You Could Pay More. But Why?

"It's the most wonderful time of the year," sings Andy Williams as well as every major and minor retailer during this time of the year. The holiday seasons, for most, translates into spending. For others, it translates into making; money that is. Whatever side of the spectrum you are on, getting and giving the best bang for your buck is the name of the game. 

Do you really think these products are "knock offs?"

Did someone say game? As a licensed professional working in the beauty industry for a little over decade, I can tell you that many who work in the industry often throw the word "game" around for the ball it truly is. But for the consumer who spends money in our industry, buying hair care products and styling tools are no game. Now more than ever are knock offs, bootleg and imitation everything more prevalent. Some time ago, the most popular knock off, bootleg and imitations goods could mainly be found in purses, jewelry, watches and movies. Fast forward to today and everything is knock off, bootleg or an imitation. You have knock off Beats by Dre', bootleg apple pie moonshine and imitation flat irons!

Paul Mitchell, Hairdresser, Co-Founder
Paul Mitchell
Hair Care Products

Yes. The beauty industry has its share of run ins with knock offs, bootleg,  imitated hair care products and styling tools. To sound very fancy, some have favored the verb, "diverted." In my opinion, diverted in the area of hair care is a PROCESS when a major hair care company starts off vowing their product can only be bought and sold in a hair salon by licensed professional cosmetologists or representatives of the hair salon; whose (meaning, the hair care company) hair care products or/and styling tool somehow mysteriously ends up being sold in a department store, grocery store, close out store, pharmacy or local beauty supply store. 

Now how could this be you, the consumer ask? Exactly what is so different about the Paul Mitchell, Joico, Redken, Keratin, Biolage, Matrix, Chi flat irons, Baybliss flat irons products and tools that are sold in the department store, grocery store, close out store, pharmacy or local beauty salon from what is being sold in the salon? Nothing.

John Paul Dejoria, Product Sales Rep, Co-Owner,
Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products and
Patron Tequila

I doubt the owners of Giant Eagle, Piggly Wiggly, CVS, Rite Aid, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Big Lots and ABC 123 local beauty supply store are willing to catch a case for copyright infringement (a.k.a knock off, bootleg and imitation) just so we can use our discount card to get 10% off. I have even heard that these stores do not know that they are buying counterfeit products. I also heard that they are deliberately purchasing these fake hair care products to deliberately attract consumers who buy hair care products to their stores. Now, I don't know about you, but I am not going to the grocery store, TJ Maxx or Big Lots to buy salon quality hair care products and hair styling tools. IJS

When it comes to ingredients or technology in products or styling tools, words like: natural, nano, organic, ions, tourmaline, ceramic, titanium, jade, diamond and the likes, you should know; "you could pay more; but why?"

For a mere $17, 575.00 you could own a Lussorian Flat Iron

What is the difference between $300.00 keratin treatment product used in hair salon to perform the service in a hair salon and the $35.00 Keratin sold at Sally's for you to do yourself at home? What is the difference between the  $150.00 up to 450 degrees ceramic, ionic, tourmaline and titanium diamond encrusted flat iron compared to the Remington up 450 degrees ceramic, ionic, tourmaline and titanium cubic zerconia encrusted flat iron sold at Target? You got it, the price! While one could argue education, location, skill, certified and so on; keep in mind we are talking about the ingredients.

For the record, there is no such thing as generic keratin. Keratin IS hair. Keratin is a protein. Hair is keratin. Hair is a protein. Tourmaline is mineral from the earth; planet earth. There is NO such thing as generic keratin and generic tourmaline. Now when we add our fancy names, pay a few celebrities and their paid celebrity hairstylists who are made to look and sound really fancy by highly trained, skilled and educated marketing, promotion and graphic design people....voila! You now have "high end" keratin treatments and flat irons. 

Understand, that in a America and around the world, money negates the value and quality of things. Also, understand that money negates how foolish we can be at times. Do not be duped by knock offs, bootleg or imitated anything. Likewise, don't believe the hype of "exclusive" fancy hair care products and styling tools endorsed by folk who truly have the money to pay for the hype of high end keratin that is already hair or high end tourmaline; knowing that it is a precious stone from the earth.

