Wingate Spa Time

The new Shellac Manicure has arrived

2011-03-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Okay. So anyone who knows me at the Wingate KNOWS I am not good about having nails. At all. I bite. I am not nearly as bad as I used to be, but it continues to a lesser degree. They have tried to give me acrylic or gel nails. They look beautiful and last for at least two weeks on most people. Not me. I bite them off. Can you imagine? They have even tried giving me nail polish that has a horrible taste to it so I will not bite...and that doesn't even work.

Last week one of our lovely nail technicians came downstairs to my desk and said - "Do you want to try this new Shellac Manicure?" Being that I am a very dedicated Wingate employee, I said no because I had a million and one things to do at the time. About twenty minutes later another staff member came down to show me her lovely nails and went on and on about how fabulous they were. I took one look at them and ran up the stairs. "Yes Yes! I just saw it...I want one now!” A mere half-hour later my hands look star quality and ready for action! No dry time, I love that. My nails are really beautiful and lasting...lasting...lasting!

This service is new to the Wingate and has been developed over the years by Creative Nail Design (CND). We are thrilled to now be offering it here at the spa - clients have been asking for months. Last year we attempted the Indestructible Manicures and found that they did not hold up like we wanted them too. So we wanted to be really careful before beginning this service to make sure it lived up to the "hype". The immediate feedback has been amazing and clients and staff are both loving the service. A Wingate client said last week - "Had my first shellac mani - I may be hooked and do it regularly. It is amazing and only took 30 minutes."

This service is perfect for busy women, special occasions, extended vacations and any occasion that demands long-lasting color. Strong, beautiful, all-one length natural nails can be difficult to grow and maintain. However, CND Shellac act as a weightless and invisible layer of protection for your nails, keeping them strong so that they can grow without breaking. Shellac is perfect for anyone who demands long-lasting, flawless color with incredible shine. Our service includes nail preparation, cuticle maintenance, hand massage and the Shellac application. We offer a variety of colors which are easily applied, then cured under a light for results that are nothing short of brilliant! Better still, there is no dry time and they can last up to 14 days!

Call our front desk or visit us online for more information about the service. You will NOT be disappointed!!

Now Offering...INOA AMMONIA-FREE HAIR COLOR

2011-02-14T00:06:00.000-08:00

When you say something is ammonia-free, doesn't that sound good? Doesn't that immediately make it sound BETTER for your hair? I think so. Now the Wingate is one of the few salons on the seacoast of New Hampshire that has been selected to offer this exclusive hair color line.

L'Oreal says the Highly anticipated colour line is set to revolutionize the hair colour industry. L'Oreal Professionnel debuted Inoa, named for Innovation No Ammonia, an ammonia-free professional hair colorant. Described by the brand as "revolutionary," Inoa is not only ammonia-free (and therefore free from the ammonia-induced effects like a burning, itchy scalp) but also lifts color up to three shades, covers gray, and has true-to-tone results. By replacing ammonia with monoethanolamine, which typically has failed to cover gray or lighten hair as much as traditional ammonia-laden products, and by adding an oil-based gel and a cream developer, Inoa's creators have after years of research developed a formula that delivers optimum results sans ammonia.

Late last year it was highlighted in "New Beauty Magazine" where they praised the hair color as a "true breakthrough in beauty". You can check-out that article here - New Beauty Magazine. Enjoy! And don't forget to ask your stylist about INOA.

Alternative to rowdy bachelorette party: Makeovers for everyone! - New Hampshire Sunday News (Manchester, NH)

2011-01-24T11:43:00.000-08:00

Union Leader, The/New Hampshire Sunday News (Manchester, NH)

January 16, 2011 - By BARBARA LEECH

Special to the Sunday News

STRATHAM -- For the bride-to-be, coming up with ideas for a suitable pre-wedding party for her attendants and guests has gotten a little easier.Rather than a rowdy celebration, some brides are settling down to a little pampering instead. The Wingate Salon and Spa in Stratham has been a popular pick, serving as party headquarters for more than 45 bridal and bachelorette parties during the past year. The Wingate has been offering a private bridal and events suite since 2008, said Jennifer Woodside, marketing and events manager. She noted that the private spa party trend seems to be growing.

"It all started because we had so many bridal parties already coming to the spa that it made sense to renovate and create a private space for just that sort of celebration," Woodside said. "But, I think there is a huge emphasis on weddings and all that leads up to the event now. It just keeps getting bigger and better. Bachelorette parties have become more elaborate, and more family is getting involved in the pre-wedding preparations."

This means the stress of planning that perfect day for everyone involved has also stepped up a notch. With a handful of reality shows about planning the perfect wedding, finding the perfect dress and bridal beauty makeovers, the pressure for today's bride to make everything memorable and unique is greater than ever before. But some brides are finding that a spa party is a perfect way to take away the tension and make everyone happy.

"We are seeing groups of all sizes in our bridal and event suite. The trend seems to have brought more aunts and mothers into the party to make it a really nice family celebration," Woodside said. "The suite also allows us to provide the perfect setting for the wedding party to get ready in private, together before the ceremony or a bachelorette party to get pampered and celebrate."

