We very rarely have to say goodbye to a product at Philip Pelusi.  Over Philip’s many product making decades we have lost few and far between.  But alas we are bidding farewell to P2 Exfoliating but with the good knowledge that we have its’ Philip Pelusi doppelganger on hand!  Think of P2 Roots Deep Cleansing Shampoo as its’ hair and scalp loving sibling!

P2 Roots Deep Cleansing Shampoo has all the exfoliating goodness we all love about the P2 Exfoliating plus much, much more!  The same dynamic skin sloughing duo of Salicylic Acid USP and Zinc Pyrithione that naturally exfoliate and remove dead skin cells, is in P2 Roots Deep Cleansing Shampoo too.  It is incredibly unique to have both Zinc Pyrithione and Salicylic Acid in a shampoo and Philip was the first to create this mixture!

P2 Roots also contains Oatmeal and Geranium which act as skin antiseptics, calm irritations, moisturize and soothe.  Biotin (Vitamin H) and Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate USP) both help absorb and eliminate free radicals that pollute and break down the hair and scalp.

The high-end skin care complex of Calcium Protein, Zinc Yeast Derivative, Tissue Respiratory Live Yeast Cell Derivative, a mix of proteins and minerals, help promote healthy hair growth, shine, bind weightless moisture and strengthen.  Philip was the first to use this unique blend in haircare products!

Sodium PCA, a highly advanced and expensive humectant similar to Hyaluronic Acid, along with Panthenol USP (Vitamin B5) bind moisture in the hair and scalp and help protect from heat damage.  Silk Protein helps strengthen, smooth, create shine and protect.  Plus, P2 Roots has an amazing fresh, clean scent!

So, no worries my friend, every scalp and hair problem you want to tackle, meaning dandruff, dry scalp, removing color stains, oily scalp and creating a healthy scalp environment are all here in the P2 Roots Deep Cleansing Shampoo!

PS…if you are wondering what the “USP” stands for in the ingredients above, it means that ingredient is a pharmaceutical ingredient and that it is the finest grade of that ingredient.  USP means the quality is certified by the United States Pharmacopeia as the highest strength, quality, purity, and safety.  Every ingredient Philip selects, is the best in the world!

Let’s continue with our 2-part series on Philip Pelusi Rx Clarifying Shampoo Treatment.  Let’s take a deeper dive (pun intended!) into fact vs fiction when it comes to this phenomenal shampoo.

In Part I we reviewed everything about Rx Clarifying’s miraculous chlorine neutralizing abilities.  Next let talk about its incredible ability to remove minerals from the hair.  Why is this so important?  Hard city water, country well water and even salt from swimming in the ocean can all be absorbed or adhere to the hair.  Crazy, right?!  These minerals make hair hard to work with, not style well, making it rigid, causing tangles and fading hair color.

Philip’s Rx Clarifying contains what is called a Chelating Agent that attaches itself to minerals and carries them off the hair removing buildup leaving behind a clean state.  Most importantly, this Chelating Agent does NOT have the ability to remove color molecules.  Just like the chlorine neutralizers in Rx Clarifying, it doesn’t “speak” to color molecules either and can only remove minerals, that’s the science behind it!  All of these “removing” ingredients is also why Rx Clarifying makes it a perfect pre-perm shampoo, to remove all product buildup to allow for the best receptivity for the perm process.

Whether it’s tackling chlorine or minerals, Rx Clarifying should be used in the same manner we reviewed in Part I of this series.  Also, for tough cases where there is a lot of buildup, Rx Clarifying can be used as an in-salon treatment.  Apply to damp hair, massage through, plastic cap and popped under a medium-heat dryer for 5 – 10 minutes.  This helps the product penetrate faster by speeding up and deepening the penetration of the ingredients.  Afterwards, re-lather and rinse thoroughly and follow with an application of Rx DailyRx Xtreme Repair Treatment to add strength and a Philip Pelusi deep or instant conditioner to tackle texture.

