A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Featured in Spry Living Mom Makeover

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When Spry Living Magazine asked me if myself and two A Girl’s Gotta Spa! bloggers would be interested in making over our moms, we didn’t hesitate to say yes. Myself, Ashley and Hillary all participated in Spry Living’s Take Year’s Off Your Looks Instantly (web and print) story and Making Over Mom with tips.

Each of our moms had challenges that prevented them from updating their look. My mom had hair loss/thinning hair, sagging skin, etc. all related to bariatric surgery she had two years ago. Ashley’s mom has nerve damage and a disability when it comes to the use of her arm. Hillary’s mom was nervous since losing all of her hair so long ago (but it has since grown back.)

From skin care to hair care to makeup, here’s the breakdown of the products used to transformed our moms.

Paula (my mom): Read more

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Shannon Nelson in anti-aging, beauty, blush, bronzer, brows, concealer, DIY Beauty, eye shadow, eyeliner, foundation, highlighter, lip gloss, lipstick, Makeup, makeup tips, mascara, Nail Polish, Primer, salon, skin care 1 Comment

How to Get a Better Hairstyle: Tips From Salon A.K.S

Many of you can most likely relate to this scenario. You have in your minds eye the perfect haircut or color that you think will look just absolutely amazing on you. You go into the salon and think that you do a pretty good job of explaining to your stylist what it is that you desire, but then you leave the salon feeling like somehow something got lost in translation because the cut or color you are leaving the salon with is not exactly what you had pictured.

So what happened? Did you not communicate clearly? Should you have brought in a better picture of what you wanted? Did your stylist think that what you wanted might not have been the best look for you? Maybe none of the above or maybe all three? Either way, this scenario is all too common and with spring and summer fast approaching, many of you much like myself, will be looking to update your ’do a little…or drastically.

In an effort to help our readers better communicate with their hairstylist so that they look and feel their absolute best this spring and summer, we reached out to the industry experts at Salon AKS in New York City for some of their tips on better communication between clients and their hairstylist. We hope this will also shed some light on what your hairstylist, (if they are a good hairstylist), should consider before cutting and coloring your hair. Read more

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Gail Lewis in beauty, beauty interview, Hair Care, salon Leave a comment

Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Spa Ssakwa’q'n Review

Think Idaho is only for potatoes? Think again. Worley, Idaho has a gem with its Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and its luxury spa, Spa Ssakwa’q'n (pronounced sock-walk-in). Set on the massive Coeur d’Alene tribe’s reservation, this amazing resort is all about utilizing it’s natural resources, giving back to the local community (taking care of its own tribe as well as helping non-indians) and giving visitors a taste of what Idaho has to offer.

Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort:

The resort and casino have undergone many expansions since it first came into existence in 1993. When I first approached the resort, I was in awe of how large it was. On the one side is the original casino and lodge, then an expansion, then the new Spa Towers and spa (which were added about 2 years ago.) It is beautiful on the outside with a great view of snow covered mountaintops.

I stayed in the new Spa Towers, which has a gorgeous lobby with a long horizontal fireplace. As you head to the elevators, you pass a second seating area which has beautiful tribal pieces set behind glass to browse. Past the elevators is a smaller, non-smoking casino that leads into the newly renovated Chinook Steak House. Down the hallway to the right is the second Spa Tower, fitness center, and Spa Ssakwa’q'n. Read more

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Shannon Nelson in beauty, salon, skin care, Spa, Travel Beauty 4 Comments

Esthetician Maureen Barnes Winter Skin Care Tips

I’m always getting asked which products work well to combat winter skin care issues and Maureen Barnes, esthetician at Breathe Salon and Day Spa, was kind enough to make a video for our readers!

Be sure to check out our reviews of Breathe Salon and Day Spa:

Facial Review
Haircut Review

Watch Maureen’s tips below: Read more

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Shannon Nelson in anti-aging, beauty, salon, skin care, Spa Leave a comment

Breathe Salon and Day Spa Facial Review

Review by Courtney Smith

“You should get a facial,” I would hear my sister-in-law say to me over the past few years, “they are so great, so relaxing.” It sounded nice, but other than imagining mud plastered over my face, I really did not know what a facial was or what kind of benefits to expect from getting one. Low and behold as I made my daily drive past Breathe Salon and Spa of Lansdale, PA I noticed a big sign that hung promoting anti-aging facials. Weeks away from thirty-five and with enough fine lines on my face to show it, anti-aging sounded fantastic to me.

I have had the pleasure of enjoying Breathe Salon and Spa’s knock out cut and colors in the past and thought this would be a terrific opportunity to explore one more, of the many, self-care aspects that the salon and spa has to offer. Per usual the staff was friendly and welcoming, the environment was creatively inspiring and offered a sense of serenity, and upon meeting Maureen Barnes, Breathe’s premier certified Esthetician, who is filled with 20 years of cosmetology wisdom, I was provided with a tour of the room where my facial would be done, as well as educated on what to expect from our time together. Maureen displayed confidence, professional and practical knowledge, and her presence emitted calm energy that placed me in a mood of ease for the hour we spent together. She was able to answer all my questions and then some and offered me some simple tips to assist me in dealing with the season’s harsh effects on my skin and for my my anti-aging (appearance) journey. Read more

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Shannon Nelson in anti-aging, beauty, salon, skin care, Spa 1 Comment

How to Look Expensive Q & A with Andrea Pomerantz Lustig

I’ve known Andrea Pomerantz Lustig for a few years now. I forget how we got in contact, but once I met her, that was it. There was an instant connection — maybe it was the common ground of being both career-oriented moms who love beauty, or maybe because Andrea is just so down to earth that I enjoyed her company. Chances are, it was both.