In 2003 the renovated Wingate Tea room began offering tea and scones, fruit and cheese as an add-on option to spa groups looking for a little extra pampering. Woodside said so many bridal parties were booking group treatments and choosing time in the tea room that it was the logical next step to renovate yet again and create the bridal and event suite in 2006. The suite offers a lounge area with sofas and chairs and stations around the perimeter for hair and makeup with a separate changing room for brides to get dressed right at the spa if they choose. From pre-wedding day pampering, to bachelorette, to wedding-day beauty for everyone, the suite has served parties up to 22 people.

"We are seeing larger groups, and more and more brides get dressed here, which is so nice because we get to see them start to finish," Woodside said. "The photographer shows up and captures all the preparation, and we have beautiful grounds for photographs once everyone is ready."

The Wingate Spa offers several packages to choose from and a menu of services and food and beverage options to create a personalized party. Bachelorette party packages typically range from $130 to $162 per person and include a pedicure, French manicure, a 30-minute or classic massage and a brunch of tea, quiche, seasonal fruit salad and freshly baked scones. Other items on the menu include champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, mimosa and scones, an appetizer buffet and deli wrap sandwiches offered in partnership from "On the Vine," a fresh-food market in Exeter.

"Partnering up with 'On the Vine' lets us offer high-end deli selections catered by those who do it best," Woodside said. "We do scones very well, but we let professionals provide the rest."

As for the pampering, the spa has a staff of 45 to insure that the party experience moves at the speed that the bride and guests desire. Furniture in the bridal and events suite is movable to accommodate group hair, makeup and pedicures in one private setting. One of the offerings the Wingate is most proud of is its bridal hair styling, which twice won the spa a reader's poll at New Hampshire Magazine's Bride, naming them "Best Wedding Day Hair Stylists" for 2009 and 2010.

"Our staff receives continued training on all the latest in up-style trends," Woodside said. "We are very proud of the recognition this award brings and I think we are getting better known for what we offer as things like this get noticed."

Bridal up-styles start at $85, and bridal party up-styling starts at $65 per person. But Woodside said that along with all the packages the staff can work with the bride to create a package that is right for her budget and choices. Each package includes the popular Wingate Tea Time, which provides a wide selection of teas, fresh-baked scones with whipped butter and fruit and cheese. Basic prices and packages are available on the spa's website at www.wingatespa.com. Brides and bachelorette party planners need to be thinking ahead, according to Woodside. Most parties are booked months before an event though the spa will try to accommodate those who wait until the last minute.

"We go to bridal shows in January and February, and the results fill our scheduling book pretty quickly," she said. "We already have 10 weddings scheduled for 2011, so it looks like this will be a very busy year."

For more information or to book an event, contact the Wingate Spa at 772-8400 or visit online atwww.wingatespa.com.

Copyright, 2011, Union Leader Corp.

Record Number: mandc5-5xxd312f0l5125su9p38

All I Want For Christmas...

2010-12-08T07:13:00.000-08:00

I remember before I worked here my husband would purchase me a Wingate Spa beauty package each year. It was his "thing". And it was easy. I am sure that was the motivating factor. 1. Drive up to Wingate Spa. 2. Walk to front desk. 3. Ask nice lady for a spa package. 4. She wraps it up nicely. 5. Pay and leave. 6. See happy wife on Christmas Day.

Now that I work at the Wingate he says I can get those services all the time so I am back to getting things like scarves, electronics and other items to clutter my home. You would actually be suprised. Just like you out there, we don't take enough time to pamper ourselves. Sometimes it takes Jo saying to me...."Jenn, your roots, really" or Maria leading me upstairs for a little stress relief. It is funny because when the staff does take the time to treat themselves to a Wingate service as we slink out of the room fully relaxed we always say "Now I remember why people love coming here".

I can remember those good old days. Finding the perfect day to come was not always easy, but scheduling it seemed simple. Then the big day would arrive and relaxation could begin! My mother always says the minute you walk in to the Wingate you begin to relax. I think it is true.You walk through the door and that warm smell of the Wingate signature scent takes you in. When I first started working here, I remember thinking I was going to be able to take in that great smell every day of work. Now it is something taken for granted, I will have to take it all in again.

My spa days always consisted of facials, massage, manicures and pedicures. Checking in a familiar face is always ready to greet you and send you on your day. The pure sense of having your stress level go down to zero is worth it all.

Facials have always been a favorite of mine and until I went somewhere else I did not realize how special the Wingate services were. The facials are definitely beyond a typical experience combining both a massage of your face, head, neck and shoulders with some great skin care. Of course you leave glowing. The massage is always therapeutic along with relaxing with the therapists reaching out to learn more about your specific aches and pains. Don't we all have them. Then on to the pure relaxation of pedicures in big puffy chairs...really not the typical pedicure chair at all! Finally, the manicure. This one always made me nervous because I bite my nails. I bite my nails while stressed...so being nervous and stressed about getting a manicure is kind of funny. My nails are too short, I am worried about them being long enough for a manicure, don't bite them...don't bite them. But really I found those nail technicians can work with almost anything and they made my nails look pretty in the end and the hand massage was always well worth that initial panic attack.

Did I forget to mention the tea? How could that happened. The popular and legendary Wingate Tea. Yummo. Those scones are to die for and they come presented so nicely with the cheese and fruit and cute little tea pot. That was one of my favorite parts. Having that break in between appointments to enjoy the delicious snack and unwind even more before heading to another luxurious treatment was perfect.

