St Baldricks Day,

I had the opportunity to shave heads this last weekend for St Baldricks Day.  It was a very rewarding experience.   There were families all getting their heads shaved together.  Little girls and boys getting their heads shaved too.  All to help raise funds for research for childhood cancer.  If you have the chance to go to a fundraiser for St Baldricks Day it will touch your heart.  I am thankful to all those  who donated at Salon 134 West to help us raise money for this event.  We will do it again next year and hopefully they will find a cure some day soon.

Thank you for reading,
Donna

Wedding Hair

Wedding Season is around the corner.  To help make your day a little less stressful I have some suggestions for your special day and the days leading up to it. 

Lets start with 6 months before the wedding. Start with regular appointments for waxing. Especially if you want to do body waxing.  A few  days before your wedding is not the time to try something new! Set up appointments for every 4 weeks until the wedding. The same goes for facials too.  In order for your make up to look flawless you need a clean canvas.  Regular facials will do that.

Make your  hair appointments for yourself and your bridal party for the day of the Wedding, so you get the desired time.


3 months, continue with waxing and facial appointments. Make an appointment with your hairstylist for haircut and color.  Make a color plan, so your color is perfect the day of your wedding.

2 months, schedule hair and makeup trial.  Make sure to bring your veil and/or hair accessories to the trial. Even jewelry can change the way you view your hair.   Start you nail services with regular appointments.  Make sure to use the products recommended by your stylist, esthetician, and nail tech.

4 weeks, Last facial, continue waxing, and nail services

1 week, waxing, manicure and pedicure.  Maybe treat yourself to a massage too.

1 day, We find that the day before the wedding is a good day to have your nails done.  This way you are not rushed the day of the wedding and if you have a rehearsal dinner the night before your nails will look perfect.

Wedding Day!  Hair styled, talk with your stylist to find out if she wants you to wash your hair in the morning or the day before.  Some styles are better with hair a little dirty. Dirty hair does not mean greasy hair.  Hair that is excessively oily will not hold up either. If your hair gets oily overnight then wash in the morning and apply plenty product before blow drying.
   
Makeup done.  Don't forget to purchase makeup for touch ups unless your makeup artist is going to be with you for the day..Always have hair spray and a few extra bobby pins for your hair too. Unless your stylist will be with you for the day.

Have fun! It's your day!
Thank you for reading, we do wedding parties at the salon.  Please call for more information.
847-358-7820

No Chip Manicures

A no chip manicure is still the best option for a lasting manicure.  There are many different companies and products out there.  What you want to look for is a product that does not damage your nails.  The following is what we recommend when getting a no chip.

1.  The top of your nail should not be filed down. This causes the nail to weaken.

2. A very light buffer is sometimes needed.

3.  The tip of the nail is capped.

4. When its time to remove, do not peal it off.  The nail should be wrapped not soaked in acetone nail
    polish remover.  The no chip should scrape right off with an orange wood stick.

There are so many options and designs that can be done with a no chip polish.  We like Shellac for all of the above reasons.  If you have not tried, Shellac by CND we suggest you try it.  All no chips are not the same.  I have used Shellac on my nails for 2 years, and when its removed my nails are as strong and healthy as they were before I started using Shellac. 
Thank you for reading.  I hope you have a great week.
Donna

Blow Outs!

When watching the red carpet last night for the Grammy's I noticed the more casual style for hair. Most of the celebrities hair was down in a beautiful blow out.  Of coarse having a blow out done at the salon is less stressful, and you know it will last.  Not to mention the relaxing shampoo and scalp massage before your stylist starts to do their magic.  But life isn't perfect and sometimes we don't have the time to get in to get our hair done.  I have a few suggestions on how to get great results at home.

First start with a professional shampoo that is right for your hair type.  Don't forget the conditioner, just rinse real well.

Next apply product.  We have many favorites in the salon. Like Alterna volumizing weightless mouse for extra volume and for smoothness with curly or frizzy hair we like Alterna bamboo luminous shine brilliance creme.

Then turn your head upside down when you blow dry to get volume and the moisture out.  Dry about 80% of the moisture out.

