We’re Under the Dryer this week at Athena Salon and Gaia Day Spa, a fab Mandeville hotspot operated by the elegant Jennifer Groves. There’s refreshing cocktails too, courtesy of J Wray & Nephew and the promise of heavy discounts when the Jamaica Observer celebrates Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) on September 8, 2011.

The Clients

Shani Fletcher-Groves, Father Samuel Alloggia, Carolyn Webb, Veronica Rechere, Jennifer White, Jay-Ann Lennox, Tanielle Elliot and Moyan Martin.

Dramatic highlights – Carolyn Webb

Carolyn has been a customer of the salon since she was only eight years old and remains a firm believer in always looking sharp and professional. Little surprise really that she popped in for a mid-week refresher. Carolyn recently got her hair coloured, highlighted and cut with an elongated front and layered back at Athena Salon. Today it’s all about that “fresh from the salon” look.

Get the look:

* Shampoo and condition hair with Kera Care products.

* Redken volumising mousse for fine hair is applied ahead of blow-drying.

* When the hair is fully dry, a ceramic flat iron is used to achieve the curly effect.

* Redken holding spray completes the look.

Carolyn’s take:

“I love it! I am always satisfied and so I always look forward to coming here. Today was especially different because we had drinks. The Kingston 8 cocktail was also really nice, very similar to what I drink when I go out. I really loved it.”

Touchable Curls – Veronica Rechere

Veronica was adamant that she wanted a change from her usual silky straight hair. Nicole Buddon, her stylist for the day, was more than willing to recommend a curlier new look that would be easy for her to maintain.

Get the look:

* Wash with Revlon shampoo and TRESemmé conditioner.

* Generously apply Vitale olive oil to detangle and add sheen.

* Blow-dry hair.

* Use a curling iron to create long, loose spiral curls.

* Hold curls in place by misting hair with Fantasia IC Liquid Mousse Super Hold Spritz Hairspray.

* Gently use fingers to contour the hair to give the style a more finished look.

Veronica’s take:

“It was a very good and thorough treatment. The effleurage and petrissage on my scalp was an especially delightful experience during my shampooing.”

Meticulously highlighted and curly – Jennifer White

Jennifer has very fine hair and maintaining it can often be problematic as she wants to always ensure that her hair has volume. Luckily for her, the team at Athena Salon knows exactly what looks will work for her. Personally, Jennifer is a fan of curly looks and today she decided to change it a little by adding colour and highlights.

Get the look:

* Colour using Revlon Young Colour excel — light hazel on the roots for about 20-30 minutes.

* Highlight the ends of the hair by using Revlon 20 volume peroxide. Wrap in foil and allow it to set for about 10 minutes.

* Wash hair with Revlon shampoo and apply TRESemmé conditioner (sparingly if you have very fine hair like Jennifer).

* Add TRESemmé thickening mousse to give the hair body.

* Place hair in rollers and sit under the dryer until hair is completely dry.

* Brush hair and style as desired (the more you brush the looser curls will be).

* Complete the look by applying Redken workforce 09 finishing spray to keep curls in place and to add sheen.

Jennifer’s take:

“This is how I usually like to get my hair done. I am always pleased with the results. Today is no exception.”

A Cut above the rest – Father Samuel Alloggia

This St Elizabeth resident has been making monthly trips for over 15 years to Athena Salon to get his hair cut. “She (Jennifer Groves) is the only one I can trust to cut my hair, because unlike the others she cuts it with scissors. I have no complaints,” he tells our team while getting his hair cut.

Get the look:

* Comb hair to soften and detangle.

* Add a palm-full of TRESemmé thickening mousse for sheen.

* Use a small clipper to trim the back of the hair first.

* Gently pull the hair between the fingers and cut it to the desired length.

* Brush hair in place.

Father Samuel’s take:

“I get my hair cut here all the time. She never disappoints with the results. I am very pleased!”

Extreme Makeover – Shani Fletcher-Groves

This new mum is an avid user of Keratin treatment. However, this week, she took a break from it under the advice of mother-in-law Jennifer Groves who thought it was better to use a regular relaxer, as the treatment is not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers. A non-Keratin treatment was not the only drastic change for this visit as Shani also decided she wanted to get a much shorter haircut. Though full of trepidation to go ‘under the scissors’, she was confident that Jennifer would do an excellent job.