Of course once you experience this 3-4 hour day of bliss, you want to share it with someone. The year after I enjoyed this treat by myself I called my friend Jamie and convinced him to buy a spa package for his wife and my best friend Stephanie. The whole day is even better experience alongside someone you know and love. I highly recommend it. Pedicure, Manicures and Tea side by side are such a treat. And you still get your alone time during the facial and/or massage.

I wondering if this year my husband is really buying me the Shark Steam Mop? Or can I convince him to go back to our old ways? Maybe I can make pretend I'm not a loyal Wingate employee for one day and see that spa through your eyes?

Lucky for you it is a no brainer. Tell your husband it is tops on your list. Or log on to the website and order one for you wife - have it shipped for free or pick it up at the spa. We even have wish lists in our waiting room that you can fill out and conveniently drop in front of your husband, wife, family member, friend or boss. Drop a major hint!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season! See you next time...

Hmmm....You are "Liking" us on Facebook, but are you "Following" us on Twitter?

2010-11-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

The Wingate Salon & Spa Facebook page has been the place to be - with our "Likes" rising every day. Hey, we like that! We have offered some great deals on Facebook Fridays and also gave away some prizes to our loyal social media followers. These included facials, pedicures, massages and more. Who doesn't want a free spa service? Right? Right! We have found that page is a great way to communicate with our clients on a daily basis.

Our Twitter page is a bit lonely. I know there is something like 400 million more people on Facebook than on Twitter, so this makes sense. But we would still love to see you there. It is another great way to find out more about salon & spa specials - in 140 characters or less.

Find us here Wingate Twitter Page and start following us today. Thanks!

Wow...we are having an AMAZING year in the "honors" category!

2010-08-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

You like us, you really like us! It is nice to feel loved by our community and we absolutely appreciate the honors we have received this year.

The Wingate Salon & Spa has now been selected by the readers of New Hampshire Magazine's BRIDE as "Best of Bride 2010 for Bridal Party Spa AND Day of Wedding Hair Styling". This is the second year in a row that the Wingate has received both awards. The winners, who were selected in the online poll, were listed in the September, 2010 issue of BRIDE.

"It's the magazine's second annual poll," said Barbara Coles, editor of BRIDE. "We felt the poll was a way to recognize people in the New Hampshire's bridal industry who strive every day to provide great service for couples who are planning one of the most important days in their life. We also wanted to give those who benefit from the training, experience and expertise of wedding professionals a chance to express their satisfaction".

The poll, which was conducted from the beginning of February to the end of June 2010, had 45 categories. In addition, the members of the editorial staff were asked for their suggestions for an Editor's Pick and their choices of outstanding businesses were added to the winners list.

The Wingate Salon and Spa in Stratham has been a leader in the bridal industry for 10+ years. It has become the top destination on the seacoast for brides and their wedding parties.

BRIDE is a twice-yearly publication of New Hampshire Magazine, the state's largest lifestyle magazine. It is part of the McLean Communications of Manchester, a publishing company that also includes New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire Home, Parenting New Hampshire and Destination.

Have you tried it? Revolutionary Skin Care Line at the Wingate

2010-07-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

For years we searched for the perfect combination of products to meet the dynamic needs of our skin care clients. It isn't easy to find products that can do it all - and in the end we offered three different skin care lines in an attempt to cover the diverse skin types of the Wingate clients. After trying some of these different combinations, the esthetics staff found they were happy with "this" product from "this" line and then would recommend "that" product from "that" line. It all seemed very disconnected and not the right approach for our community.

The Wingate management along with the Esthetics team decided to take on the daunting task of creating our own skin care products. In comes the fabulous Dr. Loretta Ciraldo! Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD is a nationally recognized expert in skin care and a Professor of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Her advice has been featured in many magazines including Allure, Shape, New Beauty and Oprah. Her skincare expertise has made her a recurring guest on Good Morning America, The Rachel Ray Show, the Today Show and on local Southern Florida stations. Dr. Loretta is the author of the book “6 Weeks to Sensational Skin” Our partnership with her was about to create an amazing line of products called Wingate Serious Skin Care.

In conjunction with Dr. Loretta, our skin care line was developed, clinically tested and formulated! Dr. Ciraldo's dedication and knowledge is the culmination of 30 years of laboratory and clinical experience.

We distinguish our Wingate Serious Skin Care line by providing formulations that incorporate the ideal levels of the most advanced active and natural ingredients to produce clinically significant and often extraordinary results. Further, our formulations specifically avoid ingredients that can cause redness, flaking and other untoward reactions. Our products are non-prescription, medical grade, highly efficacious formulations. We excel at fine-tuning skincare regimens for every Wingate client. These are now the top selling retail products within the spa after being introduced in late 2009.

Seacoast Kids Calendar Features Wingate for Mother's Day

2010-05-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

Wingate Feature on www.seacoastkidscalendar.com - scroll down to find article.

seacoastkidscalendar.com

Award Winning Year - Featured In Exeter Newsletter!

2010-05-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

By KATHLEEN D. BAILEY

newsletter@seacoastonline.com

March 30, 2010 2:00 AM

STRATHAM — Tom McDermott, co-owner of Wingate Salon and Spa, is a man with an eye for details, be it the scalloped edging on his cloth napkins, the lemons floating in a glass pitcher of water, or his skin care line. The "Wingate Serious Skin Care" line is only available at the spa, and it's the only skin care line he sells.

"I don't want to sell five brands of product," McDermott said. "I want to pick one that's best for our clients."

