthy these days and so it is with anything that is better for you in general. The cheaper products or old lines will contain higher quantities of chemicals and ingredients that are not good for you. Many will eventually feel to the user like they are no longer performing and so ought to be changed. This is due largely to build up on the hair from sulphates, silica and fillers, forming a barrier preventing optimal benefit penetrating the hair and can even interfere with colour or perm procedures in-salon. For many the argument continues with the fact that there is very little difference as the ingredients remain the same. While this may be so, the quality of the ingredients differs and definitely are of a higher standard in the salon supplied shampoos and conditioners. In fact some ingredients now known to be dangerous to health in general like sulphates and parabens are being eliminated altogether in your top of the range lines. So, the question is really; can you justify the cost and how much do you care about your hair and general health? Store bought shampoos have more water, sulphates and fillers and less vitamins, oils and minerals which are designed to keep your hair healthy. Another benefit of buying your shampoo and conditioning product in salon is you will get the right product recommended to you where in the supermarket advice is not available. Shampoo is more than simply soap to clean the hair and scalp but is more of a prescription formula designed to meet certain needs of varying hair types. If you trust your regular stylist with your hair and the advice they offer why not trust the product they carry too? It is like buying wine….wine is made of grapes. All wine is made of grapes and goes through similar processes. Some wine is worth five dollars a bottle and others are valued at hundreds of dollars. A professional wine steward can tell subtle differences when comparing two different wines. A professional hairdresser feels the same about shampoo and hair care products. When you buy a great wine from a family owned vineyard that takes pride in recommending a wine that will perfectly compliment that special meal, it’s worth more and appreciated more. Even though there may be a cheaper option made with the same ingredients from the local BWS . Likewise, with hair care products bought from your stylist. When you buy your hair care products from your stylist you are helping them make a living to support themselves and their family and reinvest into their business to serve you better. I leave you with a challenge…..buy a cheap budget rate shampoo and conditioner and then indulge in the expense of a salon provided shampoo and conditioner and decide then. You shop according to what your convictions are what results you wish for your hair.
