It’s officially Prom season! This is one of the biggest days in a young person’s life up to that point. It is so important to many of the Seniors and Juniors going to prom that everything goes as smoothly as possible! Ashka Salon Spa is your one stop shop for all of your prom needs. Get your prom hair, nails, and makeup done by our fabulous team. Stop in earlier this week to get your eyebrows and maybe even a facial too!
Prom Hair at Ashka Salon Spa
Prom Hair by Josie
With Pinterest making amazing up style pictures available with ease, at the salon we are seeing more intricate styles from our clients! To me, this make my job that much more fun. I absolutely love giving my clients upstyles that they wouldn’t be able to achieve themselves at home. I always worn people, “it’s kind of an ugly process so bare with me, but it will all come together in the end”. In order to achieve these beautiful (appearingly) effortless looks, you have to approach the style in sections. Because of this puzzle-like technique it can look worse before it gets better. Honestly, that is one of the reason I love up styles so much. After teasing and curling the hair, you could look like a lion. But by the time I am done smoothing and pinning the hair, you have a sleek elegant look.
Prom hair styles can range from $60 to $105 depending on who you see. Extensive braiding, the addition of extensions or placement of embellishments may incur an additional charge. Please mention these extras when making your appointment to insure enough time is scheduled.
Pair Your Prom Hair with the Perfect Makeup
Prom Hair and Makeup by Mona
At Ashka Salon Spa, we use Airbrush Makeup for all of our face makeup. We do this because of the versatility that it provides our Makeup Artists and clients. The Temptu Airbrush Makeup is extremely lightweight but still provides full coverage. It looks amazing on camera making it perfect to look back on for your Prom memories.
Airbrush Makeup Applications range in price from $60 to $80 depending on who you see. Our Makeup Artists will be able to give you a customized look for your special day to meet your needs!
All in all, Prom is a very exciting day for all, including us stylists! I know I can’t wait for Prom Day this year. Book your appointment today! 734-414-9980
Since I was assisting for the past year and a half, my hands have really be taking a beating. No matter what I do to them they still seem dry and my cuticles are always stained with hair color. This is the exact reason I needed to see Kym for a Shellac Manicure. Kym is our lead nail technician at Ashka Salon Spa. She is seriously a miracle worker. The benefits of a shellac manicure versus a regular manicure are endless to me. I work with my hands in water all day everyday and regular nail polish will only last a day.
What Do You Get in a Shellac Manicure?
Shellac Manicure by Kym
Kym starts with doing any nail maintenance that you may need first. It is important to completely clear the nail bed of any cuticle and oil. This makes your shellac stay the longest possible. Kym will shape your nails first and then let your cuticle sit with product on them to remove them. After pushing back your cuticles and nipping them, your nails are wiped with a hot towel, buffed and the oil is removed. Then the fun part begins. I love picking out my nail color. To me, it is a huge part of self expression. Am I feeling bubbly and pink? Or more mysterious and dark? After a base coat, two color coats and a top coat, your nails are completely dry and ready to go. That is one of the best parts about a Shellac Manicure, the minute you are done, your nails are dry. I can’t even paint my nails anymore with regular polish because I am so impatient with the drying process. And since they are dry, you get to enjoy an amazing hand massage by Kym before leaving!
The Power of a Shellac Manicure
Shellac Manicure Results
The power of a manicure is absolutely incredible. I’m pretty sure after every manicure or pedicure I have every gotten, the first words out my mouth have been “Ahhh, I feel human again”. It gives me confidence and feeling of being put together. I feel professional when my nails look professional. A shellac manicure is without a doubt is a can’t miss service for me. Call today to book your appointment with Kym!
