Severinka Supposes:
I came across the Fitter Hair Products and coudn’t find a single word on actual active or basic ingredients. While I sent an E-mail requesting a general disclosure, I was wondering if you, Dear Beauty Brain, have any insight on this? I was equally intrigued by the “all natural” reference.
The Left Brain Responds:
Fitter fails to impress us. It appears to be another salon line making unsupported claims about stimulating hair growth. Here’s a few of the things they say about their Regenerator product:
REGENERATOR Increases thickness and density, Stimulates existing follicle growth Increases volume, body rootlift, Improves condition dramatically Increases elasticity, Increases shine and luster, Defines curl, Tames frizz Protects hair from modern styling aids, Reduces the need for styling products Helps control thinning due to the effects of the aging process and stress of modern day life.
They lost us at “stimulates existing follicle growth.” As we’ve discussed in previous posts on ways to stimulate hair growth, only drug products can make claims like this. And there aren’t very many approved drugs! The rest of the stuff they stay about defining curls and taming frizz is pretty typical. Any decent conditioner will help with that. But too little too late, they’ve already lost credibility because of their growth claims.
What about the ingredients? We had a hard time tracking down a complete list of ingredients too, but we did find one reviewer who said Fitter used aged black rum, a purified castor oil, masticated fresh organic rosemary leaf, and protein extract from beef marrow. None of these ingredients (with the possible exception of castor oil) have any effect on hair whatsoever. And as far as fresh rosemary is concerned, just remember, mastication can cause blindness. At any rate, our opinion is that this Fitter formula can’t support the claims it makes.
Finally, it’s also interesting to note that Fitter says their products are “hand made without preservatives or chemical processes.” How do they hand make their shampoos? We have visions of them dumping drums of beef marrow into a bathtub and stirring it with old boat oar. Damn, that’s hand made! And while we’re ranting, if their products don’t have preservatives, why they don’t grow mold or bacteria? And finally, even if they are using natural ingredients, natural things are made of chemicals too! Holy Crap, snake venom is natural but that doesn’t make it a good shampoo ingredient. Good God Fitter People – think about what you’re telling us!!!!
Ok, I gotta go lie down now.
The Brains‘ Bottom Line:
Fitter Formulas Feel Fake and Foolish.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
RE: Your article August 22nd ’07
‘How fine are Fitter hair care products?’
I felt the need to reply to your article because of your many errors, firstly we are not a Salon line, we are a small family company, and our claims are very well supported from clients here in the UK and abroad. You have not tried our product ‘Regenerator’ so how do you know it doesn’t work? You claimed it is a shampoo, it’s actually an intense hair treatment. Also you do not lose what you have gained when you stop using Regenerator, unlike some drug based products, and there are no side effects with our product.
Why did you have such a hard time tracking down the ingredients? There are only 4 and they are clearly printed on the label.
There are 3 active ingredients in Regenerator, and one basic which is black rum that combines well with the other 3 ingredients and also acts as a mild preservative, instead of chemical preservatives. So, if you had done your research properly, you would have known that our product has to be kept refridgerated to keep fresh. Also the active ingredients are widely used in other cosmetics for their beneficial factors. Are all those large companies wrong? What makes Regenerator special is the combination of the 4 ingredients and the way it is made, which is 100% made by hand in small batches.
I’ve also been through your site and seen what you advertise, good God Brains, enough said. I have to lie down now.
Ps to readers of the ‘Beauty Brain’ – Obviously they don’t do research properly so think before you ask for any advice, I think THEIR comments are ‘Fake and Foolish’
Regards to all,
Anthony Fitter MD
Fitter Hair Products
http://www.fitter-hair-products.co.uk
Anthony,
Thanks so much for your response. We always encourage diverse viewpoints.
Let me respond to the points you’ve made.
1. We are not a salon line. So sorry, this is just a misunderstanding of semantics. We call most products that are not sold directly through retail outlets “salon brands”. If you don’t want to be considered a salon brand, we stand corrected. Perhaps “specialty product” might be better?
2. You have not tried our product. This is true but mostly irrelevant. It is up to you to PROVE your product works, not up to us to prove that it doesn’t work. The assumption is that it doesn’t work. That’s the way science works. If you have evidence to the contrary we’d be happy to have a look at it. But when you make claims like “Stimulates existing follicle growth” you need to have more proof than testimonials and your word that you are telling the truth. Show us the double-blind, peer reviewed research that proves that your products actually stimulate follicle growth. Until you do, we can’t take seriously what you claim.
3. You claim it is a shampoo. No, re-read the post. We just ask the question how you might “hand-make” a shampoo. We actually talk about this product as a conditioner.
4. “there are no side effects with our product.” Of course there aren’t because the product doesn’t re-grow hair. Anything that interacts with the actual biochemistry of human beings could have side effects. The fact that your product has no side effects is only further proof that it doesn’t work.
5. There are only 4 ingredients. Did you read the post where we listed your 4 ingredients? “aged black rum, a purified castor oil, masticated fresh organic rosemary leaf, and protein extract from beef marrow. None of these ingredients (with the possible exception of castor oil) have any effect on hair whatsoever.” NONE of these ingredients will have the effect of re-growing or stimulating hair growth. Where is the proof that they do? We’d be happy to be corrected, just direct us to the proof.
6. Our products have to be kept refrigerated to stay fresh. So sorry, we missed this gimmick. Of course, refrigerating unpreserved products is no guarantee that it won’t be contaminated with bacteria. I do hope you don’t get sued when someone catches a disease from using a contaminated, unpreserved product.
7. “Are all those large companies wrong?” If they are claiming that any of the ingredients you’re using actually promote hair growth then YES they are all wrong.
8. “Obviously, they don’t research properly” We encourage all of our readers to do their own research. We are not the purveyors of all that is true. We present our opinions based on the data available to us. People are free to make up their own minds which is exactly why we let anyone advertise their products on our site (we’d even let you advertise.) However, we are not going to tell anyone that a product works when it doesn’t just because they are advertisers.
I’m sure you’re a fine company who is just trying to make a living out there in the big cosmetic industry. You may even believe the stuff you say about your products. I hope you do. The people who have posted testimonials probably believe your product is helping them too. However, based on the best scientific evidence you are all most likely fooling yourselves. You’re seeing effects that are not there. From a scientific standpoint, testimonials are not useful evidence. Show us your research. Please. We’d love to find a product that actually makes people’s hair grow.
Unfortunately, yours just isn’t one of them.
Thanks again for your comments.
Left Brain