Last, let’s list the other “good for hair” ingredients in the Rx Clarifying that help balance this formula.  Meaning these ingredients help make sure hair is left feeling soft, manageable and silky.  Proteins such as Wheat, Silk and Yeast as well as Calcium and Zinc help to strengthen and fortify hair.  While Sodium PCA, a humectant much like Hyaluronic Acid, helps bind moisture into dry hair.

by Nikki B. Philip Pelusi Product Education Director

One of most long-standing shampoos at Philip Pelusi also happens to be one that can cause the most confusion, the Philip Pelusi Rx Clarifying Shampoo Treatment.  Let’s take a look at fact vs fiction when it comes to this phenomenal shampoo.

There is nothing like Philip’s Rx Clarifying Shampoo Treatment.  It is totally unique.  The main purpose of this shampoo is to neutralize chlorine on contact.  But how?  Philip tasked his scientists to whip up a specialized ingredient blend to instantly neutralize chlorine while protecting hair color and condition.  These two ingredients are Ammonium and Sodium Thiosulfate USP.  These have nothing to do with ammonia and nothing to do with traditional sulfates.  These just happen to be the official FDA nomenclatures for these lab-created ingredients.  They sound scary but they are far from it!  In fact, they are completely hair and scalp friendly.

Chlorine coats the hair and skin, leaving behind a film or buildup of chlorine while drying out hair and skin in the process.  Chlorine also erodes the hair leaving behind potholes from which valuable color molecules escape making color looked faded and dull.  Chlorine also leaves behind copper deposits that often take on a green tint on blonde hair and a brassy hue on brunettes.  Once the Rx Clarifying is applied to the hair, scalp, face, body and even bathing suit, these ingredients go to work stopping chlorine’s negative effects.  Most importantly, these chlorine neutralizers do not have the ability to remove color molecules, they don’t “speak” to them.  They can only work on chlorine molecules, that’s the science behind it!

This means Rx Clarifying stops oxidation that normally fades hair color!  This is great because after hair color is done processing in the salon, we want to preserve that guest’s hair color as long as possible.  So, you can see how Rx Clarifying is a totally color safe or color preserving product.  But this is also why Rx Clarifying cannot be used by a guest 24 hours before a color service.  This magic ingredient mix stays active in the hair up to 24 hours and will stop hair color from processing if applied 24 hours or less before a color service.  That is just how color safe Rx Clarifying is!

Chic Geek by Nikki B.

“Tea for Two?  For Tela, It’s Tea for Three!”

Today, consumers view drinking tea to enhance their health.  Fighting free radicals, aiding digestion, calming anxiety, boosting energy and helping provide a good night sleep are just a few of the benefits.  But did you know that tea can also be extremely beneficial to the hair and scalp?

Most product formulas on the market contain about 80% water and only 20% ingredient concentration.  While Philip Pelusi products contain 80 – 100% active ingredient concentration and only 10 – 20% base blend ingredients!  Yep, that’s right, there is zero water in just about every Philip Pelusi formulation and instead an active ingredient base blend takes its place.  This means this base blend not only serves as the formula’s mixing base but also benefits and enhances the hair and scalp.  In addition, this gives Philip Pelusi products the great reputation as having the highest concentration levels in the industry.

One of these incredible base blends is in the Tela Beauty Organics by Philip Pelusi products.  This zero-water product line is instead based in the three most powerful antioxidants teas, White, Green, and Oolong.  This highly concentrated tea infusion takes the place of water in the Tela formulas.

So how does this amazing base blend benefit the hair and scalp?  Well, first the consumer is not wasting money on water.  Philip’s formulas are not watered down like most products on the market.  This means more beneficial ingredients in each bottle and this means better results on the hair. 

Also, Philip’s proprietary Tela White, Green and Oolong Tea blend has supercharged antioxidant power helping protect both hair color and the strength and moisture retention of the hair and scalp against environmental toxins, known as free radical pollutants, as well as helping prevent oxidation caused by the color and chemical service exposure.

