1965: “I can’t get no Satisfaction” and “I got you Babe” were hits on the FM dial. The Sound of Music won Best Picture. And I was born. Other things born that year that would be a part of my childhood were the banana seat for my bike and green stamps , which my family fervently collected. Who didn’t need a “hotdogger”? l

I grew up with a Charlie Brown Christmas, which also debuted that year. I collected Barbie dolls. I wasn’t so keen on the role playing but loved piercing their ears and cutting their hair. Makes sense right?

I knew early on that the hours spent in the bathroom with my mom's powder mascara and Breck hairspray were preparing me for my career. 

I was a mere 18 when I began Beauty and Barber school at the College of Hair Design in Lincoln Nebraska. The combined course of 18 months had me behind the chair in my beloved career at a wee 19. It was the 80s baby, shoulder pads and big hair, mall bangs and punk rock. Madonna was on the scene and the “Brat Pack” were everywhere. These were my hairdressing “roots." 

I’ve seen a lot of hair! I’ve seen styles come back around. Hair, like clothing, is always being reinvented with new textures. 

New hair color technology and products for every hair type imaginable make it an exciting time to be in this industry. Attending a hair show is like being in the center of an exploding kaleidoscope. The shows are full of energy and colors, excitement of young talent seeing celebrity stylists, and more mature types like me being inspired to always think outside the box.

Surrounding myself with a talented and passionate team and sharing my passion with my beautiful clients who inspire me to always learn more and be better keeps me young and invigorated. Thank you all for being a part of my life!

The greatest compliment you can give us is a referral.

Beginning July 30 through Dec. 31, 2015 the client who sends in the most referrals will be eligible to win up to $1000 in services!

The client who sends in the most friends will receive the following*:

• 3 Free Haircuts
• 3 Free Customized Facials
• 3 Free One-hour massages
• 3 Free Pedicures

Clients will still receive $15 off of any service for each referral. Referred friends also receive $15 off their first visit.

*Client must refer at least three friends to qualify.

This simple hairstyle is ideal for a hot, humid summer day in Chicago.  Try this style yourself, or book an appointment  at our North Center salon and let the hairdressers at Thairapy do the work to make your summer hairstyle fuss free.

Tools Needed:

• Brush

• Moroccanoil Treatment
• Small Elastic Bands (Clear or Hair Color)
  

Steps:           
1.    Brush straight hair or smooth out curls with hands (natural or ironed)

2.    Pick up small pieces from the temple area of both sides (the amount of hair will be determined by your preference and the overall amount of hair you have)

3.    Combine pieces in back
4.    Secure with elastic band (do not pull sides too tight)
5.    Brush or smooth ponytail

6.    Repeat step 2-5, continuing down the sides and behind the ear

7.    Do not combine mini ponytails. Each pony's tail should lay underneath the next ponytail.

8.    The last section should be taken from the middle of the underside.

Need a hands-on tutorial for this hairstyle? Contact Thairapy hairdresser Kerry Johnson at thairapist@thairapyplus.com, or 773-248-5353. Tried it at home? #thairapyplus or #thairapyplussalonandspa

Let us do the work to make your summer style fuss free. Our full service menu including Keratin Smoothing Treatments by Coppola fights frizz; full body waxing for bare it all styles and long lasting nail color to be event ready for up to 2 weeks.

Visit our website at www.thairapyplus.com to learn more about these and other service to make your summer a breeze!

If you have any questions about hair; nails; massage or skincare, email me, rebecca@thairapyplus.com. I will be in touch and your questions might even make our next newsletter. 

According to Psychology Today, eyebrows are crucial to facial identity. They're at least as important as your eyes, if not more so.  If you put colored contacts in your eyes, pumped collagen into your lips, or put on a pair of funky sunglasses, people would probably still recognize you easily.  But try shaving off your eyebrows. Chances are that everyone will say they didn't recognize you at first glance.

Well, if this is the case, we don't want to be recognized for our bad brows (think Nixon). Things to consider:

• Fuller eyebrows make you look younger.
  
  
• Fuller/properly groomed eyebrows allow you to wear less makeup.
  
  
• Eyebrows help us express ourselves when communicating.
  
  
• Eyebrows are sisters, not twins. No two are identical.
  
