Ok so what are the red flags to counterfeited hair care products?
 
1. Differences in ingredients, instructions, and logo. If you look at a counterfeit product and compare it to one you got from a salon closely you’ll be able to tell subtle differences in the ingredients, instructions, misspelled words, and even the logo.
 
2. A barcode sticker.  Counterfeited products ALWAYS have a sticker slapped over the original barcode printed on the bottle.  This is done by the wholesalers to keep track of it.  If you notice when you buy a product from a professional salons they always use the barcode on the bottle.  Both of my products from Amazon had barcode stickers on them.
 
3. Dirty, dented, or sticky. Professional hair care companies take a lot of pride in the way their product looks, so if you come across one that is messy looking, don’t buy it.
 
4. Missing batch code.  If you see batch codes missing on the bottom, that’s another red flag.
 
5. Higher price or significantly reduced.  At first I didn’t believe it.  I talked to my hairstylist and she told me a red flag when it comes to counterfeit product is the price is slightly higher.  My mousse was $12.93 on Amazon and the mousse at my salon was $12.  $.93 isn’t a huge difference but counterfeit products are generally more expensive because they’ve gone through so many different “grey market” hands they have to jack up the price of them so those shady people can get a profitable cut.  The pomade I bought on Amazon was $13.09 , almost half the price of the one I bought from my salon for $24.  What I learned from this lesson is sometimes when you see items selling for 50% off the normal price, it’s almost too good to be true.  Which this was the case for me.
 
6. Not sold in a professional salon.  Professional hair care companies like Enjoy, Paul Mitchell, Biolage, Big Sexy Hair, and others only sell to professional salons.  They don’t sell their product to Target and other grocery or drug stores.
 
7. Doesn’t work as well.  This was one of the first indicators that something wasn’t right with the two products I bought from Amazon.
 
Conclusion.  I still don’t know whether the two products I bought from Amazon were either counterfeited or expired.  But I know they didn’t work the same as when I use the ones I bought from my salon.
 
Ok, so what do we as consumers do?  The crappy thing is there’s no laws against product counterfeiting and diversion which is why it’s allowed to go on.  The only thing that is illegal is if an authorized dealer (a professional salon) sells the product in the purpose for it to be resold or sells to an unauthorized dealer or distributors.  So where it comes down to is if you want to protect your health, your money, and your hair, make sure you only buy from a professional salon. Period.
 
Hope this helps.

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By Dion Padan

Party season is well under way, and our social calendars are set to be pretty full throughout the entire month of December. Whether it’s the annual office party, a night out with friends or big family gathering, we all need to plan our outfits and, of course, hairstyles for the upcoming events.

The office Christmas ‘do’, in particular, can become a pretty overwhelming experience, especially with the added pressure of wanting to make the right impression and really showcase your style credentials to your colleagues.

It’s always good to make a grand entrance and wow those people you work with, many of whom may have never seen you in a social environment before.

So with this in mind, what hairstyle should you opt for?

Formal/Smart Events
You should always look to style your hair based on what you’re wearing and the occasion. For example, a messy bed head isn’t entirely appropriate for a formal black tie dress code. If you’re attending an event where you are expected to dress smartly, wearing a suit and tie, then it would be wise to complement the look with traditional, neatly-groomed hair.

However, regardless of how you normally wear your hair, for this time of year I think it’s important to have a sharper haircut that is well maintained and in great shape. Try opting for a classic cut that can be worn in different ways, for ultimate versatility.

Personally, I would suggest going shorter through the back and sides to keep the edges looking clean and tidy. If you maintain some length through the top then the hairstyle can look completely different depending on the way it’s blow dried and your choice of styling product.

Classic/High-Shine Styles
If you are going to be wearing a tuxedo or suit, look to style your hair in a classic way. Try applying a high-shine product to give off a more polished appearance and add that final level of refinement.

Three timeless hairstyles immediately spring to mind for formal occasions: the side parting, a side-swept quiff and, for those with long length on top, slicked back hair.

It’s always best to style your hair with your suit on, in order to get a true feel for the overall aesthetic; I know I feel very different when I’m dressed in a full suit. I’m sure some of you might be worried about appearing over-styled, but it really does depend on the occasion. Everyone does go the extra mile for such big events, therefore it’s the ideal time to get adventurous and try something different.

Casual/Relaxed Events
If you are attending a less formal Christmas party, your hairstyle can be more relaxed – try scrunching it or opting for one of the dishevelled styles we featured recently on FashionBeans.

Make sure you show off the texture of the haircut and have some fun with how you wear it. Try working a product like Kevin Murphy Hair Resort or Bangstyle Mousse into the hair before you blow dry, in order to give it some serious volume.

It’s nice to have a bigger or more exaggerated hairstyle at these events, especially when you consider the more conservative way many of us wear our hair at work. Experiment and get creative – it’s only hair, and if it gets too big you can always calm it down with some hairspray or by running your fingers through it.

Looking After Your Hair
Regardless of whether you have short or long hair, it’s important to keep it in the best condition possible. Due to the fact you are going out more during this period, you should also find you are washing your hair more frequently. Therefore, it’s imperative you condition your hair and scalp to keep it healthy and manageable.

I personally find that I consume a lot more alcohol over the festive season, which leaves my skin and hair feeling dehydrated. Make sure you counteract this by drinking plenty of water and, if need be, leave your conditioner to penetrate and soak into your hair for a few minutes whilst in the shower, which helps force moisture back in.

If you don’t have time for this, try applying a leave-in conditioner lotion/spray and then blow drying it in.

Final Word
So there you have some quick tips on how to style your hair this party season, along with what you need to do in order to keep it in tip top condition. Remember that just like your ensemble, adjust your hairstyle and overall appearance to the event and dress code in question – this is a hallmark of any well-dressed gent.

Read the full article here with hairstyle examples and more