And lastly, as with every Philip Pelusi ingredient, this superhero antioxidant White, Green and Oolong Tea blend is also enhanced by Micro Emulsion Technology.  Meaning these tea molecules are perfected to be small enough to penetrate hair fiber to get real results.  Other products on the market, can claim their products contain a certain ingredient but if it is not manufactured with Micro Emulsion Technology it can never penetrate the hair meaning it’s just a fancy marketing claim with zero results.  That’s not how we do things at Philip Pelusi!

Chic Geek by Nikki B.
“Incredible Ingredient: Jamaican Black Castor Oil”

Palm trees, sunshine, ocean waves and white sands are not the only wonderful things in Jamaica! In fact, one of the hero ingredients in a couple of Philip’s Tela Beauty Organic products is born there too. USDA Organic Jamaican Black Castor Oil is that incredible ingredient.

Present in the Tela Guardian Angel Solar Hair Serum and Tela Frizz Buster Anti-Frizz Dry Texture Spray, USDA Organic Jamaican Black Castor Oil provides brilliant shine, moisture, heat protection, strength and anti-frizz action to dry dull hair. Philip uniquely uses a USDA Certified Organic Jamaican Black Castor Oil meaning it has met the strict standards of growing and manufacturing of the United State Department of Agriculture. Standards that also increase the cost (just like in the grocery store) and level of quality of the ingredient.

But what gives this hydrating oil its unique name? First, the plant is grown organically in Jamaica, then its seeds are roasted creating a dark black ash that helps give it its potent emollience. Please note that through its meticulous manufacturing process the color of the ash is never present in the finished product only the hydrating benefits.

The seeds are then cold-pressed, a process not required but insisted upon by Philip as it increases the potency and effectiveness of this hydrating marvel. Why? Cold-pressed is a manufacturing process that allows the ingredient to retain all its nutrition value during manufacturing. This is true of any cold pressed oil even oils we cook with such as Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Just check the label to see if it’s a cold pressed version.

USDA Certified Organic Jamaican Black Castor Oil contains nutrients of Vitamin E and Omega 9 Fatty Acids which are extremely beneficial to the hair and scalp by helping trap much needed moisture, strength, luminous shine and frizz control. And it makes a great heat protectant for blow-dryer and flat and curling iron styling. This multi-task wonder works well on any texture and density of hair especially on thick coarser strands as well as on fine to medium textures as evidenced by both the Tela Guardian Angel Solar Hair Serum and Tela Frizz Buster Anti-Frizz Dry Texture Spray. It especially gives a totally rejuvenated look to dry parched strands!

Chic Geek by Nikki B.

“Is Philip Pelusi Gluten Free?”

The question “Is this Gluten Free?” is common these days with some people avoiding gluten because they don’t want to feel bloated ranging all the way to folks who have a full-on gluten allergy.  No matter the reason, consumers are asking about this when it comes to food they order in a restaurant, buy at the grocery store and on products they use on their hair and bodies.

This consumer demand is something Philip Pelusi has been aware of, being ahead of the curve by starting the gluten free process in his products years ago.  So, the question remains, are we gluten free?  The answer, we are in the process of becoming gluten free.  Any new P2 or Tela Philip Pelusi formulation is created as a gluten free formula right from the start.  While existing formulas are also being re-formulated as gluten free as we sell through the current bottles.  Philip Pelusi have such a huge inventory it takes time to turn over that inventory for the new gluten free versions to be created.

But how do we know which products are gluten free and which are not?  Easy!  Simply check the back label of any Philip Pelusi product to see if that formula, in that actual bottle, is gluten free like the label here for the P2 Clenz Crème.  The label will clearly read gluten free.  But please note, during this transition it is entirely possible for one bottle of P2 Age de Phy Shampoo, for example, to be labeled gluten free and another not labeled as such.  So please check the back label if need.

But do the gluten free proteins in our products work the same as the non-gluten free versions?  Yes!  For example, the gluten free Corn, Soy and Wheat in the Philip Pelusi Rx Xtreme Liquid Hair Repair Spray are just as strengthening as the non-gluten free versions.  They are Corn, Soy and Wheat Protein but with the gluten removed which has no benefit to the hair anyways.  So yes, our gluten free proteins meet today’s consumer demands yet retain all the strengthening benefits to the hair and scalp!

