 | Darla Garcia
is a stylist with Salon 343 in Wichita. She is dedicated to providing her clients with the most up-to-date information and latest looks with hair, make-up and skin services. After graduating from Xenon Int'l. School of Hair Design in 1996 Darla went on to provide her services at some of the top salons in Wichita. Now that she has made a home with Salon 343 she is conveniently located at Kellogg and Greenwich. You can reach Darla or any of the Salon 343 team at (316) 688-0343 or stop by and see for yourself at 343 S. Greenwich Rd, Wichita. |
Beauty & Fashion
2004-04-01 16:37:00
Salon vs. drugstore products
: Are salon products any better than products purchased in drugstores and grocery store?
ANSWER: In general yes. Most salon brands use gentler surfactants, in more concentrated amounts. Also, many "drugstore" brands produce products with an end price point in mind, limiting the quality or amount of ingredients vital to maintain healthy hair. The major types of surfactants are: • Anionic (an-eye-ON-ick) • Cationic (kat-eye-ON-ick) • Nonionic (non-eye-ON-ick) • Amphoteric (am-fo-TERR-ick)Identification and names are important in all professions but for chemists, they are especially useful. Chemists try to choose names that provide information about the chemical. For example, anionic and cationic surfactants both end with "ionic" for a reason. These surfactants are a special type of chemical called an ion (EYE-on). Salt bonds are an important type of chemical bonds in the hair. Salt bonds give hair many important properties and affect most chemical treatments. Although the term salt bond is used frequently in cosmetology, it is incorrect. These chemical bonds are actually called ionic bonds, and they occur between ions. Ions and ionic bonds are really quite simple to understand. Ions are molecules that have small electrical charges. These charges are positive or negative. They repel or attract each other. Opposite charges attract and similar charges repel. Table salt, sodium chloride, is an excellent example. Sodium forms positive ions and chlorine makes negative ions. The opposite charges attract each other and make table salt. These charges are identical to those found in batteries or static electricity, but on a much smaller scale. Individual ionic bonds are very weak, but millions of them in combination are quite strong. Surfactants with a negative charge are called anionic (an-eye-ON-ick). A surfactant with a positive charge is cationic.Anionic Surfactants (Negatively charged ion) Anionic surfactants are the most widely used detergents in the cosmetology profession. They are inexpensive, simple to prepare, and excellent cleaners. They also rinse easily from the hair. A major disadvantage is that they can be harsh and irritating to the scalp. Frequently, other surfactants and ingredients are added to reduce skin irritation.Cationic Surfactants (Positively charged ion) Cationic surfactants are rarely used in high concentrations in the cosmetology profession. Many types are dangerous to the eyes but are safe and useful in low amounts. Until recently, their positive charges prevented them from being mixed with negatively charged anionic surfactants. Newer types, however, eliminate this incompatibility. Look at the label! Here is a guide to how gentle your shampoo is according to the surfactant used:• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate - very, very, harsh• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate- very harsh but better than the above• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate- better than the above, but still a little harsh• Sodium Laureth Sulfate-gentle, great pick!• TEA lauryl Sulfate-good pick• TEA Laureth Sulfate-good pick
