Vent: Anyone else in my shoes? Cant shop brick & mortar for hair products? - Page 2

greenandchic · 11-17-2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly_Jammy

I have really been trying to get away from Online only proudcts. I can get my shampoos & conditioners at traget or vitamineshoppe.

BUT I have to order all the Shea butter, Cocoa Butter, Hemp seed oil, Rose hip seed oil, Fragrance oils etc. to make my stuff From online, so I still endup paying shipping and stuff anyway.

At this point I dont think there is anyway to avoid ordering online. But Traget's free shipping over $50 helps alot.

Yes, I can get shampoos and conditioner at home, but for my "exotic" oils and butters, I have to order online...

Quote:

Originally Posted by makeupvixen

It may be a long shot but have you tried yelp.com? It's how I found local places that carried shea butter in store. I right reviews about places and do survey's and some secret shopping and I yelp it. I mention some of the things they carry on my review and it helps people find things in their area.

Like go to yelp and type shea butter then enter your city and maybe you can find something in your area. Sometimes it works for people and sometimes it doesn't because not a lot of people go back to yelp and write reviews about products they found.

I did however go to my favorite beauty supply and expressed my love of shea butter and certain companies and I talked to the owner, they ended up getting the stuff I wanted and I told my friends about it and now we all shop there. I told them that if they started carrying more natural things like Shea butter then it would fly off the shelves and I would tell people that they carry it (free advertising) and well it worked.

You know, I totally forgot about checking Yelp (as much as I write reviews). I found a local source for henna - I will try shea butter...

Thanks!

Booker Ts Mama · 11-17-2010, 09:41 AM

Is there an Ulta in your area? They carry the Deva line and they also sell drugstore brands as well. You may be able to find something there.

greenandchic · 11-17-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booker Ts Mama

Is there an Ulta in your area? They carry the Deva line and they also sell drugstore brands as well. You may be able to find something there.

Turns out there are a few locations somewhat near me! Thanks for the heads up.

Kinky DaySha · 11-17-2010, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subbrock

that's been my problem for years! my beloved elucence products were sold in a BSS store that only sold to licensed professionals, but even they stopped carrying those products. our targets don't carry any of the natural hair products, there is no trader joe's and the closest whole foods is about 30-40 min. away.

i did recently find a small boutique in the mall that carries sheamoisture, kinky curly, miss jessie's, curls, mixed chicks, uncle funky's daughter, and a few other natural lines.

so i still have to order online to get my HG product, but it makes me happy to know that i don't have to pay for shipping to at least try the other brands.

Oooh, where? I think you live kinda in the same area as me and I would like to swing by and see what they have

evelynnalfred · 07-13-2011, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenandchic

[Vent]The only place that sells natural/curly hair care products in my area is Whole Foods and sometimes Ross where I can maybe once a season score some Jane Carter products, which I'm lukewarm about.

My local Targets doesn't even have the Shea Moisture line. I have to order everything that isn't Aubrey, Kinky-Curly, John Masters, and other Whole Foods or Pharmica products online. My local BBS only has the usual suspects which I dont use (Cantu, Lets Jam, Motions, etc) Don't get me wrong, I love online shopping - (heck, I just sold an only retail store!), but I would like to save on shipping sometimes and be able to test before I buy. [/Vent]

Does anyone else deal with this? The KCCC does fly off the shelves sometimes at all of my local Whole Foods and there are a handful of WFs here so its not like there isn't a curly hair market here...

Have you tried the Yes to Carrots or Giovanni line? Target carries them. Some ladies swear by Herbal Essense and Aussie products too and they are always at Target when I go.

Suburbanbushbabe · 07-14-2011, 06:31 PM

I shop 90% of my products on-line. The only thing I get on the ground is Devacurl and my shampoo, castor oil, KCCC and Giovanni gel. Curl Junkie, Qhemet, KBB Onesta, all on-line

greenandchic · 07-14-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evelynnalfred

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenandchic

[Vent]The only place that sells natural/curly hair care products in my area is Whole Foods and sometimes Ross where I can maybe once a season score some Jane Carter products, which I'm lukewarm about.

My local Targets doesn't even have the Shea Moisture line. I have to order everything that isn't Aubrey, Kinky-Curly, John Masters, and other Whole Foods or Pharmica products online. My local BBS only has the usual suspects which I dont use (Cantu, Lets Jam, Motions, etc) Don't get me wrong, I love online shopping - (heck, I just sold an only retail store!), but I would like to save on shipping sometimes and be able to test before I buy. [/Vent]

Does anyone else deal with this? The KCCC does fly off the shelves sometimes at all of my local Whole Foods and there are a handful of WFs here so its not like there isn't a curly hair market here...