These gluten free proteins are also subjected to the same Micro Emulsion Technology that helps perfect all of Philip’s ingredients making them the correct molecular size to penetrate the hair even into the most damaged cortex sites.  This helps improve the strength, health, shine and style ability of any head of hair!

Chic Geek by Nikki B.

“Incredible Ingredient: Philip Pelusi Rocket Ivy Blend”

It makes a colorist cringe when they hear their guest say they shampoo their hair more than once a day, such as in the morning and then again later in the day.  Ouch!  But then after hearing the reasoning behind their actions, we realize a lot of these guests are doing this over-washing to combat one of the most frustrating and sometimes emotionally difficult things for a guest to deal with, an overly oily scalp.

Nothing can be more frustrating for someone then cleansing, conditioning and styling their hair perfectly in the morning only to have it start to go limp, and look dirty and oily throughout the day.  No wonder they want to cleanse again!  But what is really happening here?

Some people are just “hard wired” to have an overly oily scalp, meaning their scalp is not in Ph balance.  Their scalp is naturally too “positively” charged.  So, their body’s natural reaction is to get their scalp in Ph balance.  How?  By creating excess oil and sending it to the surface of the scalp to put it in Ph balance.  This is why over-cleansing or harsh detergents can actually make the body want to create more oil, faster.  And although natural scalp oil can be an excellent hair lubricant especially for those with drier hair textures, it can wreak havoc with someone’s style.  Especially someone with a finer hair type even if it is a medium density.

Enter the Philip Pelusi Rocket Ivy Blend to save the day!  This totally unique, Pelusi-proprietary Microemulsion contains natural ingredients Rocket Leaf, Ivy, Whortleberry and Watercress that naturally puts the scalp in Ph balance.  The scalp is in balance, so the body doesn’t feel the need to secrete excess oil.  This revolutionary blend plays this scientific trick on the scalp and body resulting in the scalp staying cleaner longer and the hairstyle lasting longer throughout the day, and sometimes days, meaning the guest can find they might even be able to skip a day of shampooing!  And since water is the #1 hair color fader, this helps preserve the color and the condition of the hair better in that more of the natural lubricants are left on the hair.  Hair and hair color are not stripped away by over-cleansing.

This masterful blend is in Philip’s P2 by Philip Pelusi DeTox Treatment Shampoo.  This makes it a perfect shampoo to recommend to any guest with overly oily scalps, even teenagers.  It is also the perfect recommendation for any guest with fine, limp, spare hair whose hair reacts negatively to too much oil at the base of the follicle by immediately going limp.  Hair stays cleaner longer so styles last longer too!

Also, the P2 DeTox gives a gentle cleanse with no harsh detergents, thus helping preserve a healthy scalp environment and hair color too.  It makes the perfect companion shampoo to the P2 Roots for Men Shampoo and P2 Exfoliate for anyone dealing with an oily dandruff problem.  P2 DeTox helps control the oil while the P2 Roots and P2 Exfoliate help slough off the dead skin cells.  The scalp is left feeling healthy and fresh.  And these shampoos can be used everyday or alternated as need.

Chic Geek by Nikki B.

“Incredible Ingredient: The Pelusi Sugarcane Cleanse”

Philip Pelusi is a product master chef when it comes to creating the very best hair care products on the market.  This revolutionary Product Artist uses the highest technology, Micro Emulsion Technology to not only perfect his world-class ingredients, but to create incredibly unique proprietary blends that make his products one of a kind. 

One of these totally unique blends is his Pelusi Sugarcane Cleanse which includes 4 revolutionary ingredients: Sugarcane, Sugar Maple, Bilberry and Appleseed.  Why such an interesting compilation of ingredients?  This precise blend gently cleanses the hair and scalp while preserving both the color and integrity of the hair.  But there’s more…

Generally, years-back it was sulfates, coconut derived cleansing agents, that did most of the cleansing in most products on the market and they also contributed to creating bubbles during the actual shampoo process.  At Philip Pelusi we always took a gentler approach to cleansing hair using limited amounts of sulfates over the years.

