If a client wishes to purchase 'do it yourself' color or perm supplies at Sally's, who are we to not allow it? Let us take into account what might be taking them there; high medical expense, only Disability Income, any low income, et al

Every woman wants to look and feel pretty.  We should not dictate who sells what to who, based on price, quality of product, etc.  Who is not so vain that they would not 'try it themselves' if they suddenly found themselves in dire straits?

Everyone needs an 'outlet' to have the opportunity to look and feel pretty.  Let's give everyone a chance, and if they land back in your chair, treat them with kindness and respect.

After all, when we all first started wasn't it because we loved our craft and also wished to make people happy with our creative side?

Help the less fortunate and show them respect and honor, they deserve it as much as we all do.  Sally's, Schmally's.......

The only thing standing between "professional" and "non-professional" products in our business is the person performing the service. There is really no such thing as a "professional" hair product. Skeptical? Compare ingredients. We like to fool ourselves into believing we are somehow a grade above those "low end" products being sold to the mass market, simply because we're in that "licensed professional" mind-set. Wrong.

Case in point, Tyra Banks has a show of her own on the Oxygen channel. One day while home catching up on paperwork, I happened to flip through the channels and caught her show. The episode was about high end products versus low end products, which intrigued me into actually watching. One guest in particular stands out in my mind. She was convinced that drug store brands were inferior to her very expensive products. They showed a "before" shot of her in her high end makeup. Needless to say, she could use a lesson or two in makeup application. Then they brought in a makeup artist and he used all low end, drug store brands, with makeup shades matching the shades of the guest's high end collection. When the makeup artist was finished, her face looked more polished and refined than when she herself had applied her own expensive makeup. Lesson? Cheaper and main market doesn't mean inferior.

It's a dog eat dog world out there and everyone is ripping off everyone else's patent, formula, ingredient, etc.

Remember, before the concept of "professional" hair care products came along (for many of you, that was when you were either just being born or still babies), the very same products used in salons were also sold on every shelf in the public sector. Believe it or not.  

"The truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is."
Winston Churchill

I didn't think you could get a sally's pro-card without your license # but they may have a consumer card. Who Knows? I see them sell perms and color to non-professionals all the time. Heh, I love to go in there and find the "lost souls' I give them my card and tell them to come see me! I actually have alot of customers that I have met at Sally's. I befriended the manager and now she sends all people with questions to me! There are plus sides to the store. When someone messes there hair up, they usually only do it once and then start going to a professional.

I hate to say it but I love sally's ION line. It's just as good as the professional products with a cheaper price. Hairstylists can save money to you know!

all things have evolved with technology over time.  didn't people use lye soap in times past?  there are still better 'grades' of product.  yes they all do the basic job-cleansing, conditioning-it's the way the performance in finished, the end result long term.
  there's always a product that is a little better than another-whether it be low end or high end.

Why is it that the people that complain about the "professionalism" in our industry still shop at Sally's or support product lines that are obvioulsy diverted ????  THe ol' mighty $$$$$ ?? Maybe? 

What ever happened to supporting the full service distributors?

Ok say you are self employeed - rental - and Sally's has a box of foils on sale for say $6.00.  Would you go to Sally's and those foils for $6.00, or pay more for them somewhere else?  Does it really matter where you get them?  Some with gloves?  I am not talking about color or retail lines for the salon.  Just simple every day use things we use in the salon like cotton, mirrors, spray bottles, that kind of stuff............think about it.

Cindy Farr Hester  Asst Moderator

if it's a tool that will be the same quality as the higher priced item i would give it a try.  however that is rare and i choose to support my distributors who support me.  i also hold to the rule that if someone takes the time to explain fully about a product i am interested in whether it be professional product or tool or perhaps a computer-i will buy it from them.  it isn't fair to take all the information and time that 'Computer Joe's" experience has given to me explaining about the computer i'm interested in only to go to the discount house and get it there for 50 dollars less.  i believe in giving the person who worked for the 'wage' the wage. 

50 volume developer is only sold to professionals at Sally's. If an employee is caught selling it to the general public, they could be fired.

I do the same thing. I buy color bowls and brushes, chemical capes, cotton and other sundry items from Sally instead of Armstrong McCall.  Funny that I won't think twice because Sally is cheaper.  Even though as few brushes and bowls as I would buy wouldn't make me lose more than a few dollars a year.  Hmmm.  Maybe I will rethink that practice now.

Thanks Val

This is just a thought you guys so bare with me....What if our professional lines and distributors are afraid of the competition from stores like Sally's. So in a plot to get all hair dressers to use professional only products they start selling some products to general consumer franchises. This in turn makes hairdressers think twice about where they buy there products from and more about being loyal to there distributor. A political move and very strategic. I don't agree with Sally's selling professional only products to general consumers. But you know, in this business every penny saved is a dollar earned and if you can save a few bucks by all means do so.

Oh and if the "plot" didn't make since just disregaurd it. Haha I have my moments. ;-)

that's tru Val, i've seen that too.  I think I'll get rid of my Sally habit and start spending my money at my distributor. 

I hate the whole "sally card" thing anyway.  I never seem to have my card with me when I shop and then they say they can't sell something to me and I have to get into it with them.  UGH.  Everytime I leave I think to myself that I won't ever go there again.

Is there some sort of Sally Anonymous 12-step program available?

Think about this.  All of the stylists and owners who constantly complain about this industry and all the diversion, and "non" professional people buying all these professional products in locations other than their salons, are only supporting Sally's and their efforts to sell product to anyone they can.. Supporting Sallys is like supporting your local supermarket that sells professional hair care products!!

Wake up !  Pay attention to where this industry is headed, look at the job forcasts for the next 10 years in our industry.

If you are looking to save a buck or two by purchasing products at Sally's, don't you think your clients are looking to do the same?  Wake Up !.

The best solution for any Salon Owner with a mind on costs and finances should be looking to private label your own products.

well according to Modern Salon the industry is heading to two classes of salons.  high end spas, and low end haircutters.  So it seems logical that places like Sally's will flourish in the next several years.

People are getting smarter about their hair and how to color it.  They are learning from the internet, magazines and their stylists.  The stylists many times think they are making themselves look smart but they are giving away their trade secrets.  I've heard stylists explain why they chose a particular color shade over another to a customer.  I thought, wow, that sure is giving them the info they need to go to sally and do it themselves.

I would love to open up a OTC beauty supply with a salon in the back and sell both OTC products AND pro products (think ULTA).  I think this is the wave of the future.