Get the look:

* Use an Affirm three-in-one treatment relaxer kit to straighten the hair.

* Wash and condition hair.

* Cut hair in an asymmetrical, layered and low pixie cut.

* Apply TRESemmé thickening mousse and gel.

* Sit under the dryer until hair is completely dry.

* Apply Elasta QP Glaze Conditioning Shining Gel to the hair to accentuate, moisturise, and give sheen.

* Curl using a ceramic flat iron for an edgy finish.

Shani’s take:

“I like the edgy look and now feel like I have to spice up my personality a bit to match my new look. I have never done anything this drastic to my hair before, yet I can honestly say I have no regrets!”

Recipe for Success! – Jay-Ann Lennox

Pastry Chef Jay-Ann Lennox has been coming to Athena Salon for 16 years. Over the years she has been experimenting with new looks but trusts no one except the team at Athena Salon to get it done. She likes the fact that they are extremely good at what they do. “I always love coming here. They are awesome, I really couldn’t ask for any better. That probably explains why I have been coming religiously since I was eight,” she explained as her hair was being prepped for colour application.

Get the look:

* Apply Hazel chestnut Revlon Young Color Excel to the back of the hair in sections. Allow this to stay in the hair for 20-30 minutes.

* Separate the front of the hair from the back with foil.

* Apply 20 volume peroxide by Revlon to the front of the hair. Allow this to stay in the hair for about 10 minutes.

* Wash hair using Aveeno Active Naturals shampoo and conditioner for colour treated hair.

* Create a leave-in treatment by combining Vitale olive oil leave-in conditioner and Farouk Systems BioSilk Silk Therapy.

* Apply mixture generously and sit under the dryer.

* Once the hair is dry, blow-dry hair to smoothen and begin the straightening process.

* Apply Cantu shea butter to moisturise, nourish, and protect the newly coloured hair from potential damage.

* Curl the back of the hair with a ceramic flat iron to give a wavy effect then style the front of the hair straight with a ceramic flat iron.

* Generously mist Volumax shaping spray by Zotos in the hair for definition, direction and control.

* Complete the styling process by gently contouring the curls with fingers.

* Mist Redken Workforce 09 finishing spray onto hair for added shine and hold.

Jay-Ann’s take:

“I feel good about my new look. I never expected it to come out exactly like this, but I really love it!”

Fierce Mohawk – Moyan Martin

Working in a salon/spa often heightens expectations for impeccable style. Thus, Moyan, a professional esthetician at the Gaia Day Spa, decided to up the style quotient on her hairstyle this week by getting an edgy Mohawk with blond highlights.

Get the look:

* Cut hair in the Mohawk style.

* Apply Revlon Young Color Excel — dark chestnut to the sides of the head. Allow this to stay in the hair for 20-30 minutes.

* Separate the hair with foil and apply 20 volume peroxide by Revlon to the middle of the head. Allow this to stay for 10 minutes.

* Shampoo and condition the hair with Aveeno Active Naturals for colour treated hair.

* Combine Farouk Systems BioSilk Silk and mousse.

* Generously apply the mixture to the hair and sit under the dryer.

* Once dry, apply Argan oil to the hair to protect and add moisture.

* Use hands to gently spike the hair.

* Mist the spiked portion of the hair with B&B Pump It Up! holding spray to keep it in place.

Moyan’s take:

“It’s different and edgy. I love it!”

Silky and Straight – Tanielle Elliot

A long-time client of Athena Salon, Tanielle stopped in during her lunch break to get her hair done. Salon owner Jennifer Groves is always more than happy to accommodate this mum-to-be to keep her looking smart. Having processed her hair the weekend before, Tanielle only needed to style her hair.

Get the look:

* Sparingly apply Fantasia IC Hair Polisher to the hair for sheen.

* Style using a ceramic flat iron.

Tanielle’s take:

“I feel confident when I leave the salon. I love how my hair looks!”

Join us next week as we venture upstairs to the Gaia Day Spa.

Contact Information

Salon/Spa Owner:

Jennifer Groves

Location:

Athena Salon

Cobblestone Professional Centre

1 Brumalia Road, Suit 4

Mandeville, Manchester

Telephone: 962-1041