Fast-forward to 7 years ago and all the way up to and including today and into the future, Philip Pelusi P2 Ultimate and Tela Beauty Organics Shampoos became and are Sulfate Free.  This is when Philip created his Pelusi Sugarcane Cleanse and integrated it into his shampoos.  This plant derived blend of Sugarcane, Sugar Maple, Bilberry and Appleseed gently cleanse the hair and scalp while preserving the color and the integrity of the hair.  Translation?  Hair color lasts even longer than before and the actual tensile strength of the hair is left stronger, making it more resilient to heat styling and other types of damage.

The Pelusi Sugarcane Cleanse also leaves the hair with an incredible high level of shine as well.  Making hair color gleam, showing off the stylist’s incredible artistry!  This blend is not designed to create bubbles because bubbles are not needed to make the hair or scalp clean.  But instead, like professional skincare, less bubbles are better and gentler for the hair and scalp and most importantly the color investment.

Keep in mind, no matter what the ingredient, there is no one single ingredient that creates a wonderful product but instead the product as a whole.  The quality and amount of the ingredients, the high level of concentration of the total formula, the balance of the formula and so much more.  Stay tuned for more to be a Chic Geek!

Chic Geek by Nikki B.

“Incredible Ingredient: The Pelusi P2 Matrix Blend”

Philip Pelusi is like a master chef when it comes to creating the best haircare products in the world.  Not only selecting the very best ingredients but also his use of Micro Emulsion Technology to perfect the size of these ingredients for the best penetration but also to create incredibly unique proprietary blends that make his products one of a kind.

One of these blends is The Pelusi P2 Matrix Blend consisting of 6 natural plants; Matricaria, Asafetida, Sage, Horseradish, Grapeseed and Blackberry.  These natural wonders arm the hair and scalp with a quadruple threat against harmful conditions serving as Antioxidants, Ultra-Violet Ray Filters, Strengthening Proteins and Weightless Moisturizers.  The Pelusi P2 Matrix Blend is found in P2 Potion, the first product created to contain this totally unique ingredient blend, but it is also peppered throughout the P2 product line.  Here’s why this revolutionary blend benefits the hair and scalp…

The Pelusi P2 Matrix Blend serves as Antioxidants to help protect hair color from fading and to help protect the hair from hair-degrading free-radical pollutants.  How does this work?  Once hair has been touched by ammonia (present in hair color) it leaves a small oxidative footprint, even after being properly cleanses away, that will cause oxidation (fading).  The antioxidants in The Pelusi P2 Matrix Blend will dramatically help slow this process.  Free radical pollutants (pollutants present in the air) also land on the hair and skin degrading or weakening the hair fabric.  Again, The Pelusi Matrix Blend helps guard against this.

The Pelusi P2 Matrix Blend serves as UV Filters to help protect hair and scalp from the degrading rays of the sun.  Did you know the sun can give hair a sunburn similar to skin?  It’s true!  The Ultra-Violet Rays of the sun degrade the collagen and elastin in the skin, but it also erodes the protein in the hair.  Day to day and most definitely prolonged exposure to the sun means weak, porous, tangled, dry, dull and faded color.

This is because UV Rays erode the cuticle and eventually the cortex of the hair leaving hair porous and vulnerable to even more damage from color, chemicals and heat styling.  We know that once enough protein is chipped away, hair strands thin and eventually break off.  Nothing can permanently block sunlight, but with consistent application of The Pelusi P2 Matrix blend through various products such as P2 Potion, we can help prevent and reduce sun damage, helping to protect beautiful hair and color investments alike. 

The Pelusi P2 Matrix Blend serves as Strengthening Proteins that not only help make hair more resilient to damage (color, chemical, heat, styling) but also help create slip to the surface of the hair helping with detangling.  They also help fill in broken cuticle sights making hair feel smooth and look shinier.