Now clip hair up and into sections.  Start to round brush to get a soft wave.  Hold the round brush in the hair and apply a cool shot with your dryer.  This will help set the wave.  Do small sections threw out the head.  If you need more wave use a large barreled curling iron.  I suggest after curling you put a hair clip in the curl until cool so it doesn't drag down.

Next we like to do more product for extra lift, try Alterna bamboo texturizing body boost or Matrix design pulse mega dust.  If you want  a little more height, try a little back combing.  The texturizing powder in either line will help keep it in.   Don't forget the hair spray. We like Matrix and Alterna hairsprays.alternahaircare.com and
matrix.com     We offer blow outs starting at $35.00 and packages of buy 3 get 1 free,  if you love to get your hair done.  The Grammy's also had their mani cam going on the red carpet. Don't forget the manicure when you have a special night out.

  

                                                                   

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog. Please let me know if there is a topic you would like discussed.

Thanks, Donna

Wow! another week has gone by.  Valentines Day will be here soon and Winter is upon us.
Is your skin feeling dry?  A paraffin dip will really help the dry hands and feet.  If you have a unit at home, apply some lotion, then dip into warm paraffin for 3 dips.  Put a plastic bag on your hand or foot, then terri mittens .  Sit and relax for about 20 min. If you can!

Don't have a unit.  We have ours ready to go any time you are in for a service.  Just ask your service provider.  We can even do a hand paraffin while you are getting your hair done.  Only takes a few minutes to apply. It really helps the skin from cracking in this weather. 

Does your whole body feel dry?  I like the Me Bath bath ice cream. Just fill the tub, drop in 2 mini's or one large and sit and relax for about 20 min.  If you can try to put a little time aside for yourself once a week, your skin will feel better and so will you.

Need to get away for a little pampering.  Come in and get a Me Bath pedicure or Spa Manicure. It will hydrate and relax you.  Add a paraffin dip for an added bonus.
Have a great week, thank you for reading.
Donna

 Nail Spa Area

 

 

 

 

Me Bath Products

What to look for when getting your nails done!

Always look at the implements your nail tech is using.  Were they cleaned with a liquid disinfectant?  Putting the implements in a dry sanitizer without first cleaning with a wet sanitizer will not kill all the bacteria.  The main use of the dry sanitizer is to keep the implements clean  when they are not in use, not to disinfect.

Before you start, you and your nail tech should wash your hands or use a sanitizer.

1. Soaking the nails before a manicure is not recommended anymore because  it causes the nail to expand.

2. The cuticle should be pushed back after a cuticle softener is used.

3.  Only dead skin around the cuticle should be nipped otherwise the cuticle will only get worse. 

4. A high grade  cuticle oil (we use CND Solar oil)  should be used in between manicures to keep your nails at their best.

5. If you are getting a pedicure, again look for the sanitized implements and tubs.  Please do not let them use the blade on your calluses.  This will only cause them to get worse, plus it is illegal to use the blade in some states. Only podiatrists should use them.
There are some great professional products available  that can soften the calluses. 

The pictures above are of an Ombre' look done with CND Shellac.  We are a certified Shellac salon.  We use shellac because with this product the natural nail does not need to be filed down. What this means for you is a stronger healthier nail.

I will be updating the blog weekly. Usually Mondays or Tuesdays. .   Please let me know if you have a topic you would like discussed. 

Check out our face book for the latest photos and information of our work.

salon134west.com

I am starting this blog because I am passionate about the salon industry.  I have been a stylist for 35 years and own a salon.  I have a great team and we have so much knowledge we would love to share.

Some things that have not changed is the use of professional products on your hair.  I can remember back in the 80's when perms were so popular, we would tell our clients not to wash their hair right away and what products to use. If they didn't listen to our professional advise they would be back a week later with straight hair or worse yet half straight half frizzy.  We recommend products because we know they work.  It would be so difficult for us to do our own hair if we did not have the right tools and products.  We want to make it easier for you to maintain your style.

Now some fun idea's for the new year!  Did you think about adding some bright color to your hair, but don't want to make a commitment to it?  Try some colored extensions! Just a few adds  a pop of color.  Also available is temporary color you can put on yourself.   It comes in an applicator with a mascara wand. And it washes out in 1 to 2 shampoos.  Both are available at our salon.   With either of these options there is no damage to your hair.