Oh Snap, It's a Trap!

BY AILESH ABRAMS

OK, so your stylist has converted you using amazing salon-quality products and you can now navigate that drugstore aisle like a pro:
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“Not today, Head & Shoulders!”
“Box dye? No beuno.”

…but wait a minute, is that *insert fancy product name* being sold in my local drugstore?!?
We get it, it’s confusing. But, as with many things, luxury salon brands available at a drugstore is too good to be true. BUT I'M SEEING IT WITH MY OWN EYES – how?

​This question has an answer that can be summed up in one word: DIVERGENCE.

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​Before going forwards, let's take a step back to the behind-the-scenes of salon retail. As a salon, when we decide to bring in a new luxury product line, we need to apply for the right to do so – and they can say no! 
For example, when Salon Society wanted to partner with Oribe, we needed to communicate with the Oribe brand reps to be sure that we would be a good fit! These luxury brands want to be sure that the salons that carry their products are able to properly use, educate, sell, and represent the brand as an ambassador.
As you can imagine, these types of brands also commit to not selling their products to drugstores/major retailers. Additionally, many of these brands invest time and money into the prevention and interruption of unauthorized sales to avoid unhappy customers or damage to their brand. When you find luxury brands on Amazon or in Walmart, what is actually being sold is a diverted product.
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“Diverted products can be counterfeit, diluted formulas, or old, expired formulas that may not be safe to use. Contaminated or counterfeit products could cause irritation or even infection.”

​- Kérastase Official 2022

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So that’s the nitty-gritty of it – when you find these diverted products you are really rolling the dice on whether or not you are getting what you’re paying for!

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