The Wingate Salon and Spa is celebrating its 10th year at the Stratham Circle and the eighth year under the ownership by Tom and Claire McDermott. The McDermotts are keeping the spa going in a tough economy by giving their clients that little bit of extra luxury, and by seeking the best staff and teaching them the newest techniques, they said.

Attention to detail has garnered the spa several awards. In 2010 Salon Today Magazine named the Wingate one of the Top 200 Salons/Spas in the country. In 2009, the salon was recognized by New Hampshire Magazine's "Best of New Hampshire" as the state's best day spa; New Hampshire Magazine's "Bride," named it "Best Bridal Party Spa" and "Best Day of Wedding Hairstyling;" and the national New Beauty Magazine, named Wingate a "Five-Star Beauty Destination."

The antique Colonial home that houses the spa was built in 1786 by John Wingate. The high ceilings, molded trim and wainscoting echo an earlier gracious era, as does the reproduction wallpaper and chandeliers. George Washington actually visited the home — not necessarily sleeping there — during his tour of his infant country in 1789.

As he relaxed in the cream-colored sofas of the "party room," Tom McDermott said he wasn't looking to open a spa. He originally checked out the Wingate when the first owners were seeking investment partners. He said he and Claire fell in love with the property and the concept, and ended up buying it outright.

"As a businessperson, I could see that people came in happy, they left happy and we'd be providing a service."

When the McDermotts acquired the Wingate, the clientele was smaller and the services basic, Tom McDermott said. "It was hair, skin, nails, a little massage." They modernized the business end, including accounting, bookkeeping and registration services. They started a Web site, run by marketing Director Jenn Woodside, that gives regular updates to "premier" clients.

The McDermotts determined from the start that their salon would be cutting-edge. "We wanted to take what's out there and have our people gain more knowledge," Tom said. The hair care staff, for example, attends seven to 10 trainings per year.

The McDermotts added a "hospitality" service. Clients can relax with a glass of wine, tea or water in a crystal goblet and nibble on fresh strawberries. The tea room has mint-green tablecloths, matching cloth napkins and relaxing, piped-in music. Guests can also drink or snack while having a pedicure, he said.

The McDermotts expanded the skin care offerings. Clients can get a waxing, an eyelash extension or relaxing facial. They offer chemical peels, microdermal abrasions and laser hair removal. A new technique, PhotoFacial, is done under a doctor's supervision and involves a heat-based laser reacting with chemicals in the skin. It's not as painful as a chemical peel, Tom said.

The spa has also beefed up the massage portion of the business, looking for trained massage professionals. "There are a lot of signs by the side of the road and you're never quite sure," he said, "but we stand behind our massages." Several rooms in the new part of the building are set up for "couples' massages," with two tables, he said.

The party room may be what makes Wingate a destination spa for people outside the Seacoast, the McDermotts and Woodside agreed. The room with deep sofas and coffee tables can accommodate up to 22 people, McDermott said, for wedding parties, bachelorette parties, family reunions, birthday parties. While the guests are waiting for their services, they can "sit around, hang out, enjoy a glass of wine," Tom said. Brides often come to the party room to get dressed and have a final hair check before setting out for their big day, he said.

A current goal, Tom said, is to expand the skin care offerings. There's room in the building, and he's hoping to add another esthetician to the five currently on staff.

But no matter where their business grows, the McDermotts are determined to stay in the Wingate House. "A strip mall down the road," he said, "would not have the same ambience." For more information, call 1-888-379-7979; 772-8400; or write info@wingatespa.com.

OH YEAH - Best of NH - AGAIN!

2010-04-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

NH MAGAZINE NAMES LOCAL BUSINESS "BEST OF NH 2010" Celebration June 24 at Verizon Arena to Benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank

The Wingate Salon & Spa has been selected by the readers of New Hampshire Magazine as “Best of NH 2010” for Best Day Spa. This year they received the highest amount of online votes ever at www.bestofnh.com. The winners will be feted at a celebration that each year draws more than 1,500 people.

It’s happening on Thursday, June 24, at Manchester’s Verizon Wireless Arena from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Partygoers can sample great food from dozens of restaurants, enjoy the entertainment and enter to win in a drawing for two tickets from Southwest Airlines — all celebrating the best New Hampshire has to offer. “It adds up to one heck of a good time,” says Rick Broussard, editor of New Hampshire Magazine. “And, as a fund-raiser for the New Hampshire Food Bank, it’s for a good cause.”

One ticket buys you the whole evening of food, fun and music. To guarantee tickets, call (603) 868-7300, log on to www.ticketmaster.com or www.bestofnh.com. Proceeds from the event’s ticket sales will benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of New Hampshire Catholic Charities. The Food Bank, the largest non-profit food distribution center in the state, obtains and distributes donated and purchased food to 412 registered agencies that in turn provide the food to hungry people in New Hampshire through soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, and elderly and children’s programs.

Presenting sponsor Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of the Best of NH Party. Other  sponsors include FairPoint Communications, AutoFair, Hannaford Supermarkets, Catholic Medical Center, CIGNA HealthCare of New Hampshire and Bud Light Golden Wheat. Media sponsors are WMUR-TV, 95.7fm WZID and WXRV The River 92.5. New Hampshire Magazine is the state’s largest lifestyle magazine. It is part of McLean Communications of Manchester, a publishing company that also includes New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire Home, Parenting New Hampshire and NH.com.