Before I started working in the beauty industry, I was definitely guilty of using drugstore brands for my shampoo and conditioner. I used whatever my mom bought me and that was it. As far as I knew, my hair felt great! Wrong. Looking back, my hair was super crispy. I was using an outrageous amount of hairspray and gel to hold back my ballet bun, and I was washing and straightening my hair everyday for school. Between how I was styling my hair and the products I was using, my hair was NOT in good shape. After working in an AVEDA salon for 3 years now, I would love to go back in time. I would tell myself so many things. But one of the biggest would be to shampoo correctly. Starting with the correct shampoo and conditioner means you are prepping your hair for success. When you wash your face before applying your make up, you want the cleanest, smoothest surface to work on. Wouldn’t you want the same before styling your hair? I thought it would be a fun experiment to compare a common drugstore brand shampoo and conditioner to my favorite AVEDA shampoo and conditioner.
What is the Correct Shampoo? – The Experiment
I typically with washing my hair 2 to 3 times per week. This helps insure my color stays the best and also doesn’t dry out my hair from excessive oil stripping. For this experiment I washed my hair with my favorite AVEDA shampoo, Smooth Infusion. And I conditioned with AVEDA’s Damage Remedy conditioner. I blew out my hair and wore my style for 2 days. I curled my hair on day 2. I repeated this using a common drugstore brand and recorded my findings. I used the same AVEDA styling products and tools to style my hair. This insured that the only differences was my shampoo and conditioner.
AVEDA Shampoo and Conditioner; Is This the Correct Shampoo? – Day 1
Sunday morning I woke up and washed my hair. I shampooed twice with AVEDA’s Smooth Infusion Shampoo. I conditioned using AVEDA’s Damage Remedy Conditioner. I left my conditioner on for 5 minutes. I used a wide tooth comb and AVEDA’s Damage Control to comb through my hair. To style my hair I used AVEDA’s Pure Abundance Style Prep and the Smooth Infusion Nourishing Creme. I round brushed my hair out how I normally do.
My hair felt soft and fluffy. Once I took the picture I could tell I needed a trim. Which, unfortunately, no product will be able to fix that. They just need to be cut fresh. Other than that my hair was in good shape. Combing through my mane was easy and didn’t cause much discomfort.
Day 1 with AVEDA Shampoo and Conditioner – Correct Shampoo Challenge
AVEDA Shampoo and Conditioner; Is This the Correct Shampoo? – Day 2
Monday was my day off from work so I took it easy in the morning. Like I previously said, I don’t like to wash my hair everyday because the natural oils your scalp produces is good for your hair. To get ready for my day I curled my hair and used AVEDA’s Air Control hairspray to hold my style.
My hair didn’t have as much body as it did the day before. I expected this though. I’m a crazy sleeper and usually wake up with bed head. My curls held pretty well throughout the day and really only fell a little bit. My hair still felt really good and had a lot of natural shine to it.
Day 2 with AVEDA Shampoo and Conditioner – Correct Shampoo Challenge
Drugstore Shampoo and Conditioner; Is This the Correct Shampoo? – Day 1
Tuesday morning I had to go to the salon early to do my best friend’s hair. While she was processing, I had her wash my hair with drugstore damage repair shampoo and conditioner. I picked this kind because if I were shopping for shampoo and conditioner, I definitely would be looking for damage control. It promises that my hair will be fixed in just 3 washes. Talk about a miracle worker. I blew out my hair using the same products and tools as I had when I blew out my hair for the AVEDA shampoo and conditioner.
My hair felt oddly soft. I knew my hair wasn’t healthy enough to feel the way it did. It almost had a wax-y feeling to it. I can easily see how people are fooled by how your hair feels when using these products. However when I was combing out my hair, I lost a lot more hair than I had before. I used the same comb as I had so I was definitely shocked to see what a drastic difference there was. My hair was are to blow out and I had a hard time giving it any bend to the ends with my round brush.
Day 1 with Drugstore Shampoo and Conditioner – Correct Shampoo Challenge
Drugstore Shampoo and Conditioner; Is This the Correct Shampoo? – Day 2
I woke up on Wednesday and my hair was so silky soft. Knowing that I was supposed to curl my hair, I knew this would be an issue. However, I couldn’t use anything more than what I had used previously. I attempted to curl my hair and I loaded up my hair with hairspray but it just wouldn’t hold no matter what I did. I was blown away by the difference in my hair after just one wash.
