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Thread: Drugstore vs. Salon products

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    Default Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Since I've been abusing my hair so badly recently (frequent flat-ironing (3-5 times a week), alcohol based hair spray, hair dye, etc) I've started to look for better products for my hair so I don't kill it so quickly. I use a thermal-protector spray for my hair when flat ironing (Special Effects spray), use coconut oil in my hair once a week, and use a moisturizing shampoo (Tresemme). I was looking into salon-quality products (TIGI, Redken, etc.) but I'm not sure of the difference, beside the hug gap in price.

    Tell me the difference between say...Aussie and Redken. I don't mean "It's so awesome!!" I mean some proof. I'm trying to justify the price. Also, any hair care tips for my battered hair would be lovely! It's in fairly good shape right now from all the conditioning I've done for it, but all tips are helpful.

  2. #2
    Callyish
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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    I use Pantine Brunette Expressions shampoo and conditioner(I used to use Pureology but it was just getting expensive). Anyway I follow that with John Frieda Frizz - Ease hair serum thermal protection.

    My hair is healthy and happy and shiny and stuff. I flat iron my hair like two three times a day(I work long ass shifts and my hair gets icky and needs to be redone a few times a day/night) I also use hair spray and glitter hair spray every day so my hair does take a beating.

    I just can't bring myself to drop an arm and a leg on hair products considering I shampoo and condition my hair daily. If I don't wash my hair daily it gets nasty as hell.

    Anyway just my two cents.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    I'm a big devotee of salon products, but I will be the first to admit that if the drugstore stuff works for you, then stick with it.

    The main difference that most people seem to notice is that drugstore lines have a whole lot of silicones and sulfates. Again, for some people these are fine, yet for others, they dry out the hair and/or cause buildup that dulls it. I personally fall into the latter category,and have not used anything but salon stuff since '94. My hair has been better since, but honestly, it didn't really get in good condition until 1) I got pregnant, and after (my hormone change did WONDERS); and 2) I stopped blow-drying completely. Of course these are not viable options for most ladies.
    Many drugstores now sell salon-ready lines anyway, but of course the price is high. The coconut oil is great for your hair, and if it is working, I would advice continuing on this vein, maybe trying jojoba and even olive oil (ppl use this with varying success).
    If you are that curious, see if someone you know has some salon products and will dispense a sample for you, or see if your hairdresser will find some for you. I could tell a distinct difference after using Biolage's Deep Conditioner the very first time. I was hooked.
    Sometimes the high price is justified...and sometimes it's not. Sorry, I don't think that really answers your question.
    I'm getting ready to put my best friend on a new hair regimen that includes some $25 shampoo..but her drugstore stuff is certainly NOT helping.
    I really think you get what you pay for. Just MHO.

    Oh! And see if you can re-arrange your schedule so that you don't have to blow-dry your hair as much. It really helps.
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  4. #4
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Also... salon stuff is a higher concentrate... so a $20 bottle of salon stuff would last as long as 4 $5 bottles of a drugstore brand. Just another thing to think about.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    The essential ingredients (protein, vitamins, moisturizers etc.) in professional salon products are more concentrated. Professional salon products also contain less fillers and harsh chemicals... for example a salon brand shampoo will probably contain sodium laureth sulfite whereas a drugstore brand may contain ammonium laurel sulfate, which is harsher for the hair/scalp.

    There are great drugstore products and shitty professional products, so do what works for you.

    Just makes sure that if you do decide on buying salon products that you buy them for a reputable store or licensed salon... not the local CVS, Walgreens or Target etc.


  6. #6
    Callyish
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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Quote Originally Posted by AudreyLeigh View Post
    Also... salon stuff is a higher concentrate... so a $20 bottle of salon stuff would last as long as 4 $5 bottles of a drugstore brand. Just another thing to think about.
    See I dunno.... Like I have hair over half way down my back and its SUPER THICK. Like I have to use a fair amount(even if I mix the conditioner with water to try and stretch it out) it still doesn't last me long. I love my hair and its one of my biggest selling points because its so thick long and shiny... but I can't justify spending almost $100 a month on shampoo/conditioner then even more money for serum and other styling products. Seriously a bottle of conditioner lasts me less then two weeks...

