Is it just PIE AND MASH?

I used products from the supermarket and professional ones and instantly knew I liked the expensive products (don’t we all), as it was more of a luxury. Now that I only use professional brands I couldn’t imagine going back!
 
I cringe at the thought of using Vo5 or Pantene. Unless you have a massive amounts of leave-in conditioner in the cupboard, you’re left with a birds nest to tame! The difference in my hair is unbelievable and I spend less time on it than I used to.
 
From time to time I have clients say they don’t see the difference, they get shampoo with their groceries and call it a day. I don’t argue with them, it’s a personal choice and it’s not my head of hair. All I can do is educate and advise.. it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your hair and your lifestyle, but I promise it will change your life!

There is one thing that pro supermarket brand clients probably don’t do, and that’s making a complete switch to professional brands.
 
For example:
If you are using box colour, blow-drying/straightening without products to protect the hair etc, the professional shampoo will not work miracles for you! That’s what most people don’t understand…
If you want to really test it out to see if there’s a difference you need to pick a line and use the shampoo, conditioner, and styling product together.

Products:
A girls best friend! We love them! We’re addicted and love to collect them! Is it worth it if they’re not the best? I’m always hearing people talk about how expensive salon products are compared to supermarket brands. The difference is how often you have to buy the products and the quality you get for your money. If you are paying less you are probably buying more often. I buy shampoo every few months (keep in mind I have a lot of hair and I wash my hair most days!). I may be paying more, but it is lasting much longer than a bottle of Pantene would last.
 
Ingredients:
What Matters?
Unless you have allergy issues you probably don’t check out the ingredients very often. Over the last few years or so everyone has been going crazy about sulphates’ I hear is oh does it have sulphates, and “I can’t use shampoo with sulphates!”.
 
I’m willing to bet that at least 95% of these ingredient crazies don’t even know what sulphates are.
 
It’s a good idea to know what’s in your products and why you need it or don’t. If you’re nuts about organics then that’s another subject, but for most of my clients all natural is the last thing on their minds.
 
Always remember…
 
When reading product ingredients on ANY label  the first ingredient is the strongest and the last ingredient is the weakest in the product!
 
Ingredients to pay attention to:
 
1. Water
Is H20 the first ingredient listed on your shampoo bottle? If so, that only means that it is more diluted than others. You may be paying less than salon brands, but you are also getting less product.

For example: is a salon product that is highly concentrated. It has much less water than other brands, giving you much higher quality for what you pay. It is to be used in small amounts because when combined with water(in your hair) it is activated and will lather beyond belief. When a product is made cheaply with high amounts of water you probably have to use more to get the same effect.
 
2. Alcohol
We all know what alcohol does! Talk about a one way ticket to dry and more strands! Alcohol is found in a lot of products and is necessary for the make-up of some of them. BUT, when found in high amounts it’s not doing anything good for your hair. I find that a lot of styling products sold in grocery and drugstores are high in alcohol content.
 
The product may be making your hair feel smooth, but it’s not getting the moisture and protein it needs to stay strong and healthy.


3. Sulphates
Sulphates are a salt of sulfuric acid. There are several different types of sulphates so don’t get it confused with those used to make batteries or producing plaster! Sulphates play a huge part in making products get sudsy and later well… but they do have a tendency to dry out hair and strip out colour. If you are using products without sulphates you may think your hair doesn’t feel as clean or it may take a little more work to get that lathering effect. In my opinion, if you use sulphate free shampoo, use a good clarifying shampoo about once a month to really get your hair clean. I have several clients that do a clarifying treatment before a colour, it gives a more clean strand to help your new colour last!
 
Not all Sulphates are bad!
 
Colour Care
 
Why ruin a beautiful colour that you paid good money for with cheap products?
 
If you use a box colour, go ahead buy the Pantene. The way I look at it if the colour is crap who cares if the shampoo is!
Your hair isn’t going to feel great anyways with those Supermarket boxed chemicals, so why pay more for shampoo when you’re okay with cheap colour?
 
If you go to the salon for colour, definitely get the good shampoo! If what your stylist recommends is too expensive just ask if there’s a cheaper alternative. A few things to remember if you colour your hair:
Colour treated hair is more sensitive to heat from styling tools because it is not as naturally healthy as hair that isn’t coloured. Your colour will not last as long as you want it to if you’re not using colour protecting products. It can be easily stripped if you use a shampoo that’s too strong.

Damage can come in many forms, chemical processing is only one of them. So if you take the necessary precautions you can have healthy coloured hair!

Conclusion: I’d like to remind everyone that what works best for one person may not be perfect for the other.
 
I used non-professional products through school and when I started hairdressing that completely changed! Just like generic pie & mash you will get used to what you use on a regular basis and like it.
I am not “dissing” anything that my clients may use, but giving you the pros and cons to help you find what works.
 
At lk hair we guarantee all the products we recommend you so if you don’t like it we will swap it for something else or give you a no quibble refund.