Counterfeit Salon Hair Products Sold in Supermarkets/Drugstores

[nifer]

May 2, 2005 11:00 pm US/Eastern

PHILADELPHIA (KYW) How much do you spend on shampoo, conditioners and

hair spray?

Depending on where you buy those products you could be washing money

down the drain or even putting yourself at risk. The labels say for

salon sale only, but 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan

found them everywhere.

Paul Mitchell, Redken, Aveda, and Nexus. You know the names,

especially if you're into your hair.

"I use a lot of Paul Mitchell," said Lindsay Allison.

But Allison admits that when it comes to buying it is all about convenience.

"I mainly buy my hair care products at a drug store instead of a

salon," said Allison.

High-end shampoos and other hair products are meant for salon-sale

only, yet you can find them in many stores.

3 On Your Side found many of these high-end shampoos when they went

undercover shopping, but they also discovered you may not want to use

them.

John Paul Dejoria, the C.E.O of Paul Mitchell systems said, "If you

find it anywhere other than a salon it is either counterfeit, black or

gray market, stolen or extremely old."

Dejoria says his company is falling victim to a thriving gray market

in professional hair care.

"A lot of people don't read the back of the label and they figure that

these reputable stores are carrying it," said Dejoria, adding, "It

must be real, Paul Mitchell must have sold it them."

When Dejorio bought products baring his label at unauthorized stores,

his company lab tests revealed they contained bacteria too numerous to

count.

They were counterfeits similar to those seized by custom agents in

Miami and often smuggled in from overseas.

The counterfeit product often looks watered down and in many cases

there is a noticeable difference in the quality of bottle's cap.

How do these items end up on store shelves?

3 On Your Side questioned a few store clerks and they had no idea.

"Got me, I don't know," said one clerk of the counterfeit brands.

Another clerk described the shipping process saying, "They don't

deliver it on our delivery truck, there's a guy that comes in."

Others say the products are often legitimate, but are diverted to

wholesalers who then make deals with drugstores and supermarkets.

Still you may not be getting the deal you expect.

New Hope salon owner Sam Burns confirmed what 3 On Your Side found in

spot checks.

"I think they're also surprised that nine times out of ten that it's

more affordable in a salon like mine," said Burns of "Hello Gorgeous"

Salon.

It is not against the law to sell diverted products. Industry experts

have differing opinions as to whether there is a safety risk, but they

do acknowledge that the counterfeits may not work as well.

Manufacturers say their packaging is clear. They will not guarantee

anything sold outside of a salon.

http://kyw.com/consumer/local_story_122214944.html