Silicones have been widely used in personal care products for years. Most of the silicones used in professional hair care products, specifically shampoos and conditioners, act as emulsifiers because one end of a silicone molecule is attracted to water and the other end is attracted to oil. This makes silicones the perfect ingredient to effectively disperse oils, such as Argan Oil, Peppermint Oil and Almond…

Silicones have been widely used in personal care products for years. Most of the silicones used in professional hair care products, specifically shampoos and conditioners, act as emulsifiers because one end of a silicone molecule is attracted to water and the other end is attracted to oil. This makes silicones the perfect ingredient to effectively disperse oils, such as Argan Oil, Peppermint Oil and Almond…

We are all aware of term “pH” and the need to have a balanced pH in order to maintain the health of our body, skin and hair. But what exactly is pH and how does it work? The abbreviation, pH (small p with a capital H) stands for potential Hydrogen. It is a well-recognized method for measuring the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid which…

Tea Tree Oil and its beneficial properties have been widely known for centuries. But what is it, what does it really do, and why is it suddenly such a popular ingredient in hair care products? Tea Tree Oil, or melaleuca oil, is derived from a variety of over 200 recognized species of plants, shrubs or trees that are primarily native to Australia. It is believed…

Keratin is an insoluble protein that is the primary building block for our hair, skin and nails, as well as the hooves and horns of animals. It comes from the Greek word kerat, meaning horn. So why should we use a Keratin-based shampoo, conditioner or serum? Chemical straightening treatments are extremely popular and are used to straighten curly, frizzy, or damaged hair. Because these chemical…

Simply put, a paraben is a preservative. It is used to inhibit bacterial growth, as well as, prolong the shelf life of products. The most common man-made versions are methylparaben, butylparaben, and propylparaben. While parabens can be found in nature (they naturally occur in blueberries) the synthetic, laboratory-generated versions have created a great deal of concern due to their ability to mimic the hormone estrogen.…

You are a specialist. You are a professional. You use products that are designed and intended for “Professional Use Only.” Brands such as Aveda, Bumble & Bumble and Pureology were originally created by professionals and only sold to and through professionals. Salons such as yours helped to build the name recognition that made these brands successful. Today, due to rampant acquisition strategies by major corporations,…