Moroccan Oil 101

Do you have untamable, dry or oily hair? What about dull, lifeless and frizzy hair?  After meeting with a Moroccan Oil sales representative and asking tons of questions, I felt the need to share the product knowledge with the rest of the world. Also, as a Moroccan Oil product user myself, I love to rave about their products (especially the treatment). Oliver’s is one of the few salons that retail Moroccan Oil products and keep up with the new products being offered as well. In this blog, I will highlight some of the best selling products, some common mistakes that are used when using products and some of the benefits that Moroccan Oil products can offer.

Collection of Moroccanoil Products

If you’re like me, your bathroom is filled with many different products from many different brands. It’s difficult to try a product and actually stick with it when new products are constantly being created and marketed so well. Plus, many brands don’t make products for different hair conditions as well as styles. Hair products are not a one size fits all type of deal. Sometimes the product has to fit the person, not the other way around. These products have been around for a while and have a trust worthy reputation, which is why they were blog worthy to me. Also, the signature smell of their products is enough to write a book about.

Issues? Let's solve them

Let it be known that Moroccan Oil Treatment is the cure-all. This is the exception to the one size fits all product rule stated above. It literally fixes every issue and you can pair it with almost every single Moroccan Oil product. I prefer to pair mine with the hydrating styling cream. It serves as a good base for ANY hair style I decide to go with. Let’s call it a magic potion from now on.

This is a photo of two Moroccan Oil products. In the bottom right corner is the Oliver's logo in white.

Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment and Moroccan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream

Dry hair?

If you’re like me and use a straightener or any other kind of heat styling tool on a daily basis, your hair could probably use a tall drink of water. I’m constantly experiencing dry hair and constantly looking for products to mend it. Obviously the magic potion helps with this problem on a day to day basis but there are many other products that help with hydration on a more long term scale. If you’re looking for hydration from the start, Moroccan Oil offers Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner. The shampoo & conditioner is sulfate, phosphate and paraben free and is infused with vitamins A & E and red algae which replenishes your hair and helps it grow. There are different types of shampoo and conditioner to choose from too, such as hydrating, 

Moroccan Oil also offers two different types of masks for the ultimate hydration. The Intense Hydrating Mask is for thick, dry hair while the Weightless Hydrating Mask is for fine, dry hair. Both masks improve the overall feel and shine of your hair making you have selfie worthy locks. There is also a Hydrating Styling Cream that functions well when mixed with the magic potion for day to day styling on dehydrated hair. I use it almost every day!

Dry scalp? Split ends?

Personally, I have dry scalp all year round with a side of product build up. I also wear all black, so I really don’t need flakes cramping my style. I have tried tea tree oil and several shampoos and haven’t quite found a product that really tackles the problem (and the flakes) without irritating my scalp.

Moroccan Oil offers a Dry Scalp Treatment. Not only does it take the flakes away, but it eliminates the pesky irritation with the help of Salicylic Acid and Geranium Essential Oils. Word from the rep is it makes your scalp smell amazing too. Who doesn’t love that? I’m looking forward to trying it out, especially in the winter season when the flakes are on full effect! 

For those of you with split ends, a product that would save your hair's life is the  Mending Infusion. It seals split ends and gives you that 'just walked out of the salon' look. Talk about a way to extend your haircut!

Lack of volume? No texture?

Big hair will forever be “in” and some of us suffer from flat hair or thin hair that needs a little boost. Moroccan Oil offers several texture products, but the one that I find it hard to live without is the Dry Texture Spray. Most dry texture sprays can either be sticky or smell bad. This stuff, along with every other Moroccan Oil product, smells AMAZING and really does what it says it will on the bottle.

If you’re looking to kill two birds with one stone, you can check out the Dry Shampoo. Personally, if I run out of dry texture spray, I use dry shampoo to give me a little extra lift and style (besides taking care of my oily scalp). There are two types, Light Tones and Dark Tones. This is helpful because most dry shampoos are made with some sort of talcum powder. Moroccan Oil Dry Shampoo is made with rice starches, which eliminates the white powdery look in your roots along with the color tint in the product. The Light Tones is for blonde hair and the Dark Tones is for darker hair. This also aids to eliminating that ugly white residue that sits in your roots and helps keep your color looking vibrant, even if you haven’t washed your hair in three days. Minimum effort, maximum results.

Curly hair?

