Many people go to their local CVS to pick up shampoo and conditioner. It's affordable, accessible and the commercials catch our attention. Underneath it all, Selena Gomez and Zooey Deschanel probably aren't using Pantene, and you probably shouldn't either. Why? Let me explain.
It's always good to know what's in your products and why you need it or don't.
Remember the ingredient listed first is the strongest, last is the weakest.
Here are some ingredients commonly listed among the first items in drugstore products.
Water: When a product is made with a lot of water that is highly diluted making you use more of it to get the result you want. Meaning you buy more often. The industry gets your money.
Alcohol: Talk about dry hair and more dry hair. Most drugstore products have high alcohol content. Yes, your hair may feel smooth at first, but the alcohol is removing the protein and moisture it needs.
Sulfates: Lately, we have all been hearing about sulfates and to stay away from sulfates. The sulfates are used to make it sudsy and lather well, which strips your color. A big danger with sulfates is they can weaken your hair follicle, leading to weakened hair structure and diminished hair growth. Some studies have also found that it can cause cancer, immune system damage and damage to the skin. Scary!!
Waxes & Silicones: If your hair tends to become greasy and easily weighed down, the cheaper products will only exacerbate these problems due to the waxes and silicones in them. Why are they in there? To make your hair look shiny and healthy in the short term. In the long term, waxes and silicones create build-up and prevent any nutrients to get into the hair shaft. Often consumers think they should use MORE of the cheaper shampoo to fight the grease. As a result, people can go through many bottles of cheap shampoo in the same amount of time you would use 1 bottle of salon product! Spending roughly the same amount!
Parabens: These are used as preservatives for their strong antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Unfortunately, they have been found in low concentrations in tumors and believed to disrupt hormone functions. So not only are they messing up your hair but your whole body.
Color: If you color your hair, you want to preserve that color since it can be an expensive service. If you come home and wash it with something cheap you are washing your color down the drain. The drying ingredients mentioned above also strip the color out the hair. Using cheaper products means you'll be back in the salon faster. I said this once and I'll say it again, use quality shampoos and conditioners as well as quaility heat protectant products. When you use the right products, you can have luscious, healthy colored hair.
Where Can I Get These Products?
A storefront option I like is Ulta. Ulta carries many professional product lines. The salespeople are often knowledgeable if you have questions. Ulta does offer sales and specials throughout the year as a well as a reward card program.
Buying online is convenient, but know your seller. Do your research to ensure you are buying a quality product, not a watered down or expired or recalled version.
Most importantly ask your stylist! If you are on a budget, tell your stylist! Ask for some options. Ask about rotating products or addressing specific needs first. We are here to educate you and meet your needs so you can have gorgeous AND healthy hair.
