How to Protect Yourself from Counterfeit Hair Care Products

Have you ever experienced that sinking feeling when you find that the package design has changed on your favorite hair care product?

Many times the company will say it is either new or improved or that it remains the same. It is sometimes difficult to decide whether to purchase the product or not.

You have been there; tried a product only to find the new formula doesn’t work for your hair! To make matters more distressing we scour the internet hoping to find the old formula on Ebay or Amazon.

Many assume that counterfeit products are found only in small beauty supply stores and on websites that allow anyone to sell products but this isn’t always the case.

There are times when we are truly lucky but there is the possibility that we will eventually end up with a counterfeit product! I have personally purchased hair care products that were obviously counterfeit.

“Consumers who buy professional hair care products at major retailers — or at grocery and drug stores — are not getting the bargains they may think.

They’re also fueling a grey-market industry that deals in counterfeit, stolen, or outdated merchandise. That’s the warning issued by hair care giants like Paul Mitchell, Redken, and Matrix, who are trying to crack down on this industry-wide problem known as diversion (As cited by L. McCormick, 2008).”

I actually prefer products that have a factory seal that the consumer must remove to use the product. I personally have never purchased a counterfeit product with a factory seal.

The seals also provide a sense of security in knowing that the product hasn’t been opened by anyone after leaving the factory.

While many have decided to use only homemade products there are many that prefer to purchase hair products from manufacturers.

“FOX News reported June 10, 2003 that counterfeit hair care products independently analyzed were found to have dangerously high levels of toxic bacteria and other impurities—enough to make a person sick and require medical attention (As cited by Nessel 2008).”

I have listed a few tips to assist in identifying counterfeit products below. Tips identifying counterfeit products:

1. Closely look at the product’s color

If there is any change in color; either lighter or darker, it’s possibly counterfeit.

2. Smell the product

Most manufacturers do not change the scent of a product without making a note of the change on the product’s label or packaging.

3. Shake the product

Is the texture the same? If the product has always been creamy and now the texture is watery; this should raise a red flag! Do not touch the product prior to purchasing to avoid contamination. If the product doesn’t appear settled, it may have already been touched/contaminated by another consumer.

4. Check for expiration or manufacturing dates

Most packaging will include a date of expiration or the date that the factory packaged the product. We know that expired products may mimic all of the signs of counterfeit products due to spoilage.

Rancid products are as dangerous as counterfeit products! Counterfeiters may use discarded packaging, finding it easy to obtain.

Years ago it was common to hear stories of only salon distributed hair care product lines being counterfeited. They were dubbed as being superior and were priced higher so counterfeiters would prey on consumers; claiming to sell the same product locally and cheaper than the salon charged. Many wanting to get a deal would flock to buy the products only to find that they were counterfeit.

The troubling thing is that proving that the product is actually counterfeit is difficult without laboratory testing, leaving the consumer at the losing end of the stick.

If we are lucky the distributer will ask that we return it  and offer a refund or  exchange but frequently we toss the product and take the loss.

The loss to consumers is major! Not only are we throwing money away but we risk using a product that may contain dangerous chemicals or additives that can cause hair loss or scalp problems. Counterfeit hair creams, lotions and conditioners are one thing but imagine counterfeit relaxers!

Protect yourself as a consumer! Always keep your receipts for your purchases and email the company directly if the product you purchased seems different than your prior experiences.

Email the seller too; they may be unaware that the product is counterfeit. It is virtually impossible to determine if a product is counterfeit if it is your first purchase.

I would advise making it a habit of testing new products on a small area to determine if the product is right for your hair or if it may cause an allergic reaction!

Source of cites provided by:

Our Small “Section” (we don’t even get an entire aisle)

McCormick, Lisa. “Retailers Gloss Over Diversions of Professional Hair Care Products”@http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/04/diversions.html

Nessel, Jill. “Counterfeit Hair Care Products @https://suite.io/jill-nessel/qyr20c