EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS: Salons Using a Universal Product Line

[westNDNbeauty]

Have you ever thought about the fact that some salons use the same lines of product for ALL of their clients?

Being on this board, we know not all products work for all heads.

Because of this, do you bring your own products with you? Especially conditioner. We know one conditioner may work wonders on one head, but does nothing for another.

Does the stylist give you a discount?

This just popped in my head after realizing the few times I've been to a salon (in diff countries), they both used Nexxus exclusively. This was way back in the day before Nexxus landed on grocery store shelves.

 

[lushcoils]

That's why I hated that policy. One product does not work the same for all. And then many of them have the nerve to not let you bring in your own products.

 

[Missjae09]

Because I don't go to the salon very often and usually it's only for a trim I just let my stylist use her own products.

I will say that I HATE to see a stylist using cheap products that I would never purchase myself.

 

[hannan]

You can bring your own products to the salon? Or is that only in some places?

 

[AlliCat]

I don't go to the salon often so when I go, I let them do their thing. The only thing I'm fussy about is no cutting. I see the salon as trying something new. If my hair really hated their products, to the point of shedding, I can just wash it at home with the good stuff

 

[divachyk]

I go to the salon and they use their products. I've found few stylists that will allow outside products brought in. I'm in the process of salon shopping and there is this one salon using Phyto exclusively. I opted not to become a client.

 

[Tiye]

Well there are widely used product lines but they have different formulas for certain hair types, and conditions. I assume a competent, licensed stylist knows how to assess hair condition and apply the right products depending on the assessment - it's the least you can ask otherwise why pay for the service? If a salon uses a product line I didn't like I wouldn't go there.

 

[MizzBrown]

I thought the reason most stylist do NOT allow you to bring in your own products was due to liability and inspection issues?

For your local, round-the-way salon, stylists seem okay doing this..especially if you are a regular and they know your personality.

For a newbie, or a corporate salon, they refuse to let you bring anything in from the outside.

 

[SqrpioQutie]

to me, that's like going to a restaurant and bringing your own condiments, plate, forks, etc.... why even go to the salon if you want your own stuff to be used?..... who's to say they don't have something better?.... and if it's someplace you (in general) frequent often, but don't like their products, then it's probably a place that you should stop frequenting...

it just seems pushy to me...

 

[Kirei]

I thought the reason most stylist do NOT allow you to bring in your own products was due to liability and inspection issues?

For your local, round-the-way salon, stylists seem okay doing this..especially if you are a regular and they know your personality.

For a newbie, or a corporate salon, they refuse to let you bring anything in from the outside.

That's what I was thinking...

Would you take your own massage oils and such to a spa? So why do that at a salon?

 

[Sheena]

I chose option 3 - but I only bring my own products when I get a relaxer because I use Motions exclusively for that process, for any other process, I let them use their own products.

I started bringing my own products for relaxers because of the advice of my previous stylist who told me that based on her experience, working in large salons, that the only way the client knows for sure what they put in your head is if you bring your own stuff since the salon buys products in bulk and the stylists transfer the amount they need into a small container - e.g. if you use Motions regular and the salon doesn't have this strength, most stylists will not tell you this they'll try to play chemist and dilute a super relaxer, use another brand in regular or worse case scenario, use the super relaxer undiluted. Whichever option they choose, it may not turn out so well for you.

ETA - in my country, the salon usually uses at least 3 product lines and do not have a direct affiliation with the product manufacturer so they are a lot more flexible with you bringing your own stuff.

 

[THicknLong]

I just recently went to Paul Mitchell school and I allowed the student to use their products, but then again I have never ran into a Paul Mitchell product that hasn't done wonders for my hair!!!.. Im really happy about the products she used, my curls were so soft and lush.

 

[Solitude]

I rarely go to the salon, but when I used to go frequently, I generally didn't bring my own products. The salons I frequented used either Mizani, KeraCare, Paul Mitchell, or Dominican lines that worked fine on my hair.

I did sometimes bring my own rinse and when I was going to Dominican salons a lot, I washed and DC'd my hair before going. I left the DC in and they rinsed it out and proceeded to style me. This was to save time and the extra charge for deep conditioning.

 

[pisceschica]

Have you ever thought about the fact that some salons use the same lines of product for ALL of their clients?

Being on this board, we know not all products work for all heads.

