Bubbles and Fragrance

Recently the owner of a salon came to school to talk business with us. His salon is fairly new, only about two years old. He is also an educator and specializes in color. He had two "associates" with him who were actually his assistants. I liked what he had to say, but I felt like he was putting on a show for us. Being a color specialist, I assumed he had some favorite go-to product lines. So I asked what products he uses and retails in his salon. He paused and said, "You know all products are really just bubbles and fragrance." WHAT? I looked at him and said "Blasphemy!". No joke. I really said it. He proceeded to talk about how it's all basically the same, and the products that you retail should match the demographic and budgets of your clients. I can agree with the latter, but I will never say that all products are the same. He lost me after that statement. How can a color specialist perform a $100 color service on a client and then tell them to use whatever products they like?

There are three products that I believe are worth the money: Shampoo, Conditioner, and Heat Protectant. Let's start with shampoo. If you color your hair, the wrong shampoo can strip your color. You might as well put the money you spent on that service down the drain. For color-treated hair, I love sulfate-free shampoos. They don't have the chemicals that all of the others have, and the chemicals are the stripping agents. The proper shampoo can prevent breakage, give your hair body and shine, intensify curl..the list goes on. Another tip, don't shampoo your hair every day. Your hair needs its natural oils. If you're using the proper shampoo then you won't need to shampoo every day.

Conditioner. The biggest myth when it comes to conditioner is that if you have fine, limp hair you don't need conditioner. False! You just need the right kind of conditioner. Also, you don't need a hand full of it. A little goes a long way. Start with a dime-size amount. Don't apply it directly to the root of your hair. Start mid-shaft and work your way to the ends. This will prevent residue and oiliness at the root. If you need more, add a little bit more. If you use the right conditioner, then you'll need less styling products. The best method for using conditioner is to let it sit on your hair for a few minutes. When I get in the shower I shampoo my hair twice and run the conditioner through it. Then I do the rest of my showering and rinse the conditioner out at the end with cool water. Cool water closes the cuticle and seals the product in.

Finally, heat protectant. I cannot express the importance of this product enough! It is rare to find a woman that doesn't use heat on her hair. Most women use multiple forms of heat. We are constantly blow drying, flat ironing, and curling our hair. So much damage! Look in the mirror. I bet you'll see a lot of tiny hairs around your hairline. That is broken hair. The solution is heat protectant. These products come in a variety of formulas from a fine mist to a heavy cream. Take time and read the back of the bottle. It will tell you how to use it and what hair type it is for. Your stylist is your best resource, so don't be afraid to ask.

One of my friends told me that your hair is the outfit you wear every day. You can wear a bad outfit and never have to wear it again. But if your hair is damaged and faded, you have to wear it every day. You're going to shampoo your hair anyway. Why not use the right products and make your hair look great? Bubbles and fragrance. I don't think so.



I recently discovered the JOICO product line, and I'm obsessed! I have been using their Smooth Cure products for about two weeks, and people have noticed that my hair looks better. This collection is sulfate-free, so it doesn't strip my color. It has been amazing on my coarse, curly hair. My hair has been softer and smoother than I have seen it in years. I also use their K-PAK Revitalize conditioning treatment. It has completely restored my hair. I'm excited to try some of their other collections on different types of hair.

My favorite line of bubbles and fragrance!

Click here to watch Tabatha Coffey talk about K-PAK Revitalize on The Dr. Oz Show.