Salon Selectives

Wasn't it just a few months ago that we were talking about Salon Selectives trying to return earlier this year? Well, don't call it a comeback — the resuscitated brand is being discontinued yet again. In the suffering economy, the brand's new corporate owners, Selective Beauty Brands, didn't get proper funding for advertising and distribution of the pink-bottled hair care line.

That's too bad, because I liked a few items in the latest iteration of the brand. Stock up while you can, and to check out a vintage SS ad for old time's sake, read more

As I mentioned a while back, Salon Selectives is back. The hair-care line has kept its customized classification system to determine the right product for your hair type, and it's reformulated the line to incorporate hair-nourishing botanicals such as lemongrass, witch hazel, and apple pectin.

I recently tried the Healthy Clean Shampoo, Moisture Renewal Conditioner, and Smooth & Shine Serum. The serum felt silky, not sticky, and just a small drop on my dry hair tamed the frizz that I've been battling lately. The shampoo smelled like apples and made my hair shinier than usual, but my scalp isn't oily enough to need a cleansing shampoo every day. The conditioner, which is formulated with silk proteins and avocado oil, is up there with one of the most luxurious I've tried, and left my hair amazingly soft.

Overall, I'm into the redesign of the line. It smells good, and I think the classification system gives shoppers an easy way to figure out what they need. Plus, I like how the packaging is almost the same; it adds a bit of nostalgia.

Some of you might remember a brand from the '80s called Salon Selectives. It was one of the first mass-market haircare lines to promise salon style and results at an affordable price. However, after a buyout and brand redesign in 2001, the line suffered and had to be pulled from shelves.

But lucky for us, the line has been revived and is about to hit the shelves at a Rite Aid near you. This means we can expect the same fun, bright packaging with the original salon-quality formulations, expanded to include products that moisturize, curl, add volume, and all the rest of that good stuff we've come to expect. The product I'm most excited to try is "Fresh Hair," which promises to be a "Febreeze for the hair." It's supposed to add a fresh scent without weighing down the hair. With prices for the line ranging from just $3 to $4, I plan on picking it up and giving it a whirl. What about you?

For a real trip down memory lane, check out a vintage Salon Selectives commercial when you read more