Day 2 with Drugstore Shampoo and Conditioner – Correct Shampoo Challenge
In conclusion, I will definitely not be switching from my AVEDA shampoo and conditioner anytime soon. I love the fact that they are all natural ingredients and my hair feels better than ever.
AVEDA makes a lot of different shampoo and conditioner lines to fit everyone’s needs. Whether your hair is thinning, or you are concerned about your color fading, Ashka Salon Spa has something for you! Call or stop in today to get our professional opinion about what would be best for your lifestyle and hair.
AVEDA held a hair contest this month called Full Spectrum Fusion. We as colorists had to create a look using a combination of our two permanent haircolor lines. When I saw the flyer in the break room, I knew I wanted to enter. Just starting on the floor, I figured this would be a good way to really look into the color lines and get comfortable with them.
I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I was going to need a model for it. I put out a “hair color model needed” post on social media and immediately heard back from people. One of my friends who went to cosmetology school messaged me. She was interested in trying the oil slick trend. The oil slick trend is meant to replicate what it looks like when there is spilled gas or oil on the cement creating a rainbow effect.
Oil Spill
Entering a Hair Contest 101 – Never Stop Thinking About it
I spent the next couple of weeks looking into different ways to achieve this technique. There were a few big name stylists who had posted how to videos and I watched as many as I could. I took my time making swatches in the salon so I could see exactly how my formulas would turn out. I made a huge poster board explaining step by step how I was going to achieve my work.
My preparation board to enter the hair contest!
When my model came in, I showed her all of my preparation and we were both eager to get started. As I worked through my process, I became more and more eager to see the final outcome. It seemed like everything was going perfect! It took a total of 6 hours to get the results I was looking for and unfortunately my model needed to go so I wasn’t able to get the pictures I wanted.
My oil slick colors for the hair contest
Entering a Hair Contest – The Photoshoot
One of the many images taken for the contest!
My model said she would come back in a day for me to style and photograph my work. I was definitely nervous that she would wash it before then just because I knew the colors would be the most vibrant right then. However she didn’t and waited for me to style her hair for her. I learned a lot while we were taking pictures. There is a lot of “behind the scenes” when you look at a beautiful picture in a magazine. We styled her hair with products that I wouldn’t necessarily use if I was just sending her out the door. We also had to be very critical of how the hair was laying. We ended up taking a total of 23 pictures only to submit 1.
My Oil Slicked Mermaid – My Final Image
In the end, all of my colors turned out exactly how I wanted. There is definitely some things about the process that I would change, but all in all I love how it turned out. You never know how your work will compare to other entries but I know that I did my absolute best. I turned in my photo knowing how much work I put into it, and I was, and still am proud. I will be sure to post another blog once I hear how I did!
Last weekend I attended America’s Beauty Show in Chicago with 9 of the girls from Ashka Salon Spa. It is held once a year at McCormick Place in downtown Chicago. I went for the first time last year and it was absolutely amazing. I had gone in really not knowing what to expect at all. However, I was determined to make the most out of this years trip. Especially since I had to reschedule another AVEDA class I registered for in order to go.
America’s Beauty Show 2016
America’s Beauty Show – Classes
As I have talked about before, I LOVE continued education. I love talking classes. And I love to learn. My manager had said I should try to take a class over the weekend to make up for having to reschedule my other one. I could not find where the classes were anywhere and I was really starting to stress out. Luckily my coworker Christine had taken classes at America’s Beauty Show before. She showed me the catalog of all possible classes. And of course, I went crazy. I ended up buying a three day pass to the show and signing up for a total of 5 classes. I know everyone thought I was crazy but honestly I was so pumped.