Because of this, do you bring your own products with you? Especially conditioner. We know one conditioner may work wonders on one head, but does nothing for another.

Does the stylist give you a discount?

This just popped in my head after realizing the few times I've been to a salon (in diff countries), they both used Nexxus exclusively. This was way back in the day before Nexxus landed on grocery store shelves.

In my experince most salons don't use only one line of products, but they may heavily push one brand because of a partnership. I don't doubt that salons use certain brands exclusively.

Stylists don't give discounts you are paying for their expertise and successful execution of the service. The products are like pennies on the dollar per use per person so its not much in the grand scheme of things.

If I owned a salon I wouldn't offer discounts either because what if someone brings in a $7 relaxer from the drugstore and another person brings in a $60 relaxer from a department store. It starts to get tricky at having to figure out how much of a discount to give. I could easily see a customer trying to negotiate a really low service price if the product they brought in was a substantial expense.

 

[pisceschica]

I thought the reason most stylist do NOT allow you to bring in your own products was due to liability and inspection issues?

For your local, round-the-way salon, stylists seem okay doing this..especially if you are a regular and they know your personality.

For a newbie, or a corporate salon, they refuse to let you bring anything in from the outside.

That is one of the biggest reasons especially concerning chemicals.

Part of the use of the products is having some extensive experience with them. If I am doing your relaxer and I have never used the products and ESPECIALLY if I have never done your hair then I don't want trouble of something happens. I know a few regulars that bring in their own products BUT they are regulars and like you said a stylist would know their personality so it would be ok.

Most salons though will make the client sign liability waivers.

 

[beautyaddict1913]

Great thread! I know that when I was relaxed you could get either a Mizani or Affirm relaxer at my salon and that was it lol...I have not had my hair washed and styled at a salon in more than a year. The next time I go to get it straightened I will not bring my own products bcuz the salon uses a lot of cones and I need all the cones I can get to protect my hair from the heat styling. If a client brings their own there is NO discount. They claim to charge for services not "parts and labor" lol.

 

[NaturalEnigma]

When I used to go to the Dominican Salons, they would only have one line of products. There were two big jugs, one was for conditioner the other was for shampoo and they used it on everyone. I used to bring my own hair products to the salon. From the shampoo right down to the leave-in. I noticed a lot of people did the same thing. My hair became healthier as a result of using my own products. I only did this at the salons that primarily did doobies. I felt like the quality of their products were probably cheap, because they ran their shops like factories. Their service prices were also really cheap and I didn't mind bringing in my own products.

 

[Your Cheeziness]

I never bring my own products and don't plan on starting. A stylist's job is to style and they know the techniques to use to get that result. I've never been to a stylist who used a product my hair reacted badly to. I think the end result relies more heavily on the technique used than the product.

 

[libertysince05]

i always ask what lines they use before making an appointment and before they start doing anything i discuss what they're planning to use and why.
this way i dont neet to carry anything.

 

[Guitarhero]

No, when I go (rarely), I allow them to do their jobs and use their professional judgment. Only instance in which I'd indicate which products is if they were like Phyto, Joico or some specialized system. In that case, they'd just use their own from the salon. Call ahead and make sure they've got it in stock. Last salon I went to was a beauty school by Redken so those and Tiggi were the products most used so it's not that they all use cheapie junk. Gosh, I miss that school because it was fabulous.

 

[MsSanz92]

I've always brought my own products to salons. When I was relaxed and going to the Dominicans, I used to bring my own relaxer because last time they used their kind it was not good! I also brought heat protectant something that a lot of Dominican salons do not believe in. I plan on getting my natural hair blown out at a Dominican salon in the future and I will be bringing my own products again. I simply do not always trust what they use but I will say that across the board, Dominican salons usually do not have much of an issue with people bringing their own products I've seen a lot of people do it. I usually only bring shampoo, conditioner, (used to bring a relaxer) and a heat protectant they usually use their own leave in; most of the leave ins they used at the Dominican shops worked well on my hair.

 

[BillsBackerz67]

I wash my hair prior to coming to the salon and leave the conditioner in. My stylist actually prefers that because my hair is pretty long (to his standards) and its easier for me to detangle my own hair at home than it is for him to try and rush and be efficient. So when I come to the salon I get rinsed, sit in the chair, and I'm usually out in an hour. I only get charged 30 bucks as opposed to the 40 its usually costs if he washed my hair and conditioned it.