Now we have ties to Rachel Ray!

2010-04-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

Just as we were getting excited last week about our previous hair trainer being on Bravo's Shear Genius, we find out that Dr. Loretta Ciraldo - Dermatologist and skin care consultant for the Wingate Spa and researcher/developer of the Wingate Serious Skin Care line is going to be on Rachel Ray Show again! With all the television I watch, this is more excellent news.

This is actually her third visit to the show where she regularly contributes to the "Human Lab" segments. In these segments viewers sign-up to test out different beauty products that are on the market today. This time on Rachael Ray, Dr. Loretta will be talking to the Human Lab participants about their use of various cellulite removal products. Hey...who doesn't want to get rid of cellulite? But the funny part is that one of the products is actually a pair of really strange underwear that claims to rid you of cellulite forever while shaping and firming your body. Spanx with benefits? We shall see!!

Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD is a nationally recognized expert in skin care and a Professor of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Her advice has been featured in many magazines including Allure, Shape, New Beauty and Oprah. Her skincare expertise has made her a recurring guest on Good Morning America, The Rachel Ray Show , the Today Show and on local Southern Florida stations. Dr. Loretta is the author of the book “6 Weeks to Sensational Skin”. In conjunction with the Wingate Management and Esthetics team Dr. Loretta helped to test and formulate our Wingate Serious Skin Care Line. These are now our top selling retail products within the spa.

Tune in to Rachael Ray everyday at 9am on local stations.

Wingate Hair Trainer and Reality TV Star

2010-03-19T15:06:00.000-07:00

We were SO excited to see that Orlando Pita - a top stylist our hair team trained with last year - is being featured on Bravo's Shear Genius!! This year Orlando serves as mentor to the team of stylists competing for the Shear Genius title. Think Top Chef...for hair! The contestants find themselves in crazy situations week after week designing some amazing hair styles.

Last year the stylists learned the latest in upstyle trends for special events and weddings at a training with Orlando Pita. They are very excited to bring these new ideas and trends to their clients at the Wingate. According to his official biography - For the last two decades, Orlando Pita has been a master of hair styles and fashions, the theatrical as well as the more realistic. Chances are that everyone who is reading this has seen numerous examples of his work. Pita styles hair for celebrities from Madonna and Janet Jackson to Gwyneth Paltrow and Julianne Moore. His work has graced magazine covers such as the Italian, French, British, and American editions of Vogue, W, Harper's Bazaar, and Allure, and he has worked with such noted fashion photographers as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Mario Testino.

Many of his most extreme and fabulous hair designs were created for the fashion runway. Pita has created looks for Michael Kors, Versace, Prada, Miu Miu, Christian Dior, Valentino, Gucci, Narcisco Rodriguez, Tommy Hilfiger, and Dolce & Gabbana, and has also designed hair for rising designers such as Proenza Schouler and Derek Lam. Pita has worked with John Galliano for over six years; and it took him three days to create the incredible, flat, square hairstyle worn by models for the 2004 Egyptianthemed Dior Couture show. Declaring that he missed actually cutting hair, Orlando Pita opened his own salon in January 2005, in New York's meatpacking district.

You can catch Shear Genius every week on the Bravo channel!

Wingate Wins - Top 200 Salons in America

2010-03-09T15:02:00.000-08:00

What a recognition this is!!!

For the second year in a row, the Wingate Salon and Spa has been recognized as one of the top 200 spas in the country by Salon Today magazine, a top business publication for the professional beauty industry. Each year, Salon Today dedicates two issues to innovative, successful salons and their forward-thinking owners. Salon Today 200 focuses on the growth of your salon and spa. Salon Today rewards 200 spas from across the country for achievements in annual service and revenue sales, growth in revenue since the last year, projected growth for 2005, and superior services for hair, nail, skin and body care. The magazine's seventh annual Salon Today 200 profiled the selected salons in its January 2004 issue.

The 200 salons were selected from applications submitted by Salon Today readers, who represent the 25,000 top-producing salons in the country. "We created the Salon Today as a forum of inspiration for the industry, to celebrate the success of salons of all sizes," said Laurel Smoke, editor of Salon Today. "This issue not only honors the hard work and dedication of the salon owners and their staffs, but by sharing the facts and figures behind their salon success stories, it helps other readers grow and improve their businesses. These salons-big and small-used creative marketing, tight budgeting and savvy business skills to stay on top and improve their businesses."

Congrats to our staff for their hard work and dedication - it shows every day in the great work they do!

I had a Keratin Hair Treatment

2010-02-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

Sometimes here at the Wingate we are lucky enough to serve as models for the latest services and offerings. I was lucky enough to bump into Tina who was looking for someone to work with on our latest in hair care – the Keratin Hair Treatment. The Simply Smooth Keratin Hair Treatment is a formaldehyde free straightening formula that provides high-performance smoothing using a safe, natural process.

My hair is not curly, but it does get big and frizzy at times so I thought this may be a great taming mechanism for my unruly hair. My hair responds poorly to weather changes like humidity and I had heard the service is a great remedy for that. Also from what I understand, for women with curly hair that are looking to relax and soften – it is a great treatment.

