Salon
5 Products We Can’t Live Without
5 Products
We all have those staples in our beauty routine. You know, the essentials. These are products that you buy in bulk, carry a travel size of and recommend to everyone in passing. In this blog, I will share with you the 5 products that our salon & spa can’t live without.
We carry only the best products at our salon. When ordering and purchasing products for retail, we keep what’s best for our clients in mind as well as their wants and needs. We use and buy products that we would feel comfortable using ourselves and our loved ones. We decided to give our followers and blog readers a look into our own personal cabinet of “must haves”. No incentive, no advertising, just simply saying what we like best and what works best for us.
Aveda Skin Refiner
This is a staple in the skin care world. According to many of the employees at Oliver’s Salon & Spa, this cleansing exfoliator does the job while keeping your skin moisturized. Sometimes, scrubs can over exfoliate and leave you with dry patches. This stuff scrubs impurities but leaves you with a soft, moisturized glow. I would say this product is perfect for the upcoming cold months!
Olaplex No. 7
The hair savior. This is a must have for ANYONE who has artificially colored their hair, especially blondes. This restores moisture to your hair after the damage had already been done. I dare you to find a stylist who thinks this one is a bad idea. Keep in mind, there is a treatment, shampoo, conditioner and more. We recommend a treatment to start, then if you love it, incorporate the whole line!
Moroccan Oil Dry Shampoo
If you’re a sensitive scalped person such as myself, you will find that most dry shampoos irritate you. This is the only brand I’ve had any success with. While keeping your scalp moisturized with a formula that has argan oil, this dry shampoo will leave your hair smelling like you just washed it (even though it might be 4 days since you actually have). If you fall in love with the scent, don’t worry; we have tons of Moroccan Oil products that you can add to your collection.
Tan Towels
Okay fake tan gurus, this ones for you. Forget the lotions and orange palms. No one has time for that anymore, it’s 2019. Tan Towels help achieve that summer tan in the middle of winter. It’s basically a wet nap for your skin. Easy application, long-lasting and you don’t smell or look like an Oompa Loompa. They are offered in the classic and plus options. Classic gives you a subtle glow and plus really bumps up the bronze. Even better, they are affordable!
Maria Nila Silver Shampoo
A must have for blondes. Kick your hair's brass with this purple shampoo. It is one of the purple shampoos that actually smell good, too. Maria Nila is a hair care brand that is vegan and cruelty free, so not only are you shampooing your hair, you’re doing it while being moralistic. Use it as much as needed or once in a while. The formula is perfect and doesn't dry out your hair like most purple shampoos do. Plus, you can always pair it with their conditioner!
These products are all stylist approved and used. All of these are also available for retail at our salon. We hope that a little look into Oliver’s cabinets has helped you possibly find your new staple products. If you have any other questions on any of these products, or want to see what else we have, feel free to give us a call at (610)-366-8808 or stop in any time!
Balayage: The Hand Painted Hair Trend
Balayage - one of the biggest hair trends.
Are you looking for a more natural highlight? Balayage is the most subtle way to have perfectly highlighted hair without it looking like you’ve actually colored your hair. It’s very trendy, cost-effective and lasts a pretty long time! In this blog, I will explain what balayage is, the benefits, what to expect and some examples. Here at Oliver’s Salon & Spa, balayage services are done nearly every day along with other popular creative color services like ombre!
What is Balayage?
The term “balayage” is trending. Balayage is a technique, not an actual hair style. Essentially, it is the painting of hair. In French, the word “balayage” means to sweep or paint. Let’s be honest, anything said in French is so chic.
Balayage can be deceiving, as it is just painting the base of the hair. Most stylists end up incorporating a technique called “foilayage”. Foilayage covers not only the base of the hair, but all throughout the hair and accented pieces, based on where they fall around a client’s face. Both foilayage and balayage are used for most clients who want a balayage and ombre hair color.
It's all in the technique.
Most think balayage is done freehand. It is, but there are actually several techniques to make it look so effortless and natural. For example, if someone has smooth, straight hair, stylists will use a V or W technique, creating a flow throughout the hair where the color gradually changes. The hand painted gradation creates a soft transition from base color to highlight, making your hair blend perfectly. This technique will give you the sun kissed highlighted ends you’re looking for with much less noticeable growth lines as time passes.
Is balayage a good fit for you?
Balayage is not just for blonde highlights. You can have a balayage with any color! The most popular ones are blonde balayage and brown balayage, but any color could be used! Some balayage services may be more dramatic than others, involving foiled highlights due to the color lifting process. For example, balayage, when painted on without foil, only lifts a hair color 4 levels. This is ideal for a more natural, blended look. If your hair is super dark and looking to add bright blonde, you would need to add foiled highlights due to the drastic color change. Foil helps heat the color and lift beyond 4 levels.
Really, each stylist has their own technique, which sets them all apart. Some stylists will do a blend of both balayage and foilayage, one or the other or add several other techniques they have made up. That’s the beauty of the creative process of each individual stylist.
Benefits of Balayage
The biggest benefit to balayage is the low maintenance, which is more cost effective. Less upkeep will leave your bank account thanking you. We can all get behind a trend that doesn’t cost that much, right?
