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"