Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is
Just like we’re being encouraged to shop sustainably with the clothing and accessories that we buy, I think it’s important we put the same amount of care and thought into our hair products. I love seeing clients and friends become influencers, but it’s important to think about who’s influencing them. Brand deals and partnerships are oftentimes happening behind the scenes, making it in their best interest to promote certain products. And while they might share similar values, are they the authoritative source you need? You can watch 3 minutes of TikTok and get 10 different opinions on how often to wash your hair, with what and why. Each person claims to be the best source of advice on the topic, but more than likely this is based on personal experience and may not be what you need for your hair and lifestyle.
We’re in an era where there’s almost too much information at our fingertips, and it’s hard to figure out who to trust. Well, I’d like to throw my hat in the ring and suggest people like me- your local hairstylist.
For years I would give products at cost to ensure clients were using the right products to get the hair they want and make my job easier when they came back. This oftentimes means I’m not making money off of the products I suggest. While I can claim this is a show of selflessness on my part, in the interest of full transparency, I’ll explain how using good products for your hair will help hair stylists out everywhere.
When you use shampoos with bad or filler ingredients, you can increase the sensitivity of your scalp and strip your hair of the natural oils it needs. This affects how your hair reacts to dye and bleach, and can totally change the outcome of your next hair appointment. When you style your hair with heat often and skip the heat protectant, you’re weakening your hair elasticity and making it more prone to damage. That means no shiny platinum blonde hair. I want you to use products that give you healthy, luscious hair, for your benefit and mine. Here’s a couple of tips to help you get there:
Trust your instincts. If you’ve heard everyone raving about a certain product, but don’t think it’s working for you, you’re probably right. I can’t think of a single product that works on everyone’s hair the same way, and no one knows your hair like you do.
Trust your hairstylist. We’re the ones with your hair in our hands, helping you on your hair journey. We’ve probably tried hundreds of products on our clients and ourselves, and are familiar enough with your hair to make informed suggestions on what we think would be a good fit for you. I’ve seen over 2,000 people and worked with a great deal of different hair types, which is something you can use to your advantage.
Think of your hair goals. If you’re trying to transform your hair from brown to blonde or blonde to copper, at home care is essential. If you want to wash your hair everyday, brightly colored hair might not be your truth. If you want one haircut a year, your routine will not be the same as someone who uses extensions and sees their stylist every other month. You need products and a routine that fit you and your hair goals.
Think critically about where you’re buying from. I’ve heard of people refusing to buy from salons because they think it’s a money grab, but instead run to Amazon to buy the product for a dollar or two cheaper. And how does buying from Amazon make you feel? When you shop small, you get a sense of camaraderie and community! Buying from your local stylist or beauty salon keeps your money local and decreases your carbon footprint (plus that’s a couple less bucks in Jeff Bezo’s pocket). It’s also beneficial to buy from ethical beauty brands that support the same things that you do. If you’re unsure what brands these are, ask your hairdresser!
If every US family spent just $10 a month at a local business, then over $9.3 billion dollars would directly funnel back into the economy. When you support a local business, you’re also supporting your town, city, and neighborhood. Businesses pay sales taxes to the city and county the business is located in. Stray to a big box business elsewhere and that money isn’t benefiting your community at all. Plus, that tax money is used to support public schools, parks, as well as public service workers, like firefighters…and those bike lanes you know I love here in Jackson!
This all comes back to putting your money where your heart is. If you love your hair stylist and want to support them, take advantage of all the knowledge they’ve gathered over the years, rather than an unknown entity or non authoritative source on social media.
