Beauty salon expands to day spa

Customers entering the new Avante Salon and Day Spa are greeted by the rushing waters of a fountain, soothing music and a salon coordinator who explains all the services now available.

"I wanted to create an atmosphere that is relaxing and elegant, to make people feel pampered," owner Kathleen Bobbitt said.

"People are always so busy, but they need to give themselves the chance to be taken care of, soothed," Bobbitt said. "Our treatments here are good for the body, the skin and all, but they also are good for the mind and emotions."

Avante has opened in a location nearly three times its former size, which permitted adding body wraps, electrolysis, massages, facials and other new services, as well as more hair and manicure stations and expanded hours.

"We have two aesthetician positions, five manicure stations and a new make-up bar that seats two," Bobbitt said.

A loft with its own ventilation systems includes a body-wrap room with shower, a facial studio, a massage room and an electrolysis facility. A fifth treatment room downstairs can accommodate any of those services for people who are uncomfortable with the stairs, Bobbitt said.

Fourteen hair stations accommodate the salon's stylists. Some stylists lease their stations, while others are employees, Bobbitt said.

Esthetician Agnes Logue joined Avante when the new location opened last month. She had spent 12 years in resort hotel salons in Guam, the island U.S. territory in the Pacific.

"I do facials, body wraps, waxings and massages for clients," Logue said. "They all help detoxify the skin and body, as well as help people relax."

"It was nice coming into a new spa like this because Kathleen said I could get anything I wanted. I was able to pick the best product line, Devonnia Botanicals. We have special hydraulic treatment beds for the body wraps."

Logue said the wraps that firm tissues and draw out toxins come in three main types: seaweed wraps that are very effective but have a sea-type odor, the Moor or mud wrap that is mineral and clay based and algae wraps.

After a 20-minute wrap, clients rinse the treatment off and then receive a slow 30-minute massage with a moisturizing lotion, Logue said.

"The massage also helps eliminate impurities from the body because I stimulate the lymph system," she said.

While women may be intrigued by the option of an eyelash perm at Avante, men are finding that a facial is an invigorating grooming choice, Bobbitt said.

She said the new salon successfully embodies her vision of providing an inviting and relaxing experience in a professional setting to anyone who comes in.

"All our people are very professional. We stay away from gossip and have respect for all our clients," Bobbitt said. "It doesn't matter what type of car they drive up in or what they wear, everyone deserves to be pampered here."

She said the salon's pricing is in line with other salons in the area. A shampoo and hairstyle runs $25-20, permanents start at about $60-70, Bobbitt said. A 30-minute massage is $30 and facials are $65.

"I also believe we should be putting something back into the community. So we take referrals from Advocates to End Domestic Violence, if someone needs a shampoo and set for a job appointment, say, we do that for free," she said.

Avante Salon and Day Spa at 1013 South Carson Street is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. The phone number is (775) 884-3099.