In a world where if salt and sugar were discovered today
they would be made illegal according to the Canadian FDA health standards. This got me thinking that everything I ingest, rub, brush or apply to my skin must be, in some way harmful to myself, others or the environment. It’s frightening to think that meat washed in an ammonia substance can be called a process and not an ingredient.
As a hairstylist for over 15 years and Education Director
for Spa Utopia Health & Wellness Center, it is my responsibility to know and understand the
ingredients of the chemicals we use to color hair. With so many
options out there, where does one begin? First step...understand our own personal morals, ethics and
beliefs, then search for a company with the same.
We, at Spa Utopia, have discovered DAVINES, an Italian based, family owned
company whose core value is SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY. Davines is a Zero impact
company through and through. Each year they the plant trees in Brazil to erase
their carbon footprint. They also encourage and support their partnering salons to be aware of their
own environmental impact.
SCIENCE + NATURE = SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY - Simple!
Now...the big ? Drugstore Hair Color vs In-Salon Color
(SUBTLE HINT TO EVERYONE READING THIS) - "just because it says professional on the box does not make it so."
It is hard to argue
the price point of drugstore hair color products versus professional hair color. It’s not hard to argue the inferior and potentially
dangerous ingredients that could be hiding in the cheaper price point. Major
corporations understand that to color hair you must first understand the composition
of hair, color theory and simple chemistry. They also know that the average
consumer does not! So how can they make it possible for consumers, educated or not, to use drugstore color? Simplify, simplify, simplify. Increase the amount of active
ingredients such as PPD’s and Ammonias.
Example:
Davines - Natural Dark Brown:
Ammonia: 1.8%
Drugstore - Natural Dark Brown Ammonia: 18% and up
This is how they simplify:
When I was researching a semi-permanent color which was
suppose to wash out in 15 washes and be ammonia free, I was shocked to find out
that the ammonia levels in this particular brand was over 21% , making this
temporary color a permanent! When I called the help line for an explaination there was no comment on the ingredients used.
Scary stuff - right!
The reason that professional products
cost more is due to the quality of the ingredients that go into them. We pay for the
morals and ethics of these companies that don’t test on animals and do not substitute ingredients with potentially carcinogenic additives.
If the drugstore products really did what they say they did,
I would be asking myself why every salon doesn’t carry and use them.
We have one life,
one body, and one world. Sustainable Beauty is our only option.
James Abu-Ulba
Education Director
Spa Utopia Health & Wellness Center
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