I had two classes on Saturday. My first class was Larisa Love’s Color. Larisa Love is an amazing colorist that I have been following on Instagram for some time now. This was the class I was most excited to take! I had ubered (by myself! Eek!) to the McCormick Place and arrived an hour and a half early. I checked in to the show on the main floor and had bought myself a pop. I knew I was early and wanted to check out the showroom before class. I knew I needed to figure out where I was going first. I asked one of the hair show workers where it was being held and she said it was “across the skybridge and in the hotel”. I said thanks and headed that way. I was looking for room C-2004 but I couldn’t find it anywhere. By this point I had killed 45 minutes and I was starting to panic. I asked the hotel concierge where the room might be and he told me it’s right by registration. If you were to ask my boyfriend or my best friend, they would tell you how much of a panic I was in. I was sending them video updates throughout the weekend via snapchat. I sprinted back to where I needed to be and got to class with 30 minutes to spare. I was in the front room and settled into my seat when I opened my pop and it exploded everywhere. Luckily the lady next to me was super nice and we laughed about it and she helped me clean it up. When the class started I was in awe. I couldn’t believe Larissa was really there in front of me. She brought out two models. One whose hair was completely done with the techniques she was going to teach. The other model’s hair was half done because she was going to complete the look in front of us. She taught us multiple color technique’s including the balayage sandwich and the teardrop technique. Larissa did a meet and greet after where I was able to talk and ask her questions one on one with her and get our picture too!
Larissa Love and I at America’s Beauty Show 2016
My second class was much easier to find and I still arrived about a half hour early and was able to catch the last half of the class before the one I had signed up for. My second class was Camera Ready Styling. My dream is to work behind the scenes at New York’s Fashion Week one day. I love the idea of working on photoshoots and expressing myself creatively through that platform. This class was put on by Tearsheets which is a company who offers classes in runway and editorial styling. The biggest thing I learned from this class was that this company will teach you how to work effectively on photo shoots. By taking one of their classes you are put on their creative team and they invite people from that list to help behind the scenes for runway shows. They even bring people in for Fashion Week! It made my dream extremely tangible. I am excited to look into taking one of these classes in 2017 as one of my big education investments.
America’s Beauty Show – Showroom Floor
Showroom Floor
Besides from classes, America’s Beauty Show has a HUGE showroom floor. It has almost any product or tool in the industry that you can think of. I was like a kid in a candy store. Last year was my first year attending and I just went in blind to see what I could find. This year I made myself a shopping list. I knew I wanted new round brushes, my boyfriend needed trimmers, and my mom wanted some color touch up. When you walk in, it’s hard to not be overwhelmed by the amount of activity that is going on.
What is cool about the showroom floor is that each brand that is there usually has demonstrations and seating in their booth area. I could walk around and watch mini hair shows all day long and honestly that’s pretty much what I ended up doing!
I walked up to one booth that had a bit of a crowd around it. The gathering wasn’t big enough for me to think anything of it other than how busy the show was in general. I looked down at a table and there was a book written by Jenny Strebe. She is another amazing stylist who I love and follow on social media platforms. She specializes in styling and braids. I had wanted her new book for a while. On the table I saw a sharpie and it clicked that she must be at the show signing books! I looked around to see her standing not even three feet away from me talking to someone else. I couldn’t believe it! I purchased her book and she signed it for me. I even got a picture with her!
Jenny Strebe and I at America’s Beauty Show 2016
All in all, that weekend was extremely successful. I love being in such an inspiring place and I am very fortunate to be able to attend these types of shows. I cannot wait to try my new techniques and tools that I purchased!
I truly believe one of the hair god’s gifts to the world is dry shampoo. I don’t think that my hair would be nearly as healthy as it is if I didn’t take full advantage of this amazing product. AVEDA lovers everywhere have been waiting for a dry shampoo up to AVEDA’s standards. Ashka Salon Spa is happy to announce that it is finally here! AVEDA’s Shampure Dry Shampoo was released in November of 2015.
