As most of you know, I have been a licensed Cosmetologist for nearly 10 years and am very passionate about the beauty industry.  That's why I feel it necessary to educate everyone on the continuously growing problem within this industry, PRODUCT DIVERSION.

What is product diversion? When you shop at Walmart, CVS, the grocery store, etc. and make your way down the shampoo aisle - you will notice more and more professional salon products. These products include those that are typically sold in salons, and include brands such as TIGI, Paul Mitchell, Sexy Hair, Matrix, and Redken to name a few. Although this is not illegal its not "OK".

Typically professional brands have sales agreements with a salon or distributor to promote and sell their products. This ensures their products are being sold by professionals who can educate a client in choosing the proper product for their hair needs.

Have you ever read the back of the bottle of a professional hair product? ALL of them read something along the lines of "Not guaranteed unless sold in a professional salon". So you're still thinking "What's the big deal?". Basically when you purchase a professional product at a store other than a salon or beauty supply you are buying black market products. They are products that have been sold to that particular store "under the table" without authorization from that manufacturer. Without the manufacturer's consent you have no idea what you are buying. The product could be old and past it's recommended use date; it may not be the product you think you are buying; it may just be in a bottle that looks the same; and even worse, it could contain bacteria!

Do you know how often people accidentally cut their scalps and don't know it? If you put shampoo containing bacteria on your head and there is a cut present - be ready for a nasty infection! 

But it costs less at mega-stores, right?  WRONG!  Several under-cover investigations by news organizations confirm that most of the time when you buy one of these products from a mass retailer, it usually costs more!

Another important consideration... I have spent 9 years educating myself in this industry and want my clients to buy products from me, given that I have spent my time helping them to find the correct products to use to recreate the style that I just gave them!  That was my time, skills, and knowledge - why should Walmart get the commission from that? If you truly love what your stylist does for you, show your loyalty and appreciation by helping him/her out and purchase products from them! Why take the commissions from salons when that is what we are in business for?

Until there is a law passed to make this illegal, everyone in the beauty industry needs to educate clients on why this is so important to us. So please help the beauty industry and buy salon products ONLY in salons!

Salon products vs. Drugstore products - This is a slightly different topic, but it is worth discussing. Why should you buy a salon brand as opposed to Suave or Clairol? Salon products have guidelines to follow to be considered a professional product. Drugstore brands don't. Your Suave hairpray could be mostly water and alcohol... Your shampoo might be more water than active cleansing ingredient.... Oh! and salon products are concentrated, so you actually use less. So yeah, salon products cost a bit more but you use less and you are getting a great product that works!

Thank you so much for reading this! This topic is important to my industry and to me! 

Sincerely,

Danielle

But It's Cheaper to Buy at Mass Retailers...NOT!

While it may surprise you, you are probably at a price disadvantage when you purchase salon products from retailers such as food, drug and other mass retailers. In fact, through our price checks we have found that salon products purchased at mass retailers are AT LEAST 10% higher than when bought at your local salon or spa.

ABC Phoenix recently reported on diversion. The investigative article explains what diversion is, that it ultimately can rip off consumers and that products may be contaminated. Consumers need to know that non-authorized stores can charge anywhere from 50% up to $5. For example, ABC15 found Redken Color Extend Shampoo for $15.69 at a popular supermarket vs. $11.50 at the salon across the street. Matrix's Sleek.look Shampoo was found for $17.99 at a drug store, vs. $13.95 at a salon.

Click here to read the full article and watch the investigative video.

Good Morning America Feature (2008)

Diversion was the topic of a Consumer Alert segment on ABC’s Good Morning America. The 3-minute segment provides consumers with three reasons

(the three C’s) to not to buy salon products in unauthorized outlets –

Counterfeit, Contamination and Costs more at what you think of as bargain stores.

Additionally, they featured these tips to spot Diverted products:
1. The products appear to be watered down
2. The packaging is not the original and this is especially noticeable on the cap

Click here to watch the video, and learn how a client could have saved $15 by purchasing the products featured in the video which include Biolage & Redken at a salon.