Before I had it done I decided to do a Google search. You will see a lot out there about these treatments. The first important thing I learned is that our service is formaldehyde free. Many people are opposed to the Keratin treatments that utilize formaldehyde because of the prolonged exposure to the chemical. It has also been known to cause hair loss. Due to that the staff felt it was of course important to chose a treatment that offered a formaldehyde free choice – pheww…cross that off my list of concerns! I have had chemical treatments done to my hair before and wondered if that would be a problem – but all sources pointed to “no”. The product is safe and does not harm your hair, even if a chemical has treated it previously. The chemical does not affect the internal construct of your hair. It only works on the cuticle. Okay…all set.

The next thing on my list was the timing of the service. You will need to let the treatment set in your hair for three (3) days. Some people don’t wash their hair every day, but I happen to be one of those people that do! So I knew I needed to plan this out in a way that it worked out with work and home schedules. It is not good for the hair to be put up in a ponytail or in a baseball cap because it may cause breakage…so those are not options. I was also told that it is a good idea to wait and have your haircut after the treatment so you can trim away any of the dead ends. It is smart to color your hair beforehand because you will have to wait at least two weeks after the treatment to do any hair color services. I worked this all out and found the perfect day to make it all happen!

I knew the process would take a bit of time so I rounded up a few good magazines before settling into the seat. You know…the required intellectual reading like People, US Weekly, In Touch…good stuff like that! The actual service can take up to three hours depending on your hair length and type. The stylists will set up a free consultation with you to go over all the details beforehand. As a mother of two young boys the thought of sitting in that seat for hours sipping coffee and reading about Jon & Kate Plus 8 and Jon’s many foolish mistakes…was heaven.

First Tina took me to the sink and washed my hair with a clarifying shampoo to make sure it was very clean and ready for the treatment. After that my hair was dried completely. From there she started to divide my hair into a few sections. She began to apply the treatment to the sections until my hair was thoroughly wet with the Keratin. After this she again dried my entire head with a blow dryer. Finally, Tina utilized a special heated iron to seal in the treatment. Tina took a lot of precautions to make sure the iron was never in actual contact with my scalp…and I appreciated that! I relaxed and learned more about Brad and Angelina breaking up…again. I still consider myself "Team Aniston" so this is great reading material. There was no smell and it did not irritate me at all. I found the entire service kind of relaxing! From there I was given my instructions:

Do NOT wash my hair or get it wet. I was to come in the morning of the fourth day and Tina would wash out the treatment and check out the results.
Do NOT wear it in a pony tail or put a hat on…this may cause damage to the treatment.
Do NOT perspire too much – try to avoid too many trips to the gym. Hmmm…I was okay with that one.

Okay. I can do this. I can. No washing hair for three days. I admit it, it was hard. I found that if I took the time to comb or brush out my hair to give it some body again…it didn’t look too bad. I cannot say I went out a ton. Luckily and unluckily for me – it rained two out of the three days. Unlucky because I had to make sure my hair stayed dry! Lucky because I think everyone just thought my hair was wet…not unwashed!

On the fourth day I happily had my hair washed and blown dry. Wow…it was beautiful!!! The hair was shiny and definitely straighter. It felt stronger to the touch. That frizzy feeling was totally gone and my hair was so luxurious! I was thrilled with my new look. Tina sent me off with the recommended hair products for free so that was a special treat. Clients receive that too – the shampoo and conditioner for free after the service. If you want to continue after that the products are reasonably priced. You aren’t supposed to wash your hair every day so I adjusted to that. The products they give you are especially designed to prolong the treatment. Overall it lasts four months until you may need another treatment.

Here are some other benefits I did not expect. While using a blow dryer to style my hair I noticed it dried a lot quicker. I also noticed it was a lot easier to style. Half the tools I typically use while drying my hair were no longer necessary. I am a bit challenged in that area so that was a great benefit. Sometimes I just let it air dry and the results were amazing. For a busy mom that was great! My hair was improved. It felt less heavy and had a beautiful bounce to it. I cannot believe how easy it is to now maintain my hair.

I have since watched a few clients walk out of here after their treatments. Curly, unruly hair is softer and straighter. Very frizzy hair is calmed and smoother. Some have said they used to spend hours dealing with detangling knots in their hair and that is over. Clients who have had other straightening treatments have noted that this is easier, cheaper and leaves the hair with more body. Everyone loves it!

Remember when Frenchy was piercing Sandy’s ears in Grease and she said – “Sandy, Sandy, beauty is pain.”? This is true. I cannot say it was easy to walk around with essentially greasy hair for those few days but it was well worth it. People noticed…”What did you do to your hair…is it a different color or something?" They could never quite figure out what had happened! And if you time it right you can hibernate for a few days and relax until it is time to wash it.

This isn't me...but here are some great before and after pictures:

If you are interested in more information here is the official website from Simply Smooth including a great video with before and after pictures:

Simply Smooth Keratin Treatment Website

For more information about the treatment at the Wingate:

Keratin Hair Treatments at the Wingate

If you are looking for the hair treatment that might meet all your needs...this could be the one!

Bridal Hair & Make-Up Consultations

2010-01-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

In my opinion one of the most important parts of the bridal hair and make-up experience is the trials. Serving as a “dress rehearsal” for the big day - trial services will ensure that you are a radiant and tranquil bride! At the Wingate Salon & Spa our consultations are required in order to determine your hairstyle, headpiece placement and make-up needs. I always find it kind of crazy when brides tell me that they have contacted other salon and spas that do not offer bridal trials. Can you imagine being surprised how you look on the big day? It just is not smart to wait until that final day to see if that particular hair style or make-up colors are going to work for you. There are so many styles to choose from and they are not going to work for every bride. Your unique look is important to determine BEFORE the wedding date!

