LOOKING good is becoming more and more expensive with new hair products and trends being introduced all the time

But are the salon products worth the money?

The answer is no and yes, according to Amanda Magazi, a professional hair and make-up artist.

"Ultimately, the value of hair-care lies in how important it is to you. If you spend a lot of time on your hair and regularly go to the salon, a salon product might be the best value for you. If you are a 'wash and wear', kind of a lady, then the grocery store brands will probably suffice," Magazi says.

She advises people to pay attention to the ingredients in the products when shopping for hair products.

"If a product's price is too amazing, the performance is probably not amazing. If the first ingredient listed is water, that is usually the primary ingredient."

She says bargain salon brands in a convenience store should be bought with caution.

"Beware of such items. If a product is labelled as a salon retail product, it is not supposed to be sold in a convenience store. Guarantees on salon retail products are usually void if they are not bought in a salon. You might believe you are getting a bargain. If you buy a product and it is old, you have no bargain."

She adds that many generic brands are similar to major brands.

But she warns consumers never to buy discount hair-care products at flea markets or garage sales.

"It is too much of a gamble. When you buy from a flea market the vendors can disappear like magicians. By the time you realise the product you bought is a dud they are long gone."

She advises those with dyed, permed, or relaxed hair not to buy alkaline shampoos, which can do more harm than good.

Pros

Salon brands are typically satisfaction guaranteed. If you do hair in a salon and find out you did not get satisfying results, you can go back and get a refund. You aren't likely to be able to do that if you buy a product from a store.

Professional hair-care products used in a salon are more concentrated than store brands.

When you do your hair in a salon you are also buying the educational information of your stylist. Different types of hair and different problems with hair require different types of products for the best possible results. You also have the added benefit of the advice you receive from your stylist, so you can choose a product that best suits your hair.

Cons

Most, if not all, manufacturers of salon-brand hair-care products also make store brands. However, although they may contain the same ingredients, the concentrations can be different.

Try them both and see if your hair performs better with one than the other.

Beware of "new and improved" products at a higher price.

Often, when a label states "new and improved", the only things that have been changed are the colour and/or fragrance and the packaging. The only way to know is to check product labels to see if there is truly a difference.

Finally, don't underestimate the power of your brain to convince you that higher prices mean superior quality. When you believe that you are getting a superior product because you paid more for it, you are likely to perceive differences that might not actually exist.

Of course, if you truly believe a higher priced item is better - and your budget can handle the higher price - go ahead and use what you like the best.

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