Glycerin: The Good

Looking to hydrate your hair? Define your waves or curls?  Glycerin could be exactly what the Doctor ordered. Derived from natural plant seed oil sources such as coconut, palm or soy, glycerin is pure and nontoxic. It moisturizes and is known to prevent breakage, especially on hair that isn’t chemically treated. Since it helps draw moisture from the air onto your hair and is easily soluble in water, glycerin can serve as a great deep conditioner. Especially when mixed with commercial conditioners, added to homemade hair products, other natural oils or even water.

Drawing this moisture from the air can make glycerin a when used with caution. Because it can help to reduce breakage, it can , and remain healthy. Glycerin can help to eradicate itchy scalp, especially during colder months.  Regular application can help eliminate dandruff with a soothing cooling effect on the scalp. Nothing can “repair” split ends, but mixing a few drops of essential oils with glycerin can help to strengthen hair. This leads to a decrease in split end formation.

Glycerin: The Bad

While not necessarily a “con”, one should be cautious and read labels when shopping for glycerin. While varieties derived from animal fats are definitely natural they, and petroleum blends actually run the risk of severely drying hair out causing brittle ends and breakage. If that isn’t scary enough, many products with “glycerin” as an ingredient are which is typically produced from epichlorohydrin. This synthetic glycerin often delivers similar benefits to its natural counterparts but comes with major risks. Epichlorohydrin is a toxic chemical, classified as a possible carcinogen. It’s best to keep an eye out for brands that say “USP Grade”, “non-GMO”, or “Kosher certified” on the labels.

Glycerin’s high solubility in water makes it a great candidate for leave-in hair products, but unfortunately, most rinse-out conditioners that boast it as an active ingredient may not achieve the desired effect. Speaking of leave-in conditioners, glycerin will work wonders adding moisture and defining curls as long as the weather is moderate. Because of its humectant nature, it will draw moisture from wherever it is most abundant, meaning it will draw excess moisture from the air onto hair making it even frizzier than without it.

Conversely, in really dry conditions, glycerin will actually draw moisture from your hair. This leaves your hair drier than it would have been without it. This property makes it difficult to get consistent results with inconsistent weather conditions. If your hair was recently colored, it’s not recommended to use this substance during the first wash.

Bottom line: don’t use glycerin on colored hair, read all your labels, and check the weather!

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Drugstore products do what they say they will, so why spend double, sometimes triple the money on expensive salon products? The short answer is because they’re better for your hair, but you might just be surprised to find out that these products can actually cost ±ô±đ˛ő˛őĚýin the long run.

Drugstore

The products we find at stores like Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart are appealing for many reasons. Beyond affordability, they are easily accessible, usually come in a variety of colors, and a multitude of delectable scents. Have you ever thought about why there is such a price gap between drugstore and salon products? While most contain the same or similar ingredients as salon products, they are diluted, and you don’t get all of the benefits.

What are the products diluted with you may ask? Usually, chemicals, fillers, and water. These ingredients do nothing for the health of your hair. Instead, they could actually be damaging your hair. Sulfates are a particular chemical that many of us have heard of. This is what causes your shampoo to really lather up and produce suds, which in turn makes us feel like we’re getting a really good clean. Unfortanelty, sulfates can strip out color and result in dry hair.

Say you’ve just gotten your hair colored, you most likely spent, at minimum, $70 on your service. Does it make sense to use a $5 bottle of shampoo on your new color? No. You’ve invested money in coloring your hair, you should invest money in keeping that color as vibrant as it was when you walked out of the salon.

We see the “salon products” on the shelf at Target or Walmart, but are they really salon approved? Unfortunately, most of the time these products are over processed and diluted. They will be cheaper than their salon approved twins, but much less effective.

“Invest in your hair, it’s the crown you never take off.”

Salon

Why buy products from the salon? Oh, let me count the ways! First and foremost, the ingredients. Salon products use highly concentrated, high-quality ingredients that nourish and hydrate your hair. When looking at the ingredients on the back of your shampoo, you’ll see that there’s not a huge difference between the salon and drugstore product. The best way to explain this is to equate shampoos to cooking oils. The salon products are the extra virgin olive oil, the unprocessed batch, the best of the best. The drugstore products are comparable to your vegetable or canola oil, the lower quality processed version. It’s still oil, it’s just lower quality.

Yes, salon products cost more, but you need to use less product. How many of you actually use the dime sized amount that is recommended by your shampoo bottle? Chances are you fill your palm with shampoo and lather up. However, with highly concentrated products you really only need that dime sized amount. In my own experience, a bottle of salon shampoo lasts months while my drugstore shampoo barely lasted one month.

Your stylist has likely researched and tested a variety of brands and products before making their recommendation. Show your support by taking his or her advice. Their main goal is to give you a look you love and teach you how to keep this look for months after your visit.

Conclusion

When it comes to the products you choose to put in your hair, it’s a lot like choosing what to put in your body. Put good in, get good out. For best results, our educators recommend choosing a line, for example, Redken anti-frizz and sticking with it. You probably won’t see results overnight, but you will see a change if you consistently use salon products. Until I started working for AOHD, I used whichever shampoo had the magic combination of cheap and good smelling. I have been using products recommended by our educators for the last six months and the difference is incredible. My hair is longer, softer, and healthier than it’s ever been (I’ve had my current shampoo/conditioner set for 3 months and it’s still not empty!)

The bottom line is, what you put on your hair is your choice, but if you want to invest in healthy, beautiful hair salon products are the best way to go.

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This week as the Midwest temperatures hit lower degrees than ever, it’s simply natural to want to bundle up.

So Midwest Misters, maybe it’s time to get that facial hair on a new level.

Need a trim? Schedule an appointment with one of our brilliant barbers!
Need something to tame the lower mane? Try our American Crew Beard Balm!

Clocking in at only $19, this beard conditioner will smooth your style.

It features a flexible application for easy styling and it smells like a toasty, good time.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “I want in on American Crew, but I prefer to keep my face clean shaven!”

Don’t despair, the Official Supplier to Men can cater to a full range of hair needs.

That’s right fellas, we’re talkin’ about the top of your head now. It’s a look you are not going to want to hang your hat on.

The American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel will keep that style looking cool even when you’re warming up by the fire.

It’s got that patented firm hold and a non-flaking gel without any alcohol in it’s ingredients all for only $15.

It smells like the woods that you should probably stay out of while we’re below freezing.

Your hair will look thicker, but the low pH in the product will prevent your hair and scalp from drying out.

Come in before the freeze arrives and get your American Crew products today!

Interested in becoming a barber? We’ve got a program for you!

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