Magic in a Bottle

The Products and Their Influencers

So many of you ask me about the value and performance of hair care products.

There is an overwhelming array of choices and the prices range from $ to $$$$$! Naturally, you have questions about what really works best. But who are you listening to? Commercials, friends, or professionals? With so many options, how do you find the right hair products for you?

The answer to this question lies in a product’s formula.

Many drugstore brands, while adequate, often contain more water and filler additives and only a modest amount of truly impactful ingredients. These choices can be a case of “what you see may not be what you get.”

Professional grade products feature highly concentrated ingredients such as oils for intense moisture and proteins for strengthening.

They often include lipids and vitamins that nourish and hydrate. They also deliver a gentler cleansing experience to the hair and scalp and impart more luxurious results. These brands typically spend more on research and development, which does factor into price.

Molecule size of the formula also plays a role.

More expensive products often use smaller silicone molecules that are more able to deeply penetrate and treat the hair strands. Less expensive formulas are often made up of larger molecules that just sit on the surface of the hair and eventually result in buildup.

And then there’s the sensory experience.

What does it smell like? Fragrance activates in the limbic system of the brain and literally creates a sensory brand that has a lot to do with how you experience the products. How your hair feels and behaves is obviously a key factor in why you use it. And let’s be honest … packaging plays a huge role, for some of us more than others. Luxury lines place a greater emphasis here.

The short answer is that all products are not created equal.

It is just as important to apply the same level of scrutiny to your hair care choices as you would when choosing skin care products. It makes a difference. Be sure to purchase from a reputable source like a salon and beware of the many counterfeit and expired products in other outlets and online!

I’ve been in this industry for many years and have evaluated the gamut of products and know my own personal favorites. My curiosity got the best of me, though, so I decided to reach out to a group of Salon Owners to get their take. Like me, these professionals work with product every day.

I asked them if they had to choose ONE product as their “Can’t Live Without” choice, what would it be and why?
Here’s what they had to say:

Buddy
Co-Owner, Charles David Salon and Spa,
Hanover and Plymouth, Massachusetts.
“The one thing I cannot live without and neither can our guests is Ciment Thermique by Kerastase. This heat-activated blow dry primer heals, smooths, protects, and builds shine. With today’s lightening services to achieve the party colors and fabulous pastel blondes, this is the product to keep the cuticle intact.”

Diane
Owner, Diane Stewart Todd Color & Design Salon
,
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“I like Root Lifting Spray #13 by Kenra for the support, especially for thinning hair. I spray it on the roots from the nape forward. Then I follow up with some mousse on the shaft.”

Katie
Owner, D.K. Color and Design Studio
,
Needham, Massachusetts.
“I would have to say my most “universal” product would be Goldwell’s Brilliance Serum Spray. It provides protection from environmental and mechanical use. Great for color and non-color clients and it’s a great lightweight, leave-in spray.”

Ken
Owner, Ken Davis Salon
,
Newton Highlands and South Boston, Massachusetts.
“My favorite product, if I could only use one, would have to be Smoothing Crème by Goldwell. I use it as a cutting lotion, on curly hair for shiny, defined curls and for a really smooth blow dry, either with
volume or straight and flat.”

Nick
Owner, Salon Capri
,
Boston, Legacy Place, and Newton Highlands, Massachusetts.
Shu Uemura’s Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream. I use this as an all-purpose blow dry cream. It creates weightless smoothing and shine. I apply it on mid-length to ends. It can also be layered with other products for volume at the roots.”

To add my personal favorite, here’s the product I can’t do without:

Kerastase’s Nectar Thermique, my year-round, go-to product! For blowouts, it’s light weight, leaves no build up, and it smells amazing. This product will not set the hair up in any negative way, but it tames fly away hairs and creates shine and elasticity.

What fantastic contributions from fellow professionals! I extend my gratitude to them for adding their voices and recommendations to our conversation.  As always, thank you for your continued enthusiasm for HairLine. Please leave your feedback here and keep contributing your ideas and suggestions for future topics.

Regards,

Kenny