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Better technology and better quality ingredients. The stuff you get in the drug store uses bottom of the barrel ingredients- wax instead of ceramides or essential oils to moisturize. Some professional lines like PureOlogy are designed to work on a cellular level... developing those technologies and producing them consistantly in each bottle costs the company more money, hence the higher price points.

    The best way for me to put it in a nutshell is the stuff you get at the grocery store will treat your hairs symptoms... some lines of professional products will treat the cause.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    I was using Nexxus before I started school at Aveda. Now I use Aveda and Nexxus. When I ask clients what they use I can honestly say the ones that use professional products have healthier hair then the ones who don't. I know Nexxus is sold in the drug store now but I personally like the product. I haven't experimented with much with others but I understand Redken is good as well.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Quote Originally Posted by AudreyLeigh View Post
    Also... salon stuff is a higher concentrate... so a $20 bottle of salon stuff would last as long as 4 $5 bottles of a drugstore brand. Just another thing to think about.
    This is soooo true. I use pureology products. They are kinda expensive but last FOREVER!!
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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Quote Originally Posted by seraya View Post
    Just makes sure that if you do decide on buying salon products that you buy them for a reputable store or licensed salon... not the local CVS, Walgreens or Target etc.
    Why is this important? What is the difference?

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    God/dess greenidlady1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    I'm pretty sure only salons are licensed to sell these products. We were told if we ever saw Aveda sold at one of the places to let them know.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Quote Originally Posted by MeanGirl View Post
    Why is this important? What is the difference?
    I read somewhere that the drugstores get those products clsoe to their expiration. I have no clue if it's true....I'm just saying.

    To the OP....I noticed a difference in my hair shiny-ness and texture after the very first time I used biolage. I, like the other person that said this above, was hooked. I've tried several other salon brands, but I kept going back to Biolage. Recently, I was kinda broke and bought pantene ice shine ....omg it was TERRIBLE! It was at that moment that I really truly realized what a difference it was and how harsh drugstore products can be.

    So, after having the sulfate issue being brought up here, I decided to buy ABBA shampoo and conditioner (which does not have any sulfates, but it does have silicones in the conditioner). Anyways, my hair has never looked and felt better. It's only been 2 weeks, my hair is silky, shiny, has less fly-aways.

    I blow dry my hair about once a week and I straighten my hair about 5-6 times a week. I wash my hair every other shower, sometimes I only condition it.






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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Honestly, my favorite product is from the drugstore, and I hate drugstore products. I have curly hair which I flat iron sometimes, and I use (I know its super cheap but whatevs) Pink brand protective shine spray. It is oil based so don't use it if you have oily hair, but if your hair is dry it is awesome and alcohol free.
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  14. #14
    High_Heel_Lover
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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    I heard about that in Paul Mitchell (sp?) but I see it in the supermarket, drug store all over, shoul I call Paul Mitchell?

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Quote Originally Posted by greenidlady1 View Post
    I'm pretty sure only salons are licensed to sell these products. We were told if we ever saw Aveda sold at one of the places to let them know.
    Im confused as to how those places are alowed to sell them if they don't have liscenses or permission? I thought CVS and Target were like law abiding places.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    I can actually explain how it is legal. It is only legal for people with hairdresser or salon liscences to BUY the products from the distributer. However, it is NOT illegal for the hairdresser to turn around and then SELL the products to another individual.

    There are certain companies, such as Bumble and Bumble, who make hairdresser and salons who buy their products sign a waver not to sell them in large quantities to other distributers. However, those companies are few an far between.