The Pelusi P2 Matrix Blend serves as Weightless Moisturizers that help hydrate hair and scalp.  This means better protection while heat styling, better detangling and a smoother hair surface.  Great for before and after sun exposure too but with a light natural feel.  Nothing heavy or sticky.

Chic Geek – by Nikki B.

“Philip’s Psychic Forecast of Today’s Skin-ovating Approach to Hair Care”

Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, UV Filters and Vitamins, just to name a few, were ingredients once only reserved for skin care but today are all the rage in the haircare marketplace and being written about in blog after beauty blog.  But this is not foreign territory to us at Philip Pelusi.  Philip has been integrating skin care ingredients in his haircare formulas since day one.  And with good reason.

Philip has always believed that a healthy scalp is the precursor to every great head of hair.  And especially since the scalp is merely an extension of our foreheads, it seems natural to treat it in a similar way to our face or body.  And with hair and skin also both being composed of keratin protein, enhancing it with the same ingredients also makes sense.  So, “skin-ovating” one’s hair care routine makes for a great foundation for any great hair color, texture service or Volumetric Haircut.  Here are several Philip Pelusi revolutionary skincare lookalike marvels:

Ceramides – Once only reserved for face and neck treatment products, Philip created his Patent Pending Hydro-Charged Pelusi Ceramide Complex to help rebuild, strengthen, moisturize and seal in color.  It’s present in all P2 Ultimate Shampoos, Conditioners and Smart Styling Treatments.

Hyaluronic Acid – Now being pronounced phonetically by a famous actress in Loreal skincare commercials, saying “hya-lur-on-ic acid”, as if it is a brand new ingredient.  Almost 50 years ago Philip put this still-revolutionary moisture binding powerhouse in his P2 Deep Hydrating Treatment and P2 Lite Leave In Conditioner.  We can recommend this treatment mask and a hydrating mist, vernacular once only reserved for skin care products, to help improve the hair and scalp.

Salicylic Acid – Used frequently in skin care to help rapidly exfoliate surface dulling dead skin cells.  Philip created the first ever anti-dandruff shampoo, P2 Exfoliating Shampoo Treatment, with this skincare marvel along with other skin hydrators such as Marsh Plant.  It works gently to lift off dry or oily dandruff to produce a healthier scalp environment and allow better penetration of beneficial scalp ingredients.

Probiotics – Relatively new to the skincare ingredient scene to help balance the skin’s microflora (good bacteria), Philip created the first ever probiotic hair care line Tela Beauty Organics Life Force Shampoo, Conditioner, Scalp Serum and Mask. 

UV Filters – Hair can get a sunburn just like the skin, causing dryness, color loss and breakage.  So why reserve daily sun protection for face or body only?  There are Ultra Violet Light Filters in every Philip Pelusi product.  P2 Potion and Tela Guardian Angel are the biggest protectors while Philip’s proprietary Matrix Blend of 6 UV Filters run throughout many of the P2 product line.

Deep Cleanse – Just like in skincare, sometimes we need a remedy to manage an over oily scalp.  Philip invented his P2 Detox Shampoo Treatment containing Philip’s proprietary oil-reducing micro-emulsion, the Philip Pelusi Rocket Ivy Blend.  You get a deep but gentle cleanse and with these Ph balancing ingredients, a cleaner scalp throughout the day.

Hydrating Oils – Face oils are all the rage today and with Tela Guardian Angel Solar Hair Serum we have a haircare hydrating equivalent.  Containing 4 different oils, Quinoa, Sunflower, Jamaican Black Castor Oil and Sachi Inchi to hydrate and help heat protect the hair and scalp.

Anti-oxidants and Vitamins – Essential to any skincare routine, these ingredients were often only reserved for facial serums and treatments.  While Vitamins C, E and A, Organic Milk Thistle, Organic Chinese Foxglove and Organic Reishi Mushroom are just a few of the hundreds of anti-oxidants and vitamins threaded throughout both the Tela and P2 product lines working to protect and fortify the hair and scalp.