Andrea’s been pretty busy lately; when she’s not being a beauty editor, she’s promoting her new book, How to Look Expensive. I love this book for so many reasons, not just because there is an intelligent woman behind it, but because so many of us don’t have bottomless wallets to buy $300 lotions or make trips to high end salons. Yet, Andrea tells you how to look expensive without cashing in your 401K.

Q: What inspired you to write How to Look Expensive? Read more

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Shannon Nelson in beauty, Hair Care, Makeup, salon, skin care, Spa Leave a comment

Breathe Salon and Day Spa Review, Lansdale PA

Review from my fabulous sister, Courtney

“Breathe,” that is what I keep trying to tell myself amidst my crazy life as a mama of seven beautiful babes. “Self-care,” I’ve heard myself preach the importance of it to my pre-teen daughter and to my patients who I care for in the hospital a million times. So as the collection of dust mounted on the silver envelopes of my now two unused Breathe Salon and Day Spa gift certificates, and my daily drive past their ever-so inviting window treatments called my name, my summer fizzled chlorine-damaged hair could take no more and I decided that I WAS finally making an appointment for me. The only appointment that a girl can make that will last a couple hours, but will be sure to rejuvenate her for at least six solid weeks, if she chooses wisely. I am no beauty expert, but I know what I like, and I do have a gift for creative flare that’s easy on the eyes.

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Shannon Nelson in beauty, Hair Care, salon, Spa 1 Comment

VIDEO: Eyelash Extensions

I’ve been getting lash extensions for the past few months…and it’s quickly become an obsession of mine. They’re low-maintenence and perfect for both everyday wear and special nights out.

I’m a loyal customer of lash stylist Lucinda Montano, and in the video below I share her knowledge with our viewers. She’s an incredible aesthetician, and if you’re in the NYC area it is so worth paying her a visit. Check out her blog, and be sure to visit her Facebook page to view some before and after shots of her lash work.

Check out the video below, posted on A Girl’s Gotta Spa!’s YouTube channel. Read more

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, Makeup, salon Leave a comment

CND Implementing Shellac Salon Certification

Ever since my post regarding the Pros & Cons of Shellac and Gel Manicures, people have been commenting that they either love their shellac or have noticed what I did–it destroyed their nails. CND just issued a press release stating that those of us in the nails destroyed by Shellac realm may have had our manicure done by a salon who didn’t properly apply and remove the Shellac or who mixed products not ensuring or measuring up to CND’s standards.

As an educated consumer, here are some pointersÂ for making sure you receive the REAL CND Shellac:

1)Â Â Â Look for the CND seal of approval on the window of your salon.

2)Â Â Â Ask if the salon uses CND Shellac products.

3)Â Â Â Watch the products that are being used during the service – if you do not see “CND Shellac” on the bottle, it’s not Shellac.

4)Â Â Â During removal, do not allow soaking of nails in a bowl of acetone – request CND Shellac Remover Wraps or cotton and tin foil removal method.

The program is rolling out first in New York, California, Nevada, Colorado, Ohio and Chicago, and will expand across the US in 2012.

I’m happy to hear that they are going to start enforcing quality assurance when it comes to a manicure it seems many people desperately want. I will say that for me however, both of my CND Shellac Power Polishes were done with all CND Shellac products and I still had a problem with the manicure. The first time was by a CND manicurist at Cosmoprof and the second time was at a salon who followed all of the same steps as the first manicurist and used the appropriate products (no mixing of product or filing.) Regardless, hopefully if there are salons out there not following the proper protocol, this certification process will help weed them out. What do you think?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Shannon Nelson in beauty, Nail Polish, salon Leave a comment

Hair Color & Cut at Lotus Salon at The Lodge at Woodloch

It’s no secret that the Poconos has an amazing destination spa tucked away in the hills of Hawley, PA: The Lodge at Woodloch. I’ve been to The Lodge at Woodloch several times and have had the pleasure of experiencing a facial, massage, pedicure, enjoying a weekend getaway with my boyfriend golfing and kayaking, makeup consultation with Christopher Drummond in their boutique and last week for the launch of their renovated Lotus Salon, along with the newest addition of Master Stylist Christine Lafferty, I headed up for a much needed hair color and cut.

First of all, while the spa may tend to be on the pricey side (it is a luxury spa after all) the Lotus Salon’s prices fall in line with what most hair salons in the area charge. So if you’ve been hesitant to try them out, put your wallet woes to rest. Lotus Salon uses Wella hair care products for color, which I have had a very good experience with in the past when I previously went to Salon Lâ€™Etoile in Jenkintown, PA. Christine used a demi-permanent color on me with a color lock. They also use Alterna (the LOVE of my life) and Moroccanoil (love their anti-frizz and hairspray) hair products.

Christine is amazing. She listens to what you want, skillfully cuts your hair all while engaging with you like you’ve been lifelong friends. And there’s nothing fake about it–Christine is super personable and it makes you want to hang out with her. But I’ve found that of most of the staff at The Lodge; just real, down to earth people (which essentially is what the Poconos is about–a truly hometown feel.) Christine previously had an upscale salon in Boston, but came back to Northeast PA when a family member was dying from ovarian cancer.Â Since then, she decided to remain in the area and landed at The Lodge at Woodloch (they are lucky to have her!)

Loved the outcome of my hair! Have you experienced the Lotus Salon, or any of the spa treatments, at The Lodge at Woodloch? To view all of their offerings see their website at www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com.

*Disclosure

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Shannon Nelson in beauty, Hair Care, Pocono Spas & Salons, salon Leave a comment

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