Any person with curly hair knows the struggle of blow drying, brushing and styling. I feel like Moroccan Oil understands. So much so that they have seven products dedicated to curly hair. SEVEN. Each one has a specific function but the one I want to highlight is the Curl Defining Cream. It’s a lightweight styling cream that makes room for bouncy curls that are smooth and shiny. Whether you have tiny tight curls or more loose curls, this product conditions and cares for them.

This is a picture of two Moroccan Oil Products. In the lower right hand corner is the Oliver's logo in white.

Moroccan Oil Hydrating Cream and Moroccan Oil Curl Defining Cream

Let's address some mistakes that happen pretty often...

  • Conditioner is for your ends, not your scalp.
  • Keep your shampoo on your scalp, not your ends.
  • Don't put any products on your scalp unless the product is intended for scalp use.
  • You can mix the magic potion with any of your styling products.
  • Use a heat protectant before styling your hair with hot tools.
  • A little bit goes a long way.

You're welcome.

Warning:

Everyday use with these products may result in hair that everyone wants to touch and smell. Let them, it's okay.

There are SO many more Moroccan Oil products besides the ones that I have mentioned. So if you have any additional questions about Moroccan Oil products after reading this blog, I would be more than happy to help, as would any of our other staff. Also, if you’re interested in seeing what else they offer, check out the Moroccanoil website. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way. (Plus, your hair deserves it)

To learn more about what products we offer, give Oliver’s a call at (610) 366-8808 or book online.

 

Oliver’s Top 3 Beauty Brands

Most beauty lovers have spent more than a couple years narrowing down our favorite makeup, skin care, and hair care brands. Similarly, salons have to make decisions about which beauty brands they’re going to use for the services they offer. At Oliver’s, we want to make sure our customers receive an amazing experience. The different products we use all go into making sure of that. In this post, I’m going to give you a look into the different beauty brands Oliver's uses and sells and why they make our already excellent services even better!

Golden brick reception area at Oliver's Salon and Spa. Seating area on the left with with large colorful rug and decorative mirror. Reception area with two Apple desktops in the center below decorative hanging lights, and retail space on the right side with dozens of different products.

Here's our beautiful reception area and part of the retail space at Oliver's! It's the perfect place to snag some last minute products on your way out of the salon.

Want To Look Great Even After Your Appointment

Getting your hair done is fun, relaxing, and exciting, but what's the point if you can't recreate how awesome you look and feel the next day? Our staff at Oliver's aren't just here to make you look amazing for the afternoon after your appointment. They're also here to educate and show you how to maintain your look so you can feel great 24/7.

When you get a service done, especially a new hairstyle, your stylist will be able to recommend specific products that can relieve some of the issues they've noticed in your hair. So, not only are you getting a new look, you're also learning how to maintain your new style and create it yourself at home. The products we sell mirror what the stylists are using while you're sitting in the chair. So if they recommend a product, it's because they use it day in and day out.

Personally, I'm not big on reading directions. It's a character flaw I'm willing to admit. However, its pointless to spend money on products and not use them correctly. If you use too much or to little, it can sometimes counteract the entire goal of the product. Also, depending on your own features, you may have to slightly alter how you use a product. To get the most bang for your buck, theres no one better than your stylist to tell you how to use what you're buying.

So Why So Many Products?

Oliver's was created on a holistic basis, meaning that all of our services are connected and we want every client to leave here feeling the best that they can. Oliver's retail area is extensive and we have products for pretty much anyone. If you have heat damaged hair, we have products for that. Want to prevent wrinkles and dry skin? We have you covered. Looking for a new outfit to go with that new haircut? We also handpick adorable clothes, accessories, and jewelry from New York. Oliver's is a well-rounded salon and spa that can totally be used as a one-stop shop for many of your beauty and fashion needs.

If you're a dedicated shopper like me, once you're on a roll nothing can stop you. So instead of driving all around the Lehigh Valley, it's pretty convenient to have almost all of your beauty needs in one place. While big name beauty brand stores like Ulta have a large range of products, not all the products there are salon quality.

What Brands Do We Use

While were use many different brands at Oliver's, our top 3 are Aveda, MoroccanOil, and Jan Marini.

Aveda

Image of a plant and Aveda products sitting side by side. From left to right: Green small leafed plant in brown rope/wicker textured basket, small dark green semi transparent spray bottle of Aveda Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist, larger dark green semi transparent bottle of Aveda Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist. All items are sitting on a glass shelf with a black wooden textured background.

