The pros at Best of Philly hair salons

While perusing the grocery or drugstore beauty aisles, costumers are lured in by the assumption that they are saving money by purchasing hair care products there instead of in hair salons in Philadelphia. A hairstylist knows that to re-create their design, a proper concoction is necessary, but some 70% of clients leave the salon without professional products.  7 out of 10 customers need product advice, when they don't get it they are left to fend for themselves at the store and may blame the stylist for not being able to reenact the salon magic.  The pros at Best of Philly hair salons explain why sticking with professional products is key, and all of them are not created equal.  

Some ingredients added to products can actually harm hair or dry it out, either right away or after long-term use.  Harsh cleansing agents and preservatives can have the same effect on hair as washing a new, bright sweater with cheap dish detergent, or worse.  These chemicals help define the line between salon professional and "over-the-counter" brands.  Pros should educate clients about products so that they are not literally washing their dollars (and hair color) down the shower drain.  Architeqt Salon (a new posh hair salon in Philly  sells brands such as L'Oreal Professionnel, which spends countless time & money on testing to ensure their high quality product actually improve the hair.  Utilizing patented technologies such as Ionene G and Incell, LP products treat hair from core to surface and from root to tip.  They also use premium, highly concentrated vs. diluted ingredients to give consumers a luxury experience each time they apply it. 

Salon brands like this one also have a separate consumer division, L'Oreal Paris, sold in grocery and drug stores with a slightly lower price point, and a stripped down version of its sister division.  The difference in quality is significant and can be paralleled to clothing retail store Banana Republic which owns more wallet-friendly sister store Old Navy.  Some consumer brands frequently use high amounts of stripping agents, alcohol and chemical preservatives to provide a "quick-fix".  Pro stylists from Philadelphia salons and nationwide believe that the long-term effects may end up wreaking havoc on stressed strands.  Clients with color-treated hair may be surprised to find that the reason they left the salon with a gorgeous cappuccino color and come back resembling a brass door knob, is their shampoo.  However, shampoos are not the only culprit, styling products can actually strip the hairs natural oils leaving it dull and dry.  Main ingredients such as alcohol are used for lift and hold but then can cause brittleness and breakage on susceptible strands.  Most high-quality professional volumizers will list water as one of their first ingredients and should be applied to the roots of hair instead of the ends.  This application is recommended to prevent drying out ends of hair that have been exposed to much more damage as opposed to the root, that naturally get conditioned by oil called sebum.  Some other pro tips include conditioning ends regularly, using a thermal protectant when using heat tools, and getting regular haircuts.  

Trusting your hair to anyone besides a professional is like taking your car to your dog groomer for a tune-up.  A stylist prescribes a specific shampoo, conditioner and styling products to a client much like a doctor prescribes a medication for a particular symptom.   

By Jenifer Luszczak