Bella Bethesda Salon Offers Ways to Relax This Summer

OFFER! OFFER!

Through August 31, Bella Bethesda is offering a free follow-up hair wash and blow dry, along with a retail size shampoo and conditioner (up to a $100 value) for clients who receive any of the featured straightening treatments.

As the days get hotter and humidity levels rise, we know those of you with curly and damaged hair are preparing to fight the frizz. DC weather offers little sympathy to unruly hair but Bella Bethesda has a great solution! We have a variety of straightening options that will give both you and your tresses some time to relax this summer.

Because we offer a variety of straightening options, it's best to meet with one of our trained stylists, such as curly hair expert Megan, prior to any treatments. You'll work with your stylist to determine what is best for your hair and needs.

Treatments available at Bella include:

• Anti-curl treatment: This conditioning treatment removes curls, controls frizz, and creates shine. The protein in this treatment helps repair existing damage and adds protection to improve hair’s strength. This is a permanent treatment that is ideal for very frizzy hair. ($150+)
• Phyto relaxer: This treatment is made of all natural ingredients, including egg and soy extract. There are multiple levels available that relax, repair and hydrate all hair types from fine to coarse. This is a permanent treatment that will eliminate frizz while leaving body and shine. ($220+)
• Brazilian Keratin treatment: This is a non-chemical relaxer that coats the hair with the keratin protein to smooth and add extra protection. This is a non-permanent treatment that fades after repeated washings and offers the flexibility to wear hair curly or straight. (starts at $300)
• Smooth Control/Japanese straightening: Both are permanent chemical relaxing processes known as thermal reconditioning. The straightening chemical is bonded to the hair by flat ironing which restructures the hair from the inside out. This process results in extremely sleek, straight hair that will last until hair grows out. (price per consultation)

*Straightening treatments are available at Bella everyday with the exception of the Brazilian Keratin treatment, which is only available on Mondays. Application of the straightening treatments takes at least two hours to complete and prices and results vary.

Don't forget to check out our latest webcast!

Discount Cuts with Abby!

If you're a client of Lindsey's, you've most likely met Abby. Since May 2008, she has been apprenticing alongside Lindsey and has recently started taking appointements with Lindsey as her supervisor.

With the arrival of Spring, it's a great time to freshen your look and you can receive 50% off haircuts, highlights and color when you book an appointment with Abby.

Appointments are available every other Tuesday with dates including May 26, June 9, June 23 and continuing until August 31. If you are looking for a great cut and fresh color at half the price, book your appointment soon and don't miss this great deal!

Also don't forget! Every other Tuesday haircuts for children under 10 are only $10. Bring the whole family to Bella Bethesda! Available dates also include May 26, June 9, June 23 and continue until August 31.

Call 301-718-9111 to make appointments.

Welcome Corey Gray

Bella Bethesda Salon is excited to announce the newest addition to our talented staff, Corey Gray. Corey is an accomplished colorist with over 15 years of experience in the industry. As a color expert, Corey excels in delivering the perfect look from simple touchups and natural tones to complete changes and dramatic colors. Corey comes to Bella Bethesda from PR at Partners Salon in Friendship Heights, where he co-founded a custom program which develops the perfect color technique based on an individual's face shape.

A native to Montgomery County, Corey served in the U.S. Navy for three years prior to receiving his beauty training. He began his training in 1991 and began concentrating on color in 1994. He began his training in 1991 and began concentrating on color in 1994. His first salon experience began in Bethesda and in 2000, Corey was featured on TLC's "A Makeover Story."

"I began my career in Bethesda, so joining Bella Bethesda feels like coming home. I love connecting with my clients and creating looks for them that are both unique and complimentary. Bella Bethesda puts so much care into detail and building great relationships and I am excited to be a part of this great salon"- Corey

Call Bella Bethesda to make your appointments with Corey or stop by the salon to say hello!

Color Tips from the Color Expert

These are tough times indeed. Personal budgets are getting tighter and consumers are forgoing regular beauty treatments for do-it-yourself solutions. "Why go to the hair salon to get your hair colored, when you can do it at home, right?"

Bella Bethesda Salon understands, but despite what you might think, professional coloring can actually save money in the long run. That's why Bella Bethesda's color specialist, Boy Sharp, recently offered hair care tips to extend the life of your color and keep your hair looking fresh and vibrant in between visits. Following these few tips and giving your hair extra care can stretch the time between appointments and keep you looking fabulous longer.