AVEDA’s Shampure Dry Shampoo
AVEDA’s Shampure Dry Shampoo – What is it All About?
AVEDA’s Dry Shampoo has their signature aroma, Shampure. Shampure has 25 pure flower and plant essences. This product is also 99.8% naturally derived. Like all AVEDA products it does not contain petroleum minerals or water. AVEDA only makes their products with ingredients that are sustainable and natural.
AVEDA’s Shampure Dry Shampoo
Benefits of Using AVEDA’s Shampure Dry Shampoo
Why is using dry shampoo so important? Everybody hates when their hair is greasy. Through the use of this product you can revive your look for an additional day. It is important not to wash your hair everyday. It can really dry out your locks. However if you are someone who works out a lot, or feels like their hair just gets oily quickly, you really should look into dry shampoo!
Another great use is when you are styling your hair curly or up. A lot of times hair is too clean and soft to hold your desired style. By puffing some dry shampoo into your hair you will give it some additional texture. Having that grip is important when you want your hair to stay a certain way.
Stop in to Ashka Salon Spa today to get your hands on your own AVEDA’s Shampure Dry Shampoo.
Lately fashion colors have been seen everywhere! From the runway to the grocery store, I’m sure you have all seen the fun pink, blue, or purple hair people have been rocking! While this style is not for everyone, it is still such a fun and versatile trend. There are many ways that you can bring this into your own style.
Fashion Colors by Josie
Fashion Colors – So Many Options
Fashion colors range from grey to neon pink! Almost any hair trend can be used with these fun colors. Shown above, you see a pink ombre. You could also do highlights with a certain fashion color, or even a color melt.
Grey hair has been huge lately. With Kylie Jenner debuting hers, more and more girls are asking for this smokey style!
Colored Grey Hair
Fashion Colors – Are Extensions the Way to Go?
Having such brightly colored hair is a big commitment. It takes a lot of time and patience to truly get what you want from your hair. Without this patience, we can risk compromising the integrity of your hair. If you are looking for just a pop of color you can always try extensions. At Ashka Salon Spa we offer tape in and fusion extensions. Through the use of this wonderful tool we can give you instant pops of purple or blue without as much damage to your hair.
Purple Tape in Extensions
I used to have purple tape in extensions in my hair, and I absolutely loved them! I was able to enjoy the funkiness of purple without the upkeep I would have had if I had dyed my own hair that color. Unlike normal hair color, many extensions don’t fade. I kept my tape ins in all summer long and had no issues with any fading! Every time I see this picture I consider putting them back in!
If you are considering dipping your toes into the fashion colors trend, be sure to let our front desk representative know while you are on the phone with her! It is not your typical appointment and we all want our stylists to be best prepared for when you come in! Call Ashka Salon Spa today to set up a consultation or appointment 734-414-9980
VIP. Very Important Person. Who doesn’t want to be a VIP? At Ashka Salon Spa, with a $100 gift card purchase you can be just that! Becoming a Beauty VIP means you will receive nine coupons that are good for an entire year! Stop in soon though because this offer is only available until February 15th, 2016. We believe all of our guests are very important people and deserve to be treated as such!
Join Today!
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, this is a great way to spoil your special someone! By spending $100, you will be able to gift $250+ worth of relaxation. Let your loved one know how much they mean to you, for only a fraction of the price!
What’s the Perks of Being a Beauty VIP?
There are nine different coupons on your Beauty VIP card! That’s not even the best part. These coupons can be used any time from 2/15/16 until 2/01/17. That is nearly a whole year! The coupons include:
$10 off $50 AVEDA product.
Buy 3 get 1 free AVEDA products.
20% off AVEDA product.
$10 off Shampoo and Blow dry.
$15 off a Shellac Application.
$20 off Massage, Facial, or Deluxe Pedicure.
FREE Botanical Hair Therapy with a Haircut ($28 value).
FREE Lip Wax with Brow Wax ($15 value).