For us common folk, turn the bottle around and read what is in it. Purchase from companies who have vested time, money and give back to it's consumers, like Remington. And if you insist on trying what is new in the industry keep in mind that $275.00 iPhone or Galaxy note you purchased just two years ago. Remember when you purchased it, the technology was already out. "Hmm, ye say?"

For a mere $35.00, you can go to Target'
and purchase these!

You could pay more; but why? Please don't say, "QUALITY!"

"It's the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling!
And everyone's telling you, "Be of good cheer!"
It's the most wonderful time of the year"

The Mind of Hair Care

Hmmm, the mind of hair care.

Blogging about hair care is a lot of fun. I get to share my experiences about providing hair, nail and skin care. I also get to meet some fascinating people who often times ask me some very interesting questions. As a matter of fact, I think it is the questions that keeps me blogging. And the question that keeps me blogging the most is, how to care for hair.

I must admit, I do find it somewhat of an enigma of how so many women are looking for ways to not have to care for their hair. There are also a large portion of women who also want to know how spend the least amount of time caring for it. The questions of " no hair care, limited hair care or quick hair care" is something of a conundrum oxymoron. Confusing, huh? 

The truth of the matter is, "quick hair care" is like using mouthwash instead of taking the time to effectively care for your teeth. "Quick hair care" is like washing your private parts in lieu of a shower or bath. Exactly what is the conundrum of a oxymoron that makes the quest of "quick hair care" confusing and problematic? Well, it's the word "care." I don't know about you, but to me the word "care" kind of, sort of implies a person who has time to show it. 

A person trying to remove themselves from the equation of hair care is headed for a quick way to a bad hairstyle. I teach every person I serve that when it comes to hair care, they have to do what the hair calls for. There are textures that require very little time to care for it and very little effort to do what it takes to make it look nice. Then there are textures that require more time and more things for you to do to make you look nice. Whatever the case, rather your hair requires a lot of maintenance or not; what it really translate into is how nice to you really want to look and what are you willing to do about it.

Real life hair

The mind of "hair care" is somehow separating you from understanding the very crucial connection you have to doing your hair and how that affects your TOTAL image. Image to many women is very perplexing. The best way for me to produce a beautiful hairstyle for the clients I serve is for me to get a clear picture of their definition of image and NOT a hairstyle. For what is a hairstyle without image? The best way for me to capture what they have in mind is to have them either bring in a picture or select a picture out of a magazine/internet of what they would like. It is during that process that I can begin to capture THEIR mind of hair care. 

When women look at pictures of hairstyles or they begin to graphically explain the hairstyle they want, what they are in fact is selecting or describing is a what I call a "total image." A total image encompasses a total look that is put together by way of fashion, facial care (that includes a spectrum of facial care that is very made up to no make up at all), accessories and attitude that goes with the environment they are currently living in or going to (i.e. work, date, court, red carpet and the likes). However, the disconnect happens when in their mind, they focus on "hair style."

Confidence is beauty

For example, the myriad of hairstyles worn by Halle Berry are often the hairstyles that many women choose. When I ask them what is it about the hairstyle they like, they do verbally point out the layers, or the curl or the part. But when I point out what really makes the haircut is the stylist ability to mesh together all what makes Halle so very Halle.

The truth of the matter is, I have rarely seen a case of a hairstyle, in any facet, that is primarily based on the hairstyle itself. Hair, like jewelry or a scarf, is an accessory. It is part of the total package of one's definition of well kempt. When you think of hair care, think of your total image. Do not separate your hairstyle from you and your image and what you need to do to bring about a desired image. Instead, I suggest you consider bringing together YOURSELF, your hygiene, your hairstyle, your image and your attitude to give you the hairstyle you really want. 

In other words be very deliberate knowing the power that flow, continuity and inclusiveness has to do with the entire scope of the hairstyle that you think will make you pretty. You can not have any part of a beautiful anything, without you.

To rid yourself of this dilemma, understand that the hairstyle alone will not make you pretty. Refrain from going to the hair salon to "get yo hair done." It is a combination of all of you in the mind of hair care. 

