Hello, all!! ;D

My name is Jenna, I attend the newest PM partner school. It's in frederick Maryland.  :D

I've had a confusing year as far as school goes and so despite my 600+ hours I am still in the core group(little to no hands on, mostly studies- I switched schools at 450hrs).

Recently we had the pleasure of meeting with Caron J. A Paul Mitchell product expert(among many other wonderful things), & she informed our class about diverted salon products sold in stores like CVS & walmart. :-X

She told us horror stories about how some of the diverted products were tested & harmful substances such as fecal matter & parasites were found- not just that, but a bottle of diverted "baby don't cry" contained chemicals that could PERMANENTLY BLIND a child. >:( >:( >:(

(And besides the harm that these products can physically do, diversion takes money from the pockets of cosmetologists everywhere. :'()

Our whole class was deeply disturbed by this information & we've been having discussion after discussion about what we as future professionals of the beauty industry can do to help bring this to a stop.

Our ideas so far are as follows:

*brochures
*mass bulletins & e-mails(hence this post)
*sit ins at unlicensed distributers
*advertizing/commercial(similar concept to the "truth" commercials ;D)

Any suggestions on what else could be done, or thoughts on the issue would be greatly appreciated. And if anyone would like to donate to the cause, please contact the director of my school @:
info@pmthetemple.com

Thanks so much!

Thats horrible! >:( Whos in charge of these testings? Corporate will be able to help. Someone needs to be fined for this. To keep this from happening again they need to have inspections.  This case definately needs a good lawyer.

This would be a good truth show on 20/20.

A couple of years ago I remember reading about the Paul Mitchell brand and how it came to be sold by "non-salon" retailers.  I wish I could remember where that article was. :-/

If I remember correctly, there was a "parting of the ways" within the PM organization which resulted in the lower quality products being mass marketed.  The salon quality products were then to be re-formulated and the packaging changed so people would know the difference.

Not being a user of the products, I don't know if the packaging ever changed or not.  If the mass marketed product is contaminated, then the distributor/packager is responsible and PM should go after them.  If the bottle has the PM name on it, PM is ultimately responsible for the contents.  

Jenna, do you know how these products are being diverted?  From what you say, the products are being sold illegally - with the formula being changed.  Is this in fact the case?  

Just to clarify, are the generic products (i.e. "Compare this label to Paul Mitchell's Baby Don't Cry Sampoo) the problem, or is it the actual product, when sold at Walmart or CVS,  that is bad?

For years I used to buy Biolage products off of my hairdresser, I always loved the line and its effects on my hair.  My hairdresser has since gone out of business, so I bought a bottle of Biolage shampoo and conditioner from the drug store, I thought I was nuts for thinking that it just wasn't working the same...so maybe this is the problem?  I thought maybe they changed their formula or it just wasn't agreeing with my body chemistry anymore.  This helps me to understand what happened now, I won't buy "salon" products from any place other than a salon from now on.  Besides, our local small businesses depend on every little sale, even if it's just a bottle of shampoo, to survive...I should know!  I try to be very conscious about supporting local businesses and NOT places like Wal*Mart...every penny matters to us "little guys"!