1. Be conscious of the shampoo you use. Shampoo with a low surfactant (cleaning agent) won't pull out moisture and will help keep color locked in. Also, shampooing less will increase permanence.
2. Conditioner is most important. Don't use a polymer based conditioner - it suffocates the hair. Leave the conditioner in for a few minutes and rinse out using colder water than you shampooed with.
3. Be aware of your styling products. Mousse and aerosol hairsprays have drying agents that strip the moisture from the hair. Try products by Phyto that focus on keeping colored hair healthy.
4. Be careful applying heat. If using straighteners, curling irons, or blow dryers use a thermal protectant like a leave-in conditioner. Start with the cool setting first and apply more heat as needed.
5. Work with your stylist. Color adds personality and definition to hair and can easily be tweaked for seasonal and lifestyle changes. Talk with your stylist to create your ideal coloring regimen to achieve the perfect look.
6. Go with the healthier option. Store dyes contain harsh chemicals that strip the hair and often the color changes over time. Correcting at-home color mistakes can be expensive and extremely damaging process that can be avoided by going to a salon.
7. Benefits outweigh the price. Self application can be tricky. Professional coloring can result in a more controlled and natural look.
8. Not ready for a complete change? Highlights and lowlights enhance natural color and can recreate texture, volume and shine.
9. Protect your hair while adding some personality. Go with a gloss. Kick up your shine and add a hint of color. Perfect for any hair color.
10. Color does not need to be drastic. Semi-permanent and demi-permanent dyes can be applied to soften grays or add lasting vibrancy to hair.

Bella Bethesda Hosts After-Hours Networking Event

Please join Bella Bethesda Salon and our sponsor, TextDesign on Thursday, March 19 from 5:30-7:00pm for an evening of networking with fellow business professionals.

All are welcome to mix and mingle with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce and its members. Chamber members are free, non-member guests are $20. Complimentary cocktails and light hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Don't miss this opportunity to make new business contacts and enjoy! For more details or questions please call 301-718-9111 or email stacy@bellabethesda.com.

Bella Bethesda Salon Donates Over 800 Inches of Hair

Thank you to everyone who helped make Bella Bethesda's second annual week-long "Cut it for a Cause" campaign a huge success!

We surpassed last year's total number donated and collected 855 inches of hair (that over 200 inches more!), which will be donated and turned into hairpieces for children with medical hair loss due to disease, burns, and cancer.

We also received pledges from 25 additional donors whose hair wasn’t quite long enough to donate during the campaign and we look forward to seeing them in the salon later this year.

A special thank you to the students, staff and parents from Stone Ridge School in Bethesda who joined us on Friday, February 13. Eight students donated their hair and many came to support the cause. Throughout the last year, about 40 Stone Ridge students have donated their hair to Locks of Love and during Bella’s campaign many signed the‘Pledge Board’ promising to donate when they have at least 10 inches of hair.

We love that we were able to out-cut last year’s donation. It is so nice to see the community come out and support a cause so special to Bella Bethesda.

Still interested in donating your hair to Locks of Love? Please call Stacy at 301-718-9111 for more details.

Bella Bethesda Salon Hosts Second "Cut it for a Cause" Campaign

Last February, Bella Bethesda Salon hosted the Cut It for a Cause campaign to benefit Locks of Love, a non-profit organization which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 with medical hair loss due to disease, burns, and cancer. Because of the great response from the community we were able to donate a total of 640 inches of hair to Locks of Love which helped over 2,000 children across the country.

From February 7-14, 2009 Bella Bethesda will host the second annual week-long event to help the worthy non-profit, and we hope you'll be able to join us for this special campaign and pass the word along to your friends and family.

Cut It For a Cause details and promotions include:

• Free haircut, blow dry and makeover for those who donate 10 inches of more of their hair
• Kick off party on Saturday, February 7 including food, complimentary treatments and special retail promotions sponsored by Profound Beauty
• Pledge board available for those interested in donating but who do not have 10 inches yet- individuals can redeem their free makeover and donate their hair later in the year
• A portion of all sales will be donated to Locks of Love

Bella Bethesda is scheduling appointments now for Locks of Love Week. Interested parties should visit www.bellabethesda.com or RSVP directly to stacy@bellabethesda.com or 301-718-9111. Elementary schools, local businesses and community members are invited to request “group appointments” for a worthwhile day of beauty.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope to see you soon!