Thee oh so very, Ms. Halle Berry

It will take more than a TJ Maxxinista outfit, designer shoes, a Michael Kors purse, an iPhone and some Sephora lip gloss to make that hair cut and style like Halle Berry's. Go the extra mile. Give yourself a facial, put on a smile. suck your gut in and stand up a little bit taller. Get rid of the frown and angst from the trials and tribulations of life. Our beauty inspires others and more importantly it inspires you. If you do not like what you see in the mirror, change it.

The mind of hair care is that the hairstyle is not the cure-all to what you do not like about your hair or want to do with it.

You are!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Filters

Adorning oneself is innate.

In the world of beauty, there are quite a few things to be said about it. Let's see for example, "Beauty is as beauty does; as beauty gets." "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." "God does not ugly and he ain't to fond of pretty either." The list goes on. As you could imagine, of all the things that are to be said about beauty, the popular saying that "beauty comes from within" is one that resonates with the masses. This blog ndogo aims to vibe with inner beauty.

No bath like a vichy!

I don't know about you, but I can recall a time when women making themselves beautiful was liken to preparing a fine cooked meal.  Ya know? You talked about what you were gonna cook, who it was gonna be prepared for, what grocery store you would go to, the recipe, the preparation, the serving and the response! In the history of women beautifying themselves, the beautification process was similar. Let's see, there were rituals of milk baths, dead sea salt soaks to Calgon taking us away to vichy showers and sea kelp masques. Women would compliment that cleansing ritual by wearing support under garments to enhance their figure to look svelte or voluptuous. At times, they wore gloves, pumps and so on to take their beauty to another level. 

Classic "Beat Face."

Make up application went from dramatic as Marilyn Monroe or Dorothy Dandridge look to classic and timeless as Audrey Hepburn or Lena Horne. Now the hair, ahh the hair. A hairstyle is to a woman's image what tableware is to a fine prepared meal. No matter how good that food is, no matter where you bought your groceries from and no matter the recipe, if the food is not served properly on a clean table, with clean plates, flatware and glasses; nobody will eat it. The same can be said for a woman's beauty when the hair is compromised! Regardless the clothes, perfume, body type, shoes, nails and makeup; if her hair is hit, everything else is compromised.

In the American cultural of "getting ready," women did what they had to do to ensure a delightful presentation. For, adoring hair to women was as innate as brushing teeth, thoroughly cleansing the va-jay jay and arm pits! It was vital to our image back in the day.  We did what had to be done. Fast forward to today. Sweet Brown's "ain't nobody got time for dat," seems to be the theme of "getting pretty."  I understand times have changed. Nobody wants to spend all that time getting cute. 

But think, have you ever heard an artist say, "Ain't nobody got time for drawing?" To me beauty is exquisite, intricate, unique and individualized; like art.  In order for beauty maintain it artistic value, it needs some tending to. Beauty also need to be appreciated. Appreciation of beauty will be simply defined as things that one can do done daily to appreciate the beauty they have. Things we can do daily to appreciate our beauty today are the same things we had did in the past, like make time for it. 

The epitome of inner and outer beauty. The
incomparable divine Ms. Lena Horne.

We made time for beauty in "real" time. In the day and time of "ain't nobody got not time for dat," beauty does not get tended to. No sir-ree. Instead, beauty gets filtered. Regardless of how popular selfies are now, no amount of filtering will be able to hide the reality of neglect and un-appreciation of beauty. Filtering can not hide reality. 

That is right, at some point you will be seen in real life. Reality will return as the "go to" source for where people will turn when they want to see beauty. Yeah buddy, the days of Stepford Photos are coming to an end, while the return of reality is near. The social network world of filtered photos will be replaced with the reality of what one sees in real life. "Real life" will get you your "likes" "unlikes" and "comments." Real life will reveal the truth about one's beauty. Real life will reveal who is unkempt, fake inflated and filtered. The screens of television, computers, tablets and cell phones that are connecting us via the world wide wide web will fade to black. No more face time, Skype and Tango. We will have no choice but to return who and what is before us in real time.

Kim Kardashian

I am all for the beauty that technology brings. I am all for what technology allows us to share at our leisure at the touch of a thumb. Yet, I cannot ignore the super duper advantage we as humans have over all this technology and what it allows us to do with beauty... see it in real life!