Our trials are typically scheduled 2-3 weeks before your wedding day so that the information is fresh in the stylists mind. If you wish to complete one sooner, we certainly accommodate that. Some brides want to know immediately what their “look” will be or desire a test run to see if the stylists and make-up artists are the best for them.

When having a hair consultation it is a good idea to have your hair washed and dried with no product in it. Bringing your veil, headpiece or tiara is extremely important. I always advise that brides wait until they have these in hand to do a trial. Of course when coming for a make-up trial, having a face free of any foundation, mascara, etc is important. Come clean! A good service provider will spend at least an hour with you to ensure that the look is perfect.

Share with your stylist and make-up artist how you want to feel as a bride. Good communication is the key to a successful trial so do not hesitate to share your thoughts and ideas. Pictures from magazines of what you want are helpful to guide the stylist and make-up artist. A picture of your gown is also helpful to fully understand the type of wedding look you are going for. Together you and the service provider will find a design that will suit your ideas, your dress, your face, your skin type, and your hair length and style. Keep in mind that the pictures of models that you rip from a magazine may have completely different hair and skin tones. The stylist and artists are really going to work with your individual needs and let you know if you are a good match for that particular fashion.

At the Wingate we will take a picture of you at the end of the trials and keep it on file. If you wish to have a picture of yourself, we recommend bringing a digital camera along.

At the end of your appointment you will get an idea of what you will look like the day of your wedding. No surprises! Some salon and spas will charge you the full price of an upstyle or make-up application. At the Wingate we offer the trials at a significantly reduced rate because we require it of brides. We feel it is THAT important to the bridal experience. This is the first step to ensuring that everything runs absolutely smoothly on your big day!

Our ongoing training is essential!

2009-09-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

One of the most important goals of our talented hair stylists team is ongoing education. Why is this so essential? Think about it! One day everyone and their sister wants to look like Jennifer Aniston…the next day that shag look is so outdated. In 2008 the trend was all about short hair (see Katie Holmes, Eva Longoria, Victoria Beckham) and now they are saying that the short bob is passé. So what are you going to do? Kick that short hair in to another direction or grow it long. And forget about just focusing on the cut – what about the color? L’Oreal is constantly updating and expanding it’s line of professional hair colors. New York is saying that Kate Moss’s new peroxide blond hair is going to be the trend of the year – but really…how many of us can rock that hair color? More traditional L’Oreal trends for Fall 2009 include rich reds, soft blonds, or warm brunette shades.

Receiving the latest technologies on color placement and trends are key to a progressive salon and we are proud that our stylists continued their education by attending these recent training sessions:

The Art of Hair Color - The entire hair team from the Wingate attended the prestigious L'Oreal SoHo Academy in New York where they were able to train with celebrity stylists. The academy is the flagship educational facility of the acclaimed L'Oreal Professional National Academy program, located amidst trendy boutiques, cafes, and art galleries in New York City. The stylists learned the art of hair color, as well as the challenges of corrective hair color. Other expert classes included Short and Sexy and Fabulous over 40. Stylists received training on the latest color trends that come straight from Paris.
Advancement in the Hair Industry - Kari Jo (Senior Stylist) attended this New York session and brought her knowledge back to the hair team about growing as a hair stylist in the industry.
Special Event Upstyles - Three of our hair stylists attended training in Boston with celebrity stylist Malcolm Edwards. They have brought their knowledge of the latest in upstyles back to the rest of our talented staff! Malcolm started his career working behind the chair in his hometown of Glasgow, Scotland, but his visions of creating amazing designs soon moved him to London to pursue his dream of becoming a session stylist. After a serendipitous rise through the industry training with the likes of Guido Palau, he quickly became a star in his own right - Malcolm Edwards is one of the most sought-after hair stylists. His work has graced the pages of Vogue, W and Harpers Bazaar. He's also created some cutting edge looks on the runway for Prada, Miu Miu, La Perla, Vivien Westwood and Burberry.
Haircutting & Design Trends - The stylists traveled to Boston for training with Amit Abraham. The weekend session focused on several new hair cutting and design techniques that the stylists are excited to bring back to their clients. Passionate, creative, and full of energy, Amit Abraham is known for creating hair that mixes classical shapes with contemporary inspirations. In his second decade of dressing hair, Amit has worked in virtually all hair mediums, styling for film and television, platform shows, print and runway. His work has taken him across the world, from Tel-Aviv to Manhattan, and he's equally at home styling 10 models for a runway show or creating an edgy cut on a windswept beach for a photo shoot. Amit's current work can be seen in the October issues of Allure, Lucky, W Magazine and Vogue.
Special Event & Wedding Upstyle - The stylists learned the latest in upstyle trends for special events and weddings at a training with Orlando Pita. They are very excited to bring these new ideas and trends to their clients at the Wingate. For the last two decades, Orlando Pita has been a master of hair styles and fashions, the theatrical as well as the more realistic. Pita styles hair for celebrities from Madonna and Janet Jackson to Gwyneth Paltrow and Julianne Moore. His work has graced magazine covers such as the Italian, French, British, and American editions of Vogue, W, Harper’s Bazaar, and Allure. Many of his most extreme and fabulous hair designs were created for the fashion runway. Pita has created looks for Michael Kors, Versace, Prada, Miu Miu, Christian Dior, Valentino, Galliano, Gucci, Narcisco Rodriguez, Tommy Hilfiger, and Dolce & Gabbana. Declaring that he missed actually cutting hair, Orlando Pita opened his own salon in January 2005, in New York’s meatpacking district.
Senior Level Hair Styling - Adriana and Kari Jo (Senior Stylists) were lucky enough to attend training with Jo Blackwell. Jo Blackwell is the owner of DopDop Salon in New York City (SoHo). Her salon offers a unique, “whole-vision” approach to hair design and her innovative style and passionate edge has New York buzzing. Many say that her vision to adhere to the artistic principles of hair design transcends the salon, and Dop Dop is setting new lines in the hair design business. Jo Blackwell-Preston won an Emmy Award in 2003 for commercial work. She also was on the premier episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy working with one of their clientele. She is a return guest yearly with the International Haircolor Exchange, and travels extensively as a color artist for L’Oreal Professional. She received the "Educator of the Year" Award from the International Hair Color Exchange. Jo serves on the Executive Board of the Hair Color Counsel of Intercoiffure alongside notable colorists.
In-Salon Training - When they are not jetting off somewhere for training, the entire staff gets together in the salon for other continuous education. At least 4 times a year they are briefed on the latest in hair color trends and design from L'Oreal. Our exclusive Kerastase line is always on the cutting edge of hair products and offers many training sessions each year. Their Kerastase Haircare Institutes keep the staff updated on the benefits of the different product offerings and educates the stylists about which line is best for specific hair types. Finally, professionals from around the country are invited in to the salon and offer their expertise on specific topics such as razor cutting & design, men's haircuts, and more. The ongoing training and support within our hair stylist team ensures success in hair cutting and design and provides our clients with great results. Would you trust your hair to anyone else? I don't think so!