Aveda is an all natural beauty brand committed to using organic ingredients. The brand was founded by Horst Rechelbacher, who is called “a pioneer of holistic beauty, and a champion of environmental responsibility.” Just like how Oliver's was the first full service salon and spa in the Lehigh Valley, Aveda was the first full service beauty brand. Aveda has a large range of products from makeup, skin care, and hair care.

Image of display of 5 Aveda lipsticks aside promotional picture. From left to right: Lipstick display with five tubes in holders with photos of models underneath each one, and the Aveda logo at the bottom, photo of dark-haired model with pink lipstick, Aveda logo on the top righthand corner, and "Feed my lips" on bottom of picture.

MoroccanOil

White tube with silver lid of Moroccanoil Hand Cream towards the front of a shelf and centered with two turquoise boxes of the same cream behind it slightly out of focus. Image of three brown pump bottles of MoroccanOil Intense Curl Cream with turquoise labels and white caps. One bottle is up front and centered while the other two are behind and slightly out of focus.

MoroccanOil is primarily a haircare brand that uses Argan oil of Morocco in their products. Carmen Tal, the brand's founder, had her hair badly damaged after a color service. (Fried hair after a salon appointment? Everyone's worst nightmare.) She was away traveling and received a MoroccanOil treatment that revitalized her hair, and she knew she had to share it with the world.

Jan Marini

Image of 3 Jan Marini products side by side. From left to right: White box of C-Esta Eye Repair Concentrate, white box of C-Esta Face Serum, and white tube of Bioglycolic Hand & Body Lotion. All products are sitting on a glass shelf with a black wood textured background. Image of 3 Jan Marini products. From left to right: two white boxes of Jan Marini Skin Zyme Mask stacked on top of each other, one white box of Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Lotion 10%, and one bottle of Clean Zyme Face Cleanser. All products are sitting on a glass shelf with a black wood textured background.

Jan Marini is an innovative skincare brand that constantly researches and tests new products that provide proven results. In skincare, they're one of the most respected brands because of how thoroughly they test their products. Other beauty brands make wild claims about what their products are capable of, but Jan Marini makes sure that any claim they make is based in fact.

Some Fun Facts About Our Brands:

-  Aveda uses ALL naturally derived ingredients, and is cruelty free and never tested on animals.
- MoroccanOil's signature product, the Treatment Oil, has been raved about by celebs like Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, and Penelope Cruz.
- Jan Marini products are medically validated, meaning they undergo lab testing to prove they work.
-  Aveda is the first beauty company to use 100% post-consumer recycled packaging.
- MoroccanOil products use oil from the argan nut, which can only be grown in Morocco.
- Jan Marini products are cruelty free and not tested on animals.
-  The aromas in Aveda products are created completely from natural plant and flower essences - no synthetic fragrances are ever used.

Already Have Your Go To Beauty Brands? Here's Why What Your Salon Uses Still Matters.

Imagine after a rough week you decide to treat yourself to a facial. Do you really want to spend that hour worrying about what the products being used might be doing to your skin? Regardless of age, background, or skin type you should be conscious of what chemicals you’re putting onto your skin and body. Beauty brands make broad claims about hydration, or anti-aging. In reality, many have chemical ingredients like parabens, synthetic colors, or harsh fragrances that can do more damage than good.

Reading every single ingredient on the back of every product you own isn’t realistic. (To be honest, I can't even pronounce most of them.) With so many skincare products out there, it can get stressful trying to find what’s perfect for you. After taking your specific skincare or haircare needs into account, it seems like theres a product for everything. Even if you eventually find that “perfect brand” for yourself, your salon probably isn't going to be using the exact products you use in your personal routine. When you visit Oliver’s, you don’t have to worry about what chemicals might be going into your skin or on your hair. For us, the number one goal is that our clients leave looking and feeling amazing.

Make Sure Your Products Are The Best Of The Best

Obviously, everyone’s skin and hair are different. What works for me might not work for you, but harsh chemicals often found in cheap products are downright damaging. At Oliver’s, we make sure to use products that are high quality and well-researched. Even though we may not use your go-tos, you can feel comfortable knowing the beauty products we use and sell are top of the line.

For more information on Aveda, MoroccanOil, or Jan Marini, click to check out their websites. If you’re interested in these excellent brands and the services Oliver's uses them for, call us at (610) 366-8808 or book online.