The Ultimate Makeover
A Real-World Salon Makeover

by Sharon Gifford

It was a sparkling morning in California when mother and daughter Maura and Molly Barraza set out for a new beginning at The Studio | Salon, Tan & Medi-Spa in Thousand Oaks, Calif., for real-life makeovers.

The Plan

Maura, a cheerful 44-year-old real estate professional, was looking forward to a relaxing body massage, an expert manicure and spa pedicure, a professional hair color treatment with updated hair style, and a complete physician-assisted cosmetic enhancement at The Studio.

Her daughter, Molly, an athletic 19-year-old student, was excited about the day that has been carefully planned by The Studio: a facial massage, tanning in one of The Studio’s state-of-the-art Matrix tanning beds, polishing with a manicure and spa pedicure, and having a more sophisticated hair color and style created for her by one of The Studio’s expert hairstylists.

Maura expected nothing less than dramatic, image-changing results. Molly wanted to walk away with a new look that worked with her super-active, young-adult lifestyle. They wondered if all of the glamorous makeover magic was done with smoke and mirrors; could a person’s image really be transformed completely in just a few hours?

Maura and Molly soon discovered that the picture-perfect beauty found in the pages of magazines indeed could be found at The Studio.

The Place

Maura and Molly came to exactly the right place to find out if makeovers were real or illusory. To keep their expectations grounded, they both knew that, at the very least, it was a great opportunity to spend the day together.

The Studio is the only full-service hair salon, tanning and medi-spa in the country. The Studio | Salon, Tan & Medi-Spa provides complete salon, tanning and medical-spa services in a sophisticated, European-inspired salon/day spa atmosphere. The ultra-modern elegance includes imported Italian tiling and furnishings, illuminated flooring, free-standing wash sinks, movable hair dryers, and fashion-segment video monitors.

The salon is replete with 17 hairstylist stations, 12 tanning and airbrush-tanning rooms, and manicure, spa pedicure, massage therapy, facial and waxing services. It also offers complete laser and cosmetic-enhancement services performed by the in-house, board-certified physicians from Ultimate Laser Associates in The Studio’s medi-spa.

Every salon design feature, amenity and professional on The Studio staff is an integral part of creating sensational results and a personal salon experience.

The Process

Melissa Saavedra, The Studio’s salon manager and esthetician, was among the first of the ultra-courteous staff to greet Maura and Molly as they entered The Studio’s artfully decorated lobby. She escorted them to luxuriously appointed, private changing rooms and offered them plush robes to change into for their facials and massages. The first hour of the carefully coordinated day went by as Maura and Molly were massaged into a very relaxed mood.

“It was fabulous,” a deeply-calmed Maura exclaims. “It’s so relaxing,” adds Molly.

Molly relaxed further during a 15-minute tanning session in the high-end Matrix tanning bed manufactured by TanAmerica. She emerged with a deep, bronze glow accelerated by a wonderfully aromatic tanning lotion. The Studio carries a wide selection of the most popular tanning products. Next, Maura and Molly had some time to chitchat together as their manicures and pedicures were expertly applied by Janine Raffaniello.

The two enjoyed a catered lunch and consultations with the hairstylists. Maura’s stylist, Debbie Morris, explained that Maura’s raven-black hair color really could not be colored over. It needed to be stripped of color and re-colored a brighter, more radiant shade, to which some subtle highlights were added. The service was rounded out with a cut and style to fully complement Maura’s facial structure.

Molly showed her stylist, Tammy Sherman, a picture of a hairstyle that was a much more textured version of her current look. Sherman agreed that the cut would be a great style for Molly, and recommended that honey-colored highlights should be added. In the end, mother and daughter emerged with the new looks they longed for.

The Consult

Laser and aesthetic-medicine specialist Dr. Jeffrey Glaser consulted with Maura just before the final touch of the make-up brushes. Maura initially met with Glaser one week prior to discuss how the Ultimate Laser cosmetic-enhancement treatments could dramatically reduce the deep wrinkles above her eyebrows, reduce her other facial wrinkles and enhance the fullness of her lips.

Maura’s facial treatments were completed in one session. Glaser utilized both Botox and Restalyne injectibles to smooth and enhance her skin and lips. “The treatment was pretty much painless,” she says.

“And the results are fabulous. It’s very convenient to not have to go off to some clinic or doctor’s office, but instead get this very comprehensive beauty process all in one visit. It gives a whole new meaning to ‘full-service.’”

The Studio’s medi-spa services include complete laser hair removal, laser treatment of facial lines, wrinkles, acne and scarring, and cosmetic-enhancement treatments utilizing Botox and Restalyne.

The Studio also offers the Epicuren skincare product line as a complete, daily skincare regimen for nourishing and rejuvenating skin. Just before leaving The Studio for the day, Maura and Molly were treated to a make-up application by Saavedra, who used light, natural colors to enhance their new looks.

As mother and daughter dressed for the obligatory “after” photos, they both looked positively radiant. There were no trick of light or airbrushed photos, just Maura and Molly, two wonderful people, perfectly styled by a salon whose business it is to make people beautiful. An ultimate makeover makes a beautiful difference.

Molly’s clothing is courtesy of BCBG in Westlake Village, Calif.

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