Ageless Beauty

2009-05-27T07:06:00.001-07:00

What is ageless beauty all about? They say 40 is the new 30, 50 is the new 40...and so on and so on. I recently saw an article about rockers over the age of 40 that are still shining in the spotlight and Madonna was listed in the top 15. Halle Berry, Cindy Crawford, Sandra Bullock - all over 40 and looking amazing!

And now is the time of year that 20 somethings are really thinking about their style! It is graduation season and time to move on to either college or your first job. Isn't that time for a new look?

What about people like me...thirtysomethings? Maybe with kids, some at home, some at work, some working from home! Don't you sometimes feel like you have had that same haircut for years? Or you feel like you sacrificed your fashion to get that "mom" haircut? Maybe you are worried you may pop up on one of those morning show segments where they talk about owners starting to look a lot like their dogs? Yikes.

The Wingate Salon hairstylists recently took a trip to New York City to attend the SoHo academy and learn more about Ageless Style. At last, the beauty industry is giving woman of ALL ages their fair share of attention! Evolving a trend to make it appropriate and chic for women of different ages to share similar hair styles. All of the major magazines are giving us articles on what is stylish for people in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's and the same should go for hair.

The class was designed to show the hairstylists how to capture the beauty of their client's hair with a softer line and a strategic color placement. Fashionistas want to be able to be stylish at ever age. The class shared color and design trends that transcend age! Breaking the myths about hair styles for certain ages is so important. People want to reinvent themselves over and over and age should not always define you.

Adriana, the Hair Stylist Team Leader, said she was most impressed with the communication skills they taught the participants. She said - "There was a huge focus on consultation. Meeting every client where they are at - what will fit in their lifestyle, what is appropriate for them, what is the best communication style to find out the real needs of your clients. It really was a lot about thinking outside the box and having consultations with your clients that end with amazing results!"

The L'Oreal Professionnel Soho Academy is the flagship educational facility of the acclaimed L'Oreal Professional National Academy program, located amidst trendy boutiques, cafes, and art galleries in New York City. L'Oreal Professionnel Soho Academy offers a year-round curriculum. Students are able to learn the art of hair color, as well as the challenges of corrective hair color. The class was taught by Carolo Navoa and Harmonie Redman. Carolo is the owner of Navoa Salon in Los Angeles and has been a hair stylist and educator for 15 years. He has traveled the country educating other stylists in perfecting their skills and knowledge in the hair industry.Carolo is an considered an expert in color design and highlighting. After attending cosmtelogy school, Harmonie quickly became enthralled with the many avenues of hair styling. Focusing on advanced classes quickly led to becoming an educator and platform artist for major industry names. She has won two Tiffany awards and was nominated for Hairdresser of the Year.

Facebook Addicts

2009-03-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

I am not sure anyone could be more addicted to Facebook than I am. Really. I could be up all night looking at it. Thank God I have work and children and family and eating…all those good things that take me away from being on it all day!

But really…who isn’t obsessed with it these days? It has 16,000 new members each day and it is the third most visited website in the United States (just behind Google and Yahoo).

So it seemed natural for the Wingate Spa to have a fan page. What a great way to communicate with clients in a new way. On top of creating the fan page, we decided to put offers on there that are only for Facebook users.

So visit us if you are also a Facebook addict and become a “Fan of the Wingate Salon and Spa”:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stratham-NH/Wingate-Salon-and-Spa/51980876762

We look forward to seeing you there!