  

I want to take a moment to thank everyone for all the support they have given me over the last two years while I have been pursuing my Master Color Expert certification. There were extensive courses and traveling that took me away from the salon for weeks at a time, but I can finally say that I passed on June 4th and now am 1 of 113 Master Color Experts in North America.

 I have achieved goals I never thought possible when I started at Thairapy five years ago and wouldn't have without the participation and mentorship of my fellow Thairapists. To all of our clients, this means that I have a deeper understanding of Wella Professionals color which will lead to more intensive consultations and customized color experiences. 

This is only part of the journey towards becoming the best hairdresser I can be and ensuring I can keep fulfilling the desires of all of you. Thank you again for your patience and understanding (and for being guinea pigs on occasion), I look forward to continuing to improve and excel in my craft.

 Diana Loechl

Wella Technical Specialist

Welcome to summer in Chicago, folks! We can finally leave the house with less than 5 layers of clothing. It's time to show off our cute pedicures, sun dresses and floppy hats. It's also the season for sunscreen-please hold all moaning and groaning until the end of this article. I recently took a great class at the International Dermal Institute that focused on treating hyperpigmentation and now I shall pass my advanced knowledge on to you.

So, what is hyperpigmentation? Simply put, it is a darkening of the skin in a certain area that happens due to sun exposure, acne, improper use of product etc. etc. Inflammation of any kind can trigger cells in your skin called melanocytes to over produce melanin, the protein in our skin that produces color.

Many of us out there start to notice dark spots on our skin and don't understand why they are there or how to make them go away. Most of us will start to see solar lentigines, widely known as age spots or sun spots and some of us suffer from post-inflammatory pigmentation due to acne scars. Hormones can also be a suspect. Birth control and pregnancy can cause mask-like pigmentation on the face that is treatable for some and not for others.

Hyperpigmentation can be a difficult condition to treat, but all is not lost. There are some wonderful cosmeceutical ingredients out there these days to help brighten our skin either by inhibiting melanin production or exfoliating which helps to bring healthy- non-pigmented cells to the surface. Chemical peels that are rich in alpha hydroxy acids- lactic acid is my favorite for brightening- can be a terrific option. Preventative measures such as sunscreen can help prevent hyperpigmentation from happening and also keep dark spots from getting darker. Use at least SPF 30-50 everyday, rain or shine. More importantly, reapply SPF every few hours when you're out. The sunscreen you apply in the morning will not protect you 3 hours later. Look for sunscreens that are easy to reapply, such as a mineral powder that can be easily brushed onto skin.

I am here to help. If you have any questions or if your skin is in need, I will get you started with the best course of treatment and home care. Stop in soon!

New to the Nail Cove is Vinylux nail polish. A 7+ day polish that uses no UV light and is formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP free.  Vinylux dries quickly and flawlessly and provides lasting color without chipping. The stylists are all wearing it and love having great looking nails after days in water and chemicals!

$25 manicure

Our Wella Education Team, Shay and Diana will be heading out to Sin City to connect with the Wella Family in July. They will get a weekend full of hair inspiration along with tickets to the North American Trend Vision Awards. Be sure to come in soon and be the first to know what's hot and trendy for the fall!

Watch for Specials

We're sending our newsletter out quarterly, but you will still receive monthly specials via email. Like us on Facebook for July "Flash Specials".

We're on Instagram

Follow us @ThairapyPlus to see what we're up to! Also, hashtag your amazing hair selfies with #thairapyplus or #thairapyplussalonandspa for a chance to win a free gift on your next visit!

Clients will often trim massage from their budget when economic times are tough. Yet a recent national consumer survey showed most massage-minded Americans are committed to maintaining the health benefits they experience with massage. It makes total sense the better you feel, the better job you can do taking care of yourself and your loved ones! Massage should be more of a necessity when it comes to your health management. Truly massage is more than just a simple luxury- it's a vital part of self-care that has a positive effect on multiple levels that will help you be all you can be. It is crucial to invest in preventative healthcare and the last thing you want to do is to get sick, have to take time off work, and pay expensive medical bills. Below are the exact reasons why everyone needs to include massage in their budget.

Our packages save you money while keeping you in good health!

Thairapy Plus Massage 6-pack

(Buy 5 get the 6th free) 

60 minutes- $450       

30 minutes- $275     

Thairapy Plus Light weight Massage 4-pack

Buy 3 get ½ off the 4th.     60 minutes- $325