bringing own products to salon

[Britt]

I have thought long and hard about this bringing products to the salon thing. It's kinda tricky. If I were a stylist, I'd want to use product combinations that I know, trust and can back. That of course would be the products I offer in my salon. Last thing I want is for product combinations to not work and then the client is upset. Who then would the client blame? The stylist. Using products familiar to the stylist likely provides a level of comfort. Not using products brought in by a client could then lead to a loss of a client. I can view this both ways. Glad I'm not a stylist.

As a salon goer, I allow the salon to use their products in hopes all products play well together.

This is what I was told. They use products that they are familiar with and know how they perform. If I bring my own relaxer for example and I experience a mishap or something, then the stylist could be held responsible for it. I think stylists use their own products b/c it's like a form of insurance and they feel they can vouch for the products. It's a tricky situation b/c I understand from the stylist's point of view however as a client I've seen the major difference in using my own products. I've seen a stylist take forever to detangle my hair b/c of the leave in she used (it was Design Essentials), I've seen stylists take forever to detangle me at the wash bowl b/c the conditioner didn't agree with my hair and my hair was tangled, matted, and dry. Then the stylist turns around and tells me I need a trim b/c I have tangling when that's not the case it's b/c the product combination used didn't agree with my hair. I've also experienced extreme protein overload from a so called reputable brand.

I'm almost never happy with the products used to wash and deep condition/leave in in my hair. My hair is fickle. I remember when I use to go to the Dominicans regularly all of them told me I use good products and how nice my hair felt. I made their job much easier b/c it would be minimal tangling, my rollersets were flowy and moisturized.

The only way I'd be happy with a salon using their own products is if they used the Elucence/Kenra product line b/c I know for sure my hair agrees with their conditioner. As for the other salon brands, I'm not a fan of their conditioners. The only salon that I've seen use Elucence was a salon in ATL. The other day I went to the hair dresser and deep conditioned with I believe Design Essentials or Keracare and my hair was like It felt hard when it was washed out, and the detangling was rough when the stylist was getting ready to blow dry my hair. The end result of my flat ironed hair was straight hair with curls but my hair didn't feel soft, pliable and silky at all. It's b/c of the products.

Ok ... RANT OVER.

 

[Honey Bee]

THe problem is that it's a liability. I don't know what the heck you put in that bottle before you brought it in to the salon. If something were to go wrong, I can always go back to the manufacturer. If something happens with a product that you brought in, I'M LIABLE AND CAN BE SUED. It's just not worth it for me and besides, that's unprofessional. I have purchased different products for individual persons because they liked it better. That's not a problem. But a client is NOT about to put me in jeopardy because they'd rather use some concoction that they made at home. I'd rather lose them as a client than to put my livelihood on the line.

This would all make sense if stylists were being successfully sued on a regular basis. As far as I know, that's not the case. I hear stories here and elsewhere where people's hair is falling out before they even leave the shop and there are no consequences. Didn't something similar happen to luckiestdestiny's grandma?

 

[browneyedgrl]

I get the liability thing, but for stylists I don't see why a signed waiver won't work. The problem is that everyones hair responds differently to different products. You may love a particular hairdressers styling and cutting skills but may not be as in love with their products but you go along with them anyway because a decent stylist is hard to find.

Many dont go the extra mile to customize a regimen based on an individual clients needs. If they love shampoo, conditioner, relaxer and leave in from company X they will use it on everyone despite the fact it some heads will respond to it better than others.

Of course after years of trial and error I come to know what works and what doesn't for ME. Now if you find a stylist willing to order a certain line based on your request that would be great, but how many would do that? Most act like they know everything and since they are licensed and you're not all your research and experience is invalid.

 

[krissyhair]

The stylist I go to about once a year has bags set up for some of the clients with custom picked products. I never needed to do that, but it's nice for the clients who go often and want their own products.

 

[divachyk]

When I had issues with products used in a salon, rather than putting the stylist in an awkward space, I opted to get a relaxer and go home wet. I was salon dependent for a relaxer only so that process worked just fine. I basically handled all washing/protein/deep conditioning at home. This remains an option for anyone not vibing with the products used on relaxer day.

 

[mzteaze]

This would all make sense if stylists were being successfully sued on a regular basis. As far as I know, that's not the case. I hear stories here and elsewhere where people's hair is falling out before they even leave the shop and there are no consequences. Didn't something similar happen to luckiestdestiny's grandma?

Lawsuits happen but it's on the "victim" to prove wrongdoing in many cases. Also, most cases will only result in actual damages (cost of services), not pain and suffering. Many times, the fees associated in pursuing these types of cases cost more than what you would recoup so most walk away and simply bad mouth the business/stylist.