The Truth About Pantene: Store Brand vs Salon Brand

Even before a customer gets in my chair, if they pick up a product, I ask them, "What kind of shampoo do you use"? The most common response is Pantene. "Is that bad?", they ask with uncertainty, clinging to the hope that it might be the correct answer. My response, "Pantene is the devil", I learned that philosophy day one of hair school and held on to it since. It's like when you were little and your granny smacked your hand and said 'Stop.', but she didn't tell you why but you just knew not to do it, this is how I have programmed my clients when it comes to this product. But what makes Pantene so bad? 

I took it upon myself, as a professional to do some research by visiting http://www.pantene.com/en-US/pages/index.aspx, clicked on a various products and skimmed through the ingredients. After much study, I honed in on 

Pantene's Restore Beautiful Lengths

 

Breakage Defense Conditioner 

Out of the 17 items I researched, only 5 of them are directly derived from nature and are safe for you. In this case the bad, outweighed the good. One thing consumers need to know is that when you cleanse and condition your hair, you're also treating your scalp. Your hair originates in liquid form, beneath the epidermis. Supplying your scalp with essential oils and organic ingredients is crucial in producing strong, new hair at this point. Envision a seedling in a pot; that seed needs water, sun and nutrients. If you place plastic wrap over top of that pot, it creates a barrier, blocking that seed from the nourishment it needs to grow and be healthy.


 






The same is true when you use a conditioner like Breakage Defense that contains stearyl alcohol, which is used as a water preserver in pools, it creates a barrier on the hair shaft that water can not penetrate. All alcohol such as benzyl, which comes from flowers, is not bad for you, depending on it's usage. This alcohol is commonly used in inks, paints and lacquers, not conditioner, think of it as a stain on your hair. 

Ready for a tounge twister? Say methylchloroisothiazolinone five times fast. Many consumers won't use what they can't pronounce. This enigmatic word can be found in detergents, glue production, paints, and is used as a anti fungal/antibacterial agent. In pure concentrations, it can be a skin and membrane irritant or cause chemical burns. Don't shoot the messenger, just presenting some of the facts.

If I were to list every item in detail you would think you're in Chemistry 101 so for all of my A.D.D readers, namely me, I picked the most alarming ingredients. The last one I want to bring to your attention nearly made my eyes fall out of my sockets and my mandible crumble. When the words sodium hydroxide appeared before my eyes, my first thought was relaxer. 

Design Essentials is a professional relaxer and is not available to the general public.

                                                 
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and a caustic soda is the active base in relaxers. Relaxer is a chemical straightener used mainly on kinky, course hair textures by breaking down the disulfide bonds in the hair shaft. This chemical is hygroscopic, meaning at it has the ability to attract and hold water molecules. Detergents, drain cleaner and the manufacture of paper also involve sodium hydroxide. 


Each item used to create Breakage Defense Conditioner, excluding perfume and color, whether it was chemically engineered or derived from nature either stains or coats the hair in multiple layers that can not be easily penetrated with water or gentle cleansers. The next time you're in the market for a decent shampoo or conditioner, you should do the following:

1)Listen to your haircare professional. I hate to say it but if you question the knowledge of your hairdresser, here's a test: Pick up a shampoo and ask "Is this good for my hair?" If at any time during the conversation they don't turn to the back of the bottle and read the ingredients and reinforce the product's claim on the front,  they may not know what they're talking about.


2)Buyer Beware. All salon products may not be good for your hair and all store brands may not be bad. Huh? A cosmetologist is suggesting store brand? Hear me out before you alert the media. When your funds are low or there is an emergency and you can't get to the salon, unless you have a hairdresser like me who has product on hand at their house, you need to know what to use. Again, consult a professional. Store brands like Suave, Dove, V05, Dark & Lovely are on my list with Pantene, just to name a few. A professional product I wouldn't recommend is Tigi, most of their styling products are loaded with alcohols and polymers which coat and dry out the hair and their shampoos and conditioners are basic and comparable to store brand.


3)If you purchase professional products like Paul Mitchell, Redken or Sexy Hair from a pharmacy, craig's list, a low end hair store, or a flea market, chances are it's either not authentic or it was bought in bulk and altered. There is a black market for salon tools and products, don't not patronize these vendors.


4)Salon products: "It's too expensive!"
    Store brand: "It was only a dollar!" 
You get what you pay for... The Christmas season is the perfect time to find box sets and liters on sale. Buy your shampoo and conditioner in bulk, it last longer and it's more affordable. Trade Secret in Jefferson Mall will price match and I just so happen to work there. wink, wink!

Remember, a store clerk can tell you where it is and how much it cost but they can't tell you what's good for your hair.