My hairdresser, whom I like, is now working at a salon in WalMart.

[raccoon]

He permed my hair 2 weeks ago and charged me $39 and change.

Last place I got a perm at (Hairmasters) was, IIRC, $70-something.

It would seem logical that the perms at the salon in Walmart (the chemical solution, I mean) are much cheaper. And therefore, not of as good quality.

Anyone know about this?



edited for typo

[Bunny]

1. I think t hose hair places are independently owned, they just rent the space from Walmart.

So I don't think their products would be cheaper solely because of Walmart.

But I'm not sure, so take it for what it's worth.

[LynneSin]

2. Remember that Wal-mart can bulk buy Perm Kits at a better price than a salon

A Salon may buy 100 Perm Kits say at $10 each wheras Walmart might buy 10,000 at a time and thus getting the price at a much cheaper cost

So if you really like your Salonist then ask him - if it's the same stuff then stick with him.

[LisaL]

3. Exactly. You can ask your hairdresser what it is he is using on your

hair.

[Orsino]

4. Wal-Mart overworks and underpays staff.

Everything they touch is reduced in quality.

[Lost in CT]

5. Well was the perm as good??? nt

[raccoon]

6. Not sure. My hair seems drier, but then it had been ages before the last perm,

so that may be why. IOW, maybe I've just forgotten how much perms dry out my hair.

The smell of the perm seemed to linger longer, though. WHich really isn't a problem.

[Lost in CT]

7. ell it sounds like she might have used a different mix

ask her outright... she might be able to upgrade you.

[kiva]

8. The products hairdressers use--

perm solution, bleach, color--are relatively cheap, the vast majority of the cost is labor. If you go to any beauty supply house, like Sally's, you can buy these items for a fraction of the cost of getting a service at a salon. The more expensive products tend to be 'kits' (like frosting kits) that contain other items in addition to the bleach, so it's likely that your hairdresser used the same or a comparable perm on your hair.

Salons differ in the way their stylists are paid--some pay an hourly salary, plus tips; some do a booth rental, where hairdressers pay a set amount per month and keep what they earn (sort of like sharecropping for hair); or they simply pay a percentage (usually around 50%) of what they earn to the salon.

Your stylist may have moved because he gets a better deal at the new salon, or their pay structure works better for him--odd as it may seem, he may be making more money.

[Shell Beau]

9. A lot of salons use the same products. I don't think because it is

Wal-Mart, the products are of less quality.

[jmowreader]

10. Regis has the contract for Walmart's salons

Regis' chemicals are less expensive than other companies' chemicals because they buy them in truckload quantities. The products are the same.