Professional products, used and recommended by beauty professionals, continued to gain
popularity through the ‘70s and ‘80s with the introduction of cutting edge, stylist-owned brands
like Paul Mitchell and Matrix. Sassoon’s sleek, smooth cuts soon gave way “wash and wear”
perms and highly textured hair. As a result, everything from perms to hair color to shampoos,
conditioners and styling products were in demand. Major corporations that once serviced an
undervalued professional market saw their professional business explode, and professional
products distributors continued to grow and flourish.
Distribution houses like West Coast Beauty Supply, Peels, Maly’s, Davidson and Schoeneman
dominated the US, each carving out a geographic region for themselves and crushing any “Mom
and Pop” operations that were to slow to capitalize on the emerging trends. Distributors now
had the power to determine which products flourished and which never saw the light of day,
for they held all the cards and were the sole means of reaching the beauty professional.
Around this same time, Alberto Culver, a manufacturer known more for retail brands than
professional offerings, purchased a small, regional beauty supply chain, Sally Beauty Supply,
and began its nationwide expansion. Sally was unique in that it offered a convenient one stop
location for a growing number of independent “Booth Rental” beauty professionals and
consumers alike. While Sally Beauty Supply grew in popularity and scope, it also faced criticism
for undermining the professionalism of the brands that it represented, and many professional
products manufacturers refused to sell to Sally’s for the very same reason. Still, the company
flourished, with Alberto Culver recognizing the revenue potential of the professional beauty
market, yet unable to obtain many leading brands under the Sally name.