Bootleg hair products at Beauty Supply Stores!

[santia]

I was just thinking about this the other day. A few years ago I bought an Affirm Relaxer from an Asian BSS. I always heard how great their relaxers were but never tried it. So I applied the relaxer to my new growth and it did NOT take. Not even a little bit! I brushed it off and thought well maybe I applied it wrong. So the next time I had a professional apply it. Same results!! I ended up throwing it away thinking that maybe I needed a stronger relaxer. I now realize that I had a bootleg relaxer. Thank God it didn't take my hair out!!!

Now that is too scary to think of.

 

[RubyWoo]

I was just thinking about this the other day. A few years ago I bought an Affirm Relaxer from an Asian BSS. I always heard how great their relaxers were but never tried it. So I applied the relaxer to my new growth and it did NOT take. Not even a little bit! I brushed it off and thought well maybe I applied it wrong. So the next time I had a professional apply it. Same results!! I ended up throwing it away thinking that maybe I needed a stronger relaxer. I now realize that I had a bootleg relaxer. Thank God it didn't take my hair out!!!

I had a similar experience except it was a Mizani Regular strength rhelaxer from Texas Beauty Supply. I did a strand test and the relaxer barely relaxed the curl (not even slightly loosened) after 18-20min(max for my hair type). And I know Mizani regular is strong and my hair isn't course or hard to relax. After doing three different strand tests, I gave up and sent that relaxer back. I knew I was taking a risk buying a professional relaxer online and unfortunately, I got burned. Oh well. Luckily, I didn't put that stuff in my hair.

 

[Poli]

I found these videos (4) and they are very interesting. I had no idea that AA and Asian was pretty much not getting along when concerning beauty supply stores.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96aaTSdrAE&mode=related&search=

 

[atemeus_itali]

wow i never thought about that before...the products i used to buy don't have seals on them so i guess it would be pretty easy to tamper with them...so do they just buy extra bottles when they dilute products? it sounds kind of crazy...but i don't think i've been cheated before, but i guess you never really know

 

[YoungWavey]

Wow..thats really a eye openererplexed...I see why some ladies here get them bootlegs products I guess they made their own personal perms and hair care...

 

[Quty_Bug]

Okay, this is scary. I just ordered a lot of KeraCare products from Paynes.

I remember I thought the Keracare dry and itchy scalp shampoo was bootleg because it was blue. Actually, now that I think about it.... is it suppose to be blue?

 

[*Luscious*Locked*Doc]

Wow - I don't think I will ever shop at an Asian BSS again. I just recently had a bad experience when I went in to return a product that was broken from day 1 of purchase. I had to call the woman out for being rude and inconsiderate and I asked to speak with her manager at which time she began making excuses etc. I eventually got a new product which I tested in the store to make sure it worked. After that I told them I will never shop there again and I mean it. I don't think I've ever gotten a bad product from them...my WGHO is smelly lol but still who wants to take chances like that for people who don't truly consider you to be a worthwhile customer. I had to tell the woman behind the counter that I was a paying customer and that it's RUDE to file and pick your nails while I'm speaking with you about a professional matter. That kind of behavior is totally unacceptable, but some people would put up with anything for good hair. I don't think she's ever had someone speak to her intelligently before instead of getting angry and yelling - she seemed nonplussed. As to the issue of going to a salon to get my hair done....the expense is just out of control....I don't think it's right to charge someone $115 to relaxer 3 inches of hair and cut and style....that's how much my last do was....plus I had to wait for an hour before she started working on my hair. I could have done all that at home and saved myself time and money!

 

[dinaaike]

Originally Posted by Ms. Cleo
Actually the word has been out for awhile to be very wary of buying professional salon products in a drugstore or grocery store. If you check out the Paul Mitchell website there is a FAQ about buying professional salon products at mass retailers and such: http://www.paulmitchell.com/About_Us...ctControl.aspx


It all boils down to who can make a buck off of the unsuspecting public. That is not race-specific.

That's the same with OPI nail polish. I know here in Jacksonville the places that are licensed to sell it are JCPenney and Trade Secret. I'm sure a lot of the salons probably purchase from the distributors of OPI and sell from their salons and some don't but I definitely would not purchase any bottles of the polish that has Asian writing on the back of them. I've seen a lot of these floating around.

OF COURSE!!! I haven't purchased salon quality from chain stores, but I don't know why it never occurred to me that they would have a problem with Paul Mitchell products being sold at Sally's and yet be fine having it sold at CVS! Stupid, stupid, stupid.

