This review is for the airbrush tanning and special occasion (updo) services. I hope to update this review later once I get a haircut at this salon. Also, my apologies for the long review. Apparently I'm Wordy McWordison.
Updo Review:
I was a bridesmaid in a wedding over Christmas weekend. The bride requested us to all have updos, so I scheduled an appointment with Amanda, one of their newest stylists (per their website). I have long, fine, straight(ish) hair and I NEVER wear it up (except for a ponytail/bun thingy just to keep it off my face - NOT appropriate for special occasion).
Amanda is adorable. I immediately knew based on her style (cute, with a slight edge) that I would not receive Terrible Wedding Hair. I tried to explain what i wanted (which really, I had no idea - I showed her a couple of styles that I liked on Pinterest, which included some knotty buns, with some volume in the front - sort of like a Bump It, but not so BUMP. Also, NO TENDRILS. My God, people. Enough with the tendrils). She took what little I gave her and then styled my hair pretty nicely, considering I hate updos and I kept telling her I wanted volume in the front when in fact, it turns out I didn't like volume at all (thus making her remove all the volume she had created). She had a small bit of assistance from Kym and Barbara, whom she referred to as "updo masters," so really, I always felt confident that I would receive a great style and not look like an idiot during the wedding. I was very happy with my final updo, and it stayed put ALL DAY (from 1030am when she finished to almost midnight when I took it down). This was especially impressive considering we had 40 mph wind that day, I kept hitting my head on things (I'm kind of clumsy) and I danced a lot at the wedding. I paid $60 (plus tip), which I think is reasonable for an updo considering the other salons I consulted (DryBar in Bethesda and Hypnotic in Olney) quoted me $75+. Not sure if the low price was because she's relatively new or not?
All in all, I highly recommend Amanda (and probably Kym and Barbara, based on my small interaction with them and Amanda's comments). I'm actually in need of a haircut, and I think I'm going to go back to Amanda since I think she has great style and an easy personality. Stay tuned for an update.
Airbrush Tanning Review:
Again, since I was a bridesmaid and going to be photographed a lot, I decided to get a spray tan so that no one would wonder who the vampire-with-pneumonia-bridesmaid was. I am very fair-skinned, and even more pale than usual considering I had a baby in September and never got my normal summer tan (you try getting in a bathing suit while 8 months pregnant). Therefore, I scheduled an appointment with Nina, their makeup/tanning stylist.
Nina was also great. Very friendly, she asked me what kind of color I was looking for, and immediately assured me that I would not go from uber-pale to Snookie. I just told her that I wanted a bit of natural-looking color (don't we all) that would essentially just let me blend in with the other maids. I've been airbrushed before (see my review for Solar Planet, in which I compare that train wreck to Ninotch in Bethesda, the best place ever) and I'd say the experience is very comparable to the better tanning salons. The spray itself is COLD, but Nina uses a space heater to help keep you comfortable (though I bet this would feel refreshing in the summer). Speaking of comfort, even though I stripped down to my skivvies, Nina made me feel completely comfortable the entire time - she's a true pro. I paid $45 (plus tip) for the full-body spray, which again is comparable to better salons (and $10 less than listed on the website, not sure why mine was cheaper).
Now, about the tan itself. BAD ASS. Seriously, I got the tan at 4ish Friday night, and the color deepened nicely throughout the evening (you can't shower for at least 6-8 hrs, preferably overnight). By the next morning, I was worried the tan would wash completely off in the shower, and while of course it decreased a bit, it was PERFECT for the wedding. No streaks. No blotches. Just great, natural-looking color that just gave me a nice glow, enough for people to tell me I looked great, but not to know that I got a spray tan per se. The website says their tans last 7-10-14 days, depending on "how well you typically hold a tan". I would say my color was wonderfully noticeable from Friday night until Sunday night, and then less so on Monday and Tuesday and had faded a lot (at least in my face) by Wednesday pm., though I still see color in my stomach and legs. THIS IS AMAZING. My other spray tans lasted about half as long.
I would highly HIGHLY recommend Nina to anyone. I will definitely come her for my next spray tan. read more