Shampoo is Shampoo ...

by contributing stylist Rhonda

The shampoo you use and where you purchase it doesn't matter.  Or, does it?  You can get your hair clean with a bar of soap, but that doesn't mean it's best for your hair.  Do you want your dollars to support a huge department store corporation, or do you want to support the livelihood and continuing education of your stylist?  

Know these facts before you add shampoo to your grocery list:

1. Though the ingredients in over-the-counter shampoos may look and sound the same as professional shampoos, the actual quality is different.
   
   Take for example the comparison of a box of name-brand Kraft macaroni-and-cheese, and a box of a generic macaroni-and-cheese; both have macaroni that you boil and a pouch of powdered cheese that you add your own butter and milk to.  However, it's the quality of the ingredients inside the pouch and of the macaroni that makes the difference in the results and taste.
   
   It's the same with shampoo; it's the high quality of the actual ingredients of professional hair care products that make the difference.  As in keratin, the quality varies greatly with the type of keratin used, and even how and from where it is harvested.
2. If you purchase shampoo and other home care products from your trusted stylist, you have an assurance that the product will actually work for your hair, and won't end up under your sink collecting dust.
   
   All professional manufacturers that I know of offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  If you return the item, the salon does not incur a loss, as the manufacturer will exchange the returned item for them.
3. Your salon purchase, just like the purchase of your haircut and color, provides additional income for your stylist, and may even be a source of continued education for them.  If you care about your stylist, you will buy your home care products from them.

Does it matter?  Well, like I said earlier, you can get your hair clean with a bar of soap, but that doesn't mean it's best for your hair.  Do you want to support a huge department store corporation, or do you want to support the livelihood of your stylist and their family?  The choice is yours, and your stylist does notice.