If I see it at Walgreens, but they don't carry it at Sally's that's going to be a HUGE red flag for me now.

Well if there weren't already enough reasons to be a Do-It-Yourelf-er, here's one more. You can buy your own ingredients and make a simple, natural product, or pay an arm and a leg for the chemical-laden counterfeit. And we wonder why we have problems finding the right product.

 

[KissyKissyLuv]

So far I have heard you guys mention Sally's, Ulta, Trade Secret, and Pure Beauty as places where you can get reputable items. Can we also add Beauty First and Sephora to the list? Or have any of you heard some crazy things about them? I go to them for my Paul Mitchell, Redken, and Phyto products, and Beauty First has an active salon. I used to go to the Cosmetic Center, but all of the stores closed down.

I am now branching into ayurvedic and homemade products, but I have stayed away from my favorite Asian owned BSS because I just don't need them very much. Also I have also been looking at their Keracare and Mizani products which just look fake to me, much less smelling them. I hope I don't have to rely on them too much because I am suspicious now that they may also be selling bootleg and fake products.

 

[tbaby_8]

I know the BSS in my area sells Dudley, Mizani, Keracare and a few other products that I know for a fact they shouldn't be selling. I don't purchaser them unless I am desparate and even then I still try to hold out and wait till I can get to one of the Beauty supply stores that I trust. As long as we as consumers cater to them, then they will continue to try and dupe us.erplexed

 

[Butterfly08]

I posted information about this same thing in a thread about supporting non-Black BSS. I was informed of this by my nail-tech. Her sister worked in a salon that was Asian owned and told her about things that they do. From nail polish to detergents to soap to nail arcylics to purses. They reproduce everything and go around to other salons and go through their garabage to pull out containers with the brand names on them to put their own products in so that people will think that they are using brand name products. Watch out people when you're going to these Asian owned establishments.

I stopped going to one of these salons at Wal-Mart because I know that they put chemicals in to thin out old dryed out nail polish. After 2 days, my nail polish is already cracking. UNACCEPTABLE! I did find another Asian owned salon that uses new and fresh OPI products and charge the same, so I made a permanent switch. But I watch their practices and inspect their products like a hawk now.

 

[Butterfly08]

I've seen the Revlon relaxers with a different type of text on it than what I am used to. I thought it may be new, but it may just be bootleg. Next time I will purchase one and send it to the company for them to test it.

Instead of throwing the products you suspect out, send them to the manufacturers. That's the only way that this will stop.

It's not only unethical, but dangerous. Someone could end up seriously hurt or disfigured, which is far waorse than just loosing a few dollars or your hair.

Either way, that is so trifling, and I will not be buying anymore products from them besides things like clips, pins, combs, etc.

Awesome advice!

 

[nybeat26]

now yall have me thinking twice when I order my products online

 

[amwcah]

Wow! This was an eye opener. This should be a sticky!

 

[dinaaike]

Wow! This was an eye opener. This should be a sticky!

Your comment and you avatar are just too much! She is too cute

 

[PureSilver]

Why am i not surprised, that's why i take my own products to the salons, although it's the first i'm hearing that he chineese mix the hair products. No wander none of my friends shop at CHINATOWN, they're known for selling some "GOOD" fake stuff

 

[Butterfly08]

Well ladies this should definitely be an eye opener. Fortunately I work for Homeland Security and our Customs Enforcement agents are always raiding and busting the shipments of fake products. I've known about this for a while now. It started long ago with Paul Mitchell, when his products were the most popular brand on the market. Like someone mentioned earlier stick with Trade Secrets, Ulta or Sallys.

I have a friend that worked for Sally's and they discared returned items, even dryers, flat irons, curling irons etc. they held them for period of time in the back stock area. Every so often all returned items would be counted and to the dumpster they went

Never trust a store that doesn't allow returns for money back but only exchanges. This is a sure sign of greedy owners without the customers' best interest at heart. Any business owner would want to keep a happy customer base by allowing returns. The Asian BSSs monopolize our markets and some people feel that their only option is to shop there. Especially in our inner city's or the "hood" , there is no Ulta or Trade Secrets, maybe a Sally's but look at the price difference, some opt for the Asian BSS because the prices are cheaper than Sally's; nevermind the quality of the products and whether they're authentic or not.

GREAT INFO. Unfortunately, I know of a black owned BSS with the same policy.