Buying Salon Type Products from Discount Stores

Hi B. what a great question. Actually Im in the industry I have a license and so NO those products sold by Target whether it's Paul Mitchell or Bed Head whatever. They are not sold to target by those brands and there for not guaranteed by that company. It's sort of like the "black market" for the hair industry. There is no telling what has been done to these products they may have been watered down or may not even come from Paul Mitchell. So be weary of those products if they are not being sold in the salon.
B.
www.4Ellise.com

I'm not sure but could you buy both and compare ingredients on the back? That way you'll know for next time.I do this with many other things. The ingredients should be listed in the same order. The first ingredient is what is mostly in the bottle. So if they aren't in the same order then the formula is different. Just an idea.

I am honestly not a 100% sure, but working in salons I have always heard that the non salon sold products are watered down. I would imagine you could contact the company to see if their the same, but they might not tell you?? Something you could do to cut the costs is purchase the larger bottles because you save a few dollars. Another thing is find a salon at allows you to bring your bottles back for a refill with a discount. We used to cut a few dollars off the salon I worked at in NJ. It helped everyone out - esp the environment. I'd say it's worth asking - Good luck - C.

It absolutely is NOT! I have asked this question of several hair stylists and they have all said they are not. If you want salon products buy them at the salon.

B.,
I know it's tempting to buy the discount products, but they are not the same. My mom is a hairdresser and has been for the past 30 years and she vows that it's not he same product. I don't know what they do to be able to sell them in the stores, but buy from a salon. You may pay a little more, but you're definitely getting a better product that is good for your hair. Another alternative may be to go to the beauty supply places (not Sally...they have knock offs too) but places like West Coast, Malys and places like that...see if they'll sell to the public first or find someone who may have a beauty license that is willing to help you buy wholesale. Good luck.

Hello, I am a hair stylist and have heard this so many times, people go and buy what they think is the same product, but really it is not. The bottles might look the same because the bottles themselves are not copyrighted. The product inside on the other hand is. So the product in the bottle at the salon is going to be much better than the stuff at the other stores. Sometimes it may be the salon kind, but it will be either a bad batch that they couldn't send to the salon or old products that wont work as well. Either way, my suggestion would be to spend the few extra dollars and buy them at a salon. The last post said to buy the bigger bottles, that is a great idea, a lot of times salons will have sales on the liters, that is a great time to stock up! Hope this helps!

It could be. Paul Mitchell's marketing/branding is that they do not sell anywhere other than salon's. This is a deal they have with salon's. THey actually have a department that watches out for product being sold in stores. So, it could be the real thing, but it is not intentional by the company.

It is the same thing with nothing added or subtracted from it.

Buy from a SALON!!! I'm a licensed cosmotologist and there is a deffinite difference between buying from a salon vs. a regular store. The grocery stores can purchase old products for a reduced price or they can be watered down just as you said. Don't risk it. Same with hair color! If you purchase store hair color it can contain harmful metals that are very detrimental to your hair. Also, you're best bet for Paul Mitchell is just make a trip to the Paul Mitchell School of Beauty- they'll carry the widest selection of products and it's helping to support a hair school. :)