Drugstore vs. Professional, what is the real difference?

Have you ever wondered how much of a difference buying professional versus drug store shampoo and conditioner really makes? I mean $40 for a bottle of Bumble and Bumble, when you could be paying $12 for the same size of your Wal Mart favorite?

SO when it comes down to it, what really makes the difference?

The first thing is that your skin and hair’s PH naturally sits at a 4.5-5.5. Professional shampoos and conditioners are regulated between a PH of 5-7 which is considered neutral and will not have any drying or harsh effects on your scalp and hair. Drug store shampoos are only regulated between 4-9 which can be too acidic or too alkaline for your skin and end up being quite abrasive and harsh on your scalp and stripping to your hair strands. Have you ever had irritated scalp or found your color washed out really quickly? This could be one of the reasons. I should also note at this point for anyone who thinks that shampooing with baking soda is okay, that it sits of a pH of 8, sure you don’t have to wash your hair for 10 days, but this is because it has completely STRIPPED your scalp of any moisture or natural oils.

The second thing is the  sulfates. Sulfate is the new buzzword and everone assumes that all sulfates are bad when in reality some are actually okay. The safest, lightest sudsing agent is Sodium Laureth Sulfate, it still gives that bubbly sudsy effect people like in their shampoo without being too harsh. However companies have come up with copycat products with a similar name which are actually very harsh on your scalp such as: ammonium laurel sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, or sodium laurel sulfate.

Drugstore conditioners usually use cheap fillers that leave your hair looking “healthy”, such as wax or animal fat, when in reality it is leaving a build up of residue on your hair strands which will eventually get so heavy that it will break the strand. This is where excessive fly-aways and breakage comes from. Another common one is Mineral Oil, which is derived from petroleum, may be contaminated with cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is also called: petrolatum or paraffinum. beneficial and can cause premature aging.

Professional shampoos and conditioners don’t contain cheap fillers; this means a more concentrated product for you which is going to last longer in your shower.

So when it comes down to it, for your health and the wellbeing of your skin and hair, the extra cost is well worth the benefit in the long run!

Please feel free to ask us any questions you have!

Fringe:Hair

 

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