Balayage allows your roots to grow in with a more natural look that you do not have to constantly keep up with. Most other color services, you’re making an appointment every 4-6 weeks. Depending on preference and how your hair grows, you can let a balayage sit for months! The only touch ups you might need would be adding some painted strands here and there or maybe a toner if you’re looking for a less brassy blonde.
What to expect...
Your first appointment might be costly, due to the amount of time and technique. Most balayage services start at $200 depending on your hair. If your hair is thick and longer, there may be more color and time required to use, making your visit a little more in price. If your hair is short and fine, your visit might not cost as much as you think. The best way to know exactly how much a balayage service will cost you is to schedule a consultation with one of our stylists.
What happens when I need a touch up?
After that initial appointment, your hair might just need some minor touch ups along the way, depending on the person and how often your hair grows. Do the math. If scheduling appointments every 4-6 weeks that cost $150 and up is breaking the bank, opt out for a one time splurge that will last you months and overall be more cost effective!
Oliver's Balayage
Full disclosure, if you book a balayage service, you will be here for a couple of hours. Timing also depends on the length and thickness of your hair. To make your appointment run smoothly, we require/recommend you coming in for a consultation for your balayage appointment. This allows the stylist to get to know you, assess what direction they will take with your hair and let you know what will be happening during your appointment. Consultations at Oliver’s are only 15 minutes and complementary! See our blog on consultations here!
Oliver’s Looks at Current Beauty Trends
The beauty world is creative, competitive and inspiring. There are trends constantly emerging. With the help of Instagram and other social media platforms, we are able to see these trends on a daily basis. In this blog, I will dig a little deeper on some current trends that are considered influential and tell you exactly what we think here at Oliver's!
DIP POWDER MANICURES - YES OR NO?
One trend I’ve been seeing in particular is the dip powder nails. They are supposed to be stronger and longer lasting than gel nails. They are being compared to acrylic nails. I researched all that is the dip powder manicure to learn more about this trendy nail. Essentially, it is what it sounds like; you dip your nail in powder. Instead of using UV rays to seal your polish, the pigmented powder does the job. They are rumored to not ruin your nails the way that other manicures do.
However, if you’re getting a dip powder manicure at a salon, chances are you will be dipping your nails in a pot of pigmented powder that other people have dipped into. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to double dip with a stranger. Although they turn out beautiful, it doesn’t make sense for a salon to be unsanitary for beauty reasons. This is exactly why Oliver’s does not partake in the dip powder manicure. In other words this trend is considered a NO for us.
SKINCARE - YES OR NO?
Less makeup, more sunscreen. With new skincare companies emerging, they are shedding some light on the importance of the health of our skin. They are pushing products that improve the look and texture of your skin, fight aging and repel the harmful UV rays. More than ever before, people are getting more facials, dermaplaning, peels, etc. Instagram models and influencers have perfect, soft skin with no makeup thus making it trendy. YES, this is a trend we can totally get behind.
Here at Oliver’s we offer a range of services for skincare. From facials to products, we have a lot to choose from. For example, we have more than five different facials as well as add-ons to customize what is most beneficial for your skin. We have a product for every issue you have as well as educated aestheticians who can provide you with tips and information to better your skincare routine.
LASHES - YES OR NO?
People are lashing out and ditching the mascara. Lash extensions, lash lifts and lash tints are everywhere. This trend has become so in demand that we are starting to need more aestheticians trained in lash services to keep up with the clientele. Can you blame everyone? Long lashes gives a sort of confidence that is unexplainable and cuts down makeup application time. This would be perfect for busy bodies, moms on the go and well, pretty much anyone. We say YES to this trend. Here at Oliver’s, we offer lash extensions, lash lifts and lash tints.
If you have any questions on the current trendy services we offer, call us at (610)-366-8808. Remember, we offer online booking as well!
Here Comes the Bride
Looking for a place to provide you with the perfect look on your big day? Well, Oliver’s has all the brides-to-be and their bridesmaids covered. As an all service salon, we have a number of services to choose from. Whether it’s for the big day or for your bachelorette party, we would love to serve you!
BRIDAL HAIR
On your wedding day, you want to look picture perfect. Here at Oliver’s, our stylists can do all sorts of up-dos and wedding hair. As long as you have a picture for reference, we can make it happen. Here are some examples of wedding do’s that will inspire you.
BRIDAL MAKEUP
Putting your best face forward is important on your wedding day. While there are makeup tutorials all over the internet, having a professional do your makeup limits your risk. Our mua’s are aestheticians who have had extensive training and practice in the makeup field. They know how to properly apply and make your look last the whole day! We use mostly Aveda products, but we also carry several others. If you’re like me, you have your favorite shade of lipstick. Bring it in. We don’t mind teaching you how to properly apply it!
BRIDAL NAILS
Most brides also get their nails done at Oliver's. We have a wide range of different nail styles. We have regular polish, gel polish, LCN and poly gel. You can keep it classic or add designs. Either way, our nail techs are skilled in the wedding nails area. If you're a Pinterest wedding planner, bring a picture. Our nail techs are always up for a challenge!
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Besides makeup and hair services, we offer a number of services that a bride or bridesmaid would enjoy. We have had many brides get their nails done, a facial and a massage. We do offer several packages containing a number of services, but you can always choose your own. The important thing to remember is to book ahead, especially if there are a lot of people in your party. We want to make sure we have enough time to make the day all about you!
If you have any questions about scheduling services for your special day, give us a call at (610)-366-8808 or book online.