Professional Shampoo vs. Drugstore: What's Actually in the Bottle

We get this question a lot. And honestly? It's a good one.

You just left a great appointment. Your hair looks exactly the way it's supposed to. You're thinking about maintaining it — and then you start doing the math. Professional shampoo at $28+. A bottle at the drugstore for $6.99. Is the markup really justified, or is this just the salon upsell?

Here's our honest answer: the price difference is real, and so is the reason for it.

So is it worth it? ... Let's look at what's in the bottle

Most drugstore shampoos are formulated to create an experience — the thick lather, the strong scent, the squeaky-clean feeling — that makes you feel like the product is working. And it does work, in the sense that it removes buildup. The problem is what it removes along with it.

Many mass-market products rely on high concentrations of harsh sulfates and synthetic detergents that strip more than just buildup. They strip the oils your scalp produces naturally. The proteins your hair needs to stay strong. The color molecules that are supposed to last for weeks. If you're color-treated, this is especially relevant — those formulas were not designed with your color service in mind.

The other thing worth knowing: drugstore formulas are often water-heavy. You're using more product to get the same result, which means you're replacing the bottle faster than you think.

What makes Davines different

We use Davines at Tailored, and we chose them intentionally.

Davines is a family-owned, B Corp-certified company based in Italy. B Corp certification means they meet verified standards for environmental impact, supply chain ethics, and labor practices — it's not a marketing claim, it's a credential with accountability behind it. Their ingredients are sustainably sourced. Their packaging is designed to minimize waste. And their formulas are highly concentrated — meaning a small amount goes a long way, which matters when you're doing the math on cost over time.

But what matters most to us is that their products are formulated to work with professionally treated hair, not against it. The Essential Haircare line in particular is built around specific hair needs — moisture, volume, restoration — rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. When we recommend a product to you, we're not handing you the bottle that was sitting nearest the register. We're recommending what we know will actually support what we just did to your hair.

The car analogy that keeps coming up in our chairs

Here's the way we think about it.

You invest in a great haircut or color service. You trust us to do it well. And then you go home and use products that slowly undo it — drying it out, fading the color, stripping the health you just put back in.

It's a little like buying a new car and skipping the oil changes. The car still runs. For a while. But the maintenance is what protects the investment you already made.

Your hair is no different. The service is the start. What you do between appointments is what makes it last.

The recommendation is always personal

Here's what we don't do: push a product because it's on the shelf.

Every recommendation we make at Tailored is based on your actual hair — what it needs, what it's been through, and what we noticed in the consultation. If we hand you a product on your way out, it's because we genuinely believe it's the right fit for you. If it's not the right moment to add something to your routine, we'll tell you that too.

That's kind of the whole point of how we work.

What this looks like in practice

The Davines Essential Haircare line is what we reach for most often — and it maps to specific needs rather than marketing categories.

OI is rich and restorative — ideal if your hair has been through a lot and needs to get back to a healthy baseline.

MOMO is built for moisture — exactly what dry or dehydrated hair needs, even if you've tried everything else.

VOLU is designed for fine hair that wants body and movement without weight.

If you're not sure which one is right for you, that's a conversation worth having at your next appointment. We'll look at what your hair is doing and tell you exactly what we'd use.

Here's the deal...

Is Davines more expensive than what's at the grocery store? Yes.

Does it work better, last longer, and actually support the health of your hair between appointments — especially if you're color-treated? Also yes.

When you buy from us, you're also supporting a local business rather than a big-box brand. That's not a guilt trip — it's just the reality of where the money goes. We're a small, woman-owned salon in Walker's Point. Every retail purchase keeps this place going and keeps us able to do the work we care about.

If you have questions about what's right for your hair, bring them to your next appointment. That's what we're here for.

Ready to book? Find a time that works for you.