Have you tried the Yes to Carrots or Giovanni line? Target carries them. Some ladies swear by Herbal Essense and Aussie products too and they always at Target when I go.

I have tried Yes to..., but I need to revisit it. I have also tried Giovanni in the distant past, but need to check it out again too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suburbanbushbabe

I shop 90% of my products on-line. The only thing I get on the ground is Devacurl and my shampoo, castor oil, KCCC and Giovanni gel. Curl Junkie, Qhemet, KBB Onesta, all on-line

I'm finding more options here now (still relatively new to my area). Thankfully Shea Moisture came to Walgreens (none of my Targets carries it). Most of my hair care shopping is still online though.

Chicago Kinks · 07-14-2011, 06:52 PM

95% of my products are purchased online. I can get a lot on the ground but I prefer to shop online. My schedule is tight and having things delivered is so much easier.

vIa mY cURl TaLk ApP

Ninjarette · 07-14-2011, 07:40 PM

Yep...I'm screwed too. Whole Foods is my ONLY option (and it's miles away from where I live, but a few minutes from where I work), and that's just for Giovanni - but now I buy from massagewarehouse.com, to get the liter bottles. But I don't use Jane Carter, Kinky Curly, Alba, Nature's Gate, etc.

Oh wait...there is the small boutique that carries QB, but I'm not using much QB right now.

juanab · 07-15-2011, 12:55 AM

I am in the same boat. I have to get everything online as all the Walgreens and Targets have very little if any of the Shea Moisture products. I get my essential oils from the local Vitamin Shoppe.

Ninjarette · 07-15-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanab

I am in the same boat. I have to get everything online as all the Walgreens and Targets have very little if any of the Shea Moisture products. I get my essential oils from the local Vitamin Shoppe.

Yep...forgot about them. I can get Shea Moisture at Walgreens.

cora · 07-15-2011, 04:17 PM

I live 45 minutes from a Sally's/Target and I only get to a Whole Foods when I visit my father 3 hours away. And there are no BSS in sight. Which means I have to get most of my products online and I always cringe when paying for shipping

greenandchic · 07-15-2011, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cora

I live 45 minutes from a Sally's/Target and I only get to a Whole Foods when I visit my father 3 hours away. And there are no BSS in sight. Which means I have to get most of my products online and I always cringe when paying for shipping

I guess I need to stop complaining. Whole Foods basically rule this town and I'm still within minutes from BSS, and Walgreens (Targets here still don't sell SM)...

auntcurly · 07-17-2011, 08:55 PM

This is a pet peeve of mine. I wish more of these independent companies would be aggressive about distribution. I really respect that KCCC took their product to the stores. I mainly use what I find on the ground, but recently ordered some Komaza samples. I just get annoyed with not being able to walk into a store. If I'm not going like a product, I'd rather do that on the ground. It's no fun to pay S&H and a product suks and doesn't work for you hair.

Why can't they test distribution with their best selling items? Some of these butters and hair jellies, I'm sure would do well on the ground. I hear so much about Oyin's Hair Dew, Honey/Hemp, and Burnt Sugar Pomade, I can't understand why at least those products aren't in local BSS. And there is no excuse not be available in big city markets, like NYC, Chicago, L.A., etc.

I found Qhemet Biologics at a healthfood store in Bklyn ( I don't live in Bklyn so it was a trek to another borough.) I called ahead for AOHC and the clerk put it aside for me because she said it flies off the shelf and they can't keep it in stock. Now that should tell you something.

It's business. Just makes no sense not to be aggressive and go for it.

greenandchic · 07-18-2011, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auntcurly

This is a pet peeve of mine. I wish more of these independent companies would be aggressive about distribution. I really respect that KCCC took their product to the stores. I mainly use what I find on the ground, but recently ordered some Komaza samples. I just get annoyed with not being able to walk into a store. If I'm not going like a product, I'd rather do that on the ground. It's no fun to pay S&H and a product suks and doesn't work for you hair.

Why can't they test distribution with their best selling items? Some of these butters and hair jellies, I'm sure would do well on the ground. I hear so much about Oyin's Hair Dew, Honey/Hemp, and Burnt Sugar Pomade, I can't understand why at least those products aren't in local BSS. And there is no excuse not be available in big city markets, like NYC, Chicago, L.A., etc.

I found Qhemet Biologics at a healthfood store in Bklyn ( I don't live in Bklyn so it was a trek to another borough.) I called ahead for AOHC and the clerk put it aside for me because she said it flies off the shelf and they can't keep it in stock. Now that should tell you something.

It's business. Just makes no sense not to be aggressive and go for it.

I guess in order for these smaller companies to have distribution at local BSS, and other stores nationwide, they would have to put so much money up front and increase production. A lot of times when that happens, the quality of the ingredients go down as in the case of Carol's Daughter. I can see the prices of the finished product going up too.