Are you buying Aveda, Paul Mitchell at major retailers, grocery or drug stores

I wanted to share this article with you, as I had this discussion with two of our salon guests today. I hope this is informative to you.

What is Product Diversion?

Diversion is when products designed and meant for exclusive distribution at a specific salon end up on shelves of an unintended store.  In other words, diversion occurs when professional salon products like Aveda, KIN, Redken, Pureology and Paul Mitchell are sold at non-salon locations.

Consumers who buy professional hair care products at major retailers, grocery or drug stores may not be getting the bargains they think. These retailers are fueling a grey-market industry that deals in counterfeit, stolen and outdated merchandise.

Because professional hair care products are not regulated by the FDA, consumers may be getting ripped off. Not only are they paying more for the products, but they are also not guaranteed by hair care companies like Aveda , KIN, Redken, Pureology and Paul Mitchell.

It’s definitely a buyer beware situation. In some cases, these products have been found to be tampered with and when tested contained high levels of bacteria- which can cause irritation or even infection.

Purchasing diverted products can be dangerous especially if there is a recall on a particular product.  Retailers will not be notified of a recall if they are not an authorized dealer.

How to tell if merchandise may be diverted:

-Cans may be dented or dirty.

-Part of the batch code may be missing or tampered with.

-Lettering on the bottle may be faded.

Unfortunately, diversion is legal.  Any professional product you find outside a salon that contains the words “for sale in professional salons only” or “guaranteed only when purchased in a salon” have been diverted.  These products are not guaranteed to be at the same level of quality as those found in the salon. Because these products go through many channels during the black market process, sometimes the products can cost up to two times more as you would pay in a salon.

Professional products should be purchased in a professional salon because only trained and licensed stylists can make educated product recommendations for your specific situation.

Written by Michelle Rybicki