FREE Paraffin with Hair Color Service ($10 value).
Hair Color Service By Jordan
Don’t have someone to spoil you this Valentine’s Day? Spoil yourself! Make yourself a Beauty VIP. We challenged you to resolve to have healthy hair. Now we are challenging you to spend a little more time on yourself this year. We want to be with you every step of the way. Make 2016 the year of yourself. Sometimes we need to be a little selfish. Pamper yourself. Trust us, you deserve it!
Call Ashka Salon Spa at 734-414-9980 today to get more information!
Every one wants to have pretty, healthy hair. And every new year, people give them selves a resolution. This year, Ashka Salon Spa is challenging you to resolve to have healthy hair!
Healthy Hair By Emily
What is Hair, Healthy Hair or Not?
Hair is made up of a protein called keratin. It has three layers. They are the cuticle, the medulla, and the cortex. The cuticle is the outer most layer. It has flaps on it almost like shingles on a roof. These shingles raise and lower depending on the condition of the hair. Hair condition is typically determined by the condition of the cuticle. The cortex is the the middle layer of the hair. The medulla is inner most layer of the hair shaft.
Healthy Hair by Brianna
What Does it Mean to Have Healthy Hair?
Healthy hair is strong. Hair is able to stretch up to 30% of it’s length. To keep it strong, you should avoid brushing while your hair is wet. Use a wide tooth comb and AVEDA’s Brilliant Damage Control to gently detangle your hair. When you heat style your hair, turn down the temperature. Be sure to use a heat protectant every time you style. It is also important to clean your styling tools with alcohol once a week to get rid of product build up. That excess product build up can make your hair brittle by searing into your hair.
Healthy hair is shiny. Hair appears shiny when the cuticle layer is laying down. This way light can bounce off of the hair strand easier. When your hair is wet, the cuticle “shingles” lift easier. When you towel dry your hair, be gentle. Pat dry starting at the roots and moving down the hair shaft. Using a boar bristle brush also can help add extra shine to your locks.
Healthy hair is soft. You should condition each time your hair is wet to lock in the moisture. Use a hair masque such as Damage Remedy or Dry Remedy once a week.
It is important to get regular haircuts in order to keep your ends from splitting. Some people say, “Getting you hair cut makes your hair grow faster”. While this isn’t true, it does help you hair grow longer, stronger.
Call Ashka Salon Spa today to talk to a professional about how you can get healthy hair! 734-414-9980
Keratin treatment to get pretty, shiny, smooth hair in about an hour! After you get this service you will enjoy faster drying and finishing and frizz free hair for up to 6 to 8 weeks. Keratin is a type of protein that forms the main structure of of hair.
Keratin treatment does contain 1% of formaldehyde. Pregnant or nursing clients should not receive this treatment. Some people can also be allergic to aldehydes. If you are scared about reacting to this treatment, you can ask for a patch test.
Benefits of a Keratin Treatment
A keratin treatment is a great investment. Not only does it make your drying time shorter, it extends the life of hair color! It tames frizz. While creating healthy, smooth, and strong hair, it also protects your hair from heat. This treatment will cut back excess volume and tame curls. It also protects it from humid weather.
Before and After Treatment Straightened, Before Shampooing
Typical clients include:
– dull hair
– thick hair that takes forever to dry
– if you are seeking better shine, vibrancy, and durability
– frizz or porosity problems
What to Expect When You Get a Keratin Treatment
When you get a keratin treatment, your stylist will begin by washing your hair. She will use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any product build up or natural oils. After blow drying your hair to about 80 to 90%, your stylist will apply the keratin treatment. After sitting for about 20 minutes, the product is then blow dried and flat ironed to seal it into your hair.
At Ashka Salon Spa, you can receive this great service starting at $100. Call the salon today. We can set you up with a free consultation. You can talk to a stylist who will give you the service about your specific hair. They will be able to give you an honest opinion on whether this will be good for your hair or not.