    It is also a well suspected theory amongst many hairdressers that the companies themselves might be releasing product out there due to the sheer volume of drug stores that carry it...
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    Featured Member AmazingKat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Heh, Target just started carrying Bumble and Bumble a few weeks ago. I was quite surprised. They actually expanded their entire "salon" haircare section to a ton of other high priced brands I'm unfamiliar with.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    target i'm unsure of, because they get major brand tie ins all the time.

    anyway...

    i think salon brands are much better. i LOVE bed head shampoos & conditioners. when i lather, all i have to do is dunk my head in the bathtub ONCE and the stuff just foams right out of my hair. i love it!!!!!!!!!!!

    since going to hair school, i can honestly say i haven't found a drugstore hair line that works better for me than tigi.

    QUESTION ABOUT AVEDA: a cheapie salon here in se tx sells aveda and advertises that. they are called beauty suprise, and sell all the other brands as well. i thought aveda was exclusive!!!!

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    I thought Aveda was exclusive too. Maybe it's different in some places.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    I've been using Goldwell products for a few years now. I have really long curly hair and I noticed that it stopped frizzing as much and was much more managable. I think that Salon products have more of the stuff you want on your hair as apposed to drug store products that have a lot of fillers.

    I used to use Pantene before and I thought that was good...until I tried the goldwell. I buy it on ebay and usually get a good deal.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    in canada i use fred and goldwell. it's gooooood!!!!

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    they are called beauty suprise

    Bad name for a salon i don't know what the suprise is but i don't want to find out on my head lol lol

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    i went there when i was young and poor. 13 for a haircut!!

    but... they never cleaned me off or styled me so... i always itched because i had hair everywhere... on my face, neck, back etc.

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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    Quote Originally Posted by Callyish View Post
    See I dunno.... Like I have hair over half way down my back and its SUPER THICK. Like I have to use a fair amount(even if I mix the conditioner with water to try and stretch it out) it still doesn't last me long. I love my hair and its one of my biggest selling points because its so thick long and shiny... but I can't justify spending almost $100 a month on shampoo/conditioner then even more money for serum and other styling products. Seriously a bottle of conditioner lasts me less then two weeks...
    I buy liters of my shampoo and conditioner, either on Ebay, or at Ulta when they go on sale. You can save a bundle of money that way. My hair is 20" long (bra-clasp length and of normal thickness, and a liter of conditioner will last me at least 6-8 months (and I use a pretty fair amount of product myself). Even if you used twice as much as me, a bottle would last you 3 months at the minimum.

    Anyway, I've used Nexxus Therappe and Humectress since HS and those are awesome for my hair. Controls flyaways, makes my hair healthy and silky, controls static, very good for detangling. My hair is fine and pin-straight, and tangles if I look at it cross-eyed. Both products also have a great scent, very delicate coconut and vanilla.

    On the recommendation of my hairstylist, and my being low on shampoo and conditioner at the time, I decided to give Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny shampoo and daily treatment conditioner a try. That stuff works just as well as the Nexxus, with even better flyaway control, and isn't as heavy as Humectress can be. The only down side is that it REEKS of apple. (Paul Mitchell is almost as bad as Pantene in the scent pungency department.)

    I still bought a liter of each on Ebay because the product works so well, I can put up with the smell. (Or other people can. *heh*) I paid $28 for the pair of liters, including shipping, whereas they would have been $47 regular-priced at Ulta. Even so, that'll last me at least until Christmas. That's only $4 a month for shampoo AND conditioner! Even Suave costs more than that.

    So, if nothing else, buying salon-quality products means you get a better product for the same price as the cheap stuff, use for use.

    As for controlling styling damage, I'd say to use as few products as possible, blow-dry using cool air if you can, take your vitamins and eat your protein, and continue the deep-conditioning treatments.

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    Featured Member mina loy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Drugstore vs. Salon products

    no, there is no real difference between drugstore and salon products. cosmetics chemists can assure you that "sodium laureth sulfate" found in an expensive salon shampoo is of the same grade and quality of a drugstore brand. check out the ingredients list: you'll notice that there are often the exact same ingredients.

    for those of you who are skeptical, i recommend paula begoun's "don't go shopping for hair care products without me." you can also go to beautypedia.com

    i myself use l'oreal vive that comes in an orange bottle, l'oreal's straightening cream, and goldwell's volume gel.
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