Marie Prentiss, owner and senior stylist at Jolie Laide Salon in Bristow, wants people to know they no longer have to visit a franchise salon to get first-rate treatment and services.
Jolie Laide is an independently owned, boutique neighborhood salon that specializes in great color, high-lights, low-lights, and offers great Keratin treatments, hair extensions, permanent waves, waxing, up-dos, styles and make up. Jolie Laide Salon provides all those services in a spa-like atmosphere while offering competitive prices.
Located at 12705 Braemar Village Plaza Jolie Laide has been under new management since June of 2012. Prentiss said she used to sell homes in Braemar, so she knew it was where she wanted to open her salon.
“I liked the area and the client base,” Prentiss said.
She also liked that “ was being run as a professional business,” under its former management, so she felt it had a good reputation.
Being a businesswoman, Prentiss switched careers with the intention of starting her own salon. To realize that dream, she studied at the prestigious Graham Webb Academy of cosmetology in Washington, D.C.
Knowing that in the salon business, customer service is as important as the cosmetology itself, she taught her staff to offer first-rate service. As soon as clients enter her salon, they are greeted and asked if they want a hot or cold drink, and offered a magazine.
Prentiss also renovated and redecorated the space at Jolie Laide, using Tiffany blue and oyster to create a “boutique, high end, spa type experience” in a relaxing, yet warm atmosphere.
She wanted women to look forward to their hair appointments at Jolie Laide, saying, “If you’re looking for that experience at the salon after a stressful day at work, Jolie Laide Salon is for you.”
Another part of the boutique salon experience is the consultation with the stylist. Unlike salons that aim to get their customers in and out quickly, Jolie Laide takes time for the client to talk with her stylist about services. Additionally, shampooing, conditioning, blow-drying and styling are included with the primary hair service, whether that be a cut, color or Keratin treatment. The salon even offers discounts when people schedule their cuts along with treatments.
However, what makes Jolie Laide different from other boutique salons is the experience of her stylists. One of their stylists has over 20 years of experience and two more each have more than 30 years of experience. Each stylist has a specialty, said Prentiss, so the staff tries to match the stylist with the needs of their clients.
“If you're looking for that funky color, or edgy hairstyle, Deanna’s a good fit for any new comer,” Prentiss said.
Meanwhile, Prentiss is known for giving “really good highlights” and also working with wavy, curly or textured hair. However, she said that everyone at Jolie Ladie is excellent with color; the salon was even named one of Washingtonian’s Magazine’s Top Picks for Color.
When it comes to hair color, she encourages everyone to give up the box and go for a professional salon application.
“Our goal is to try to get that woman using the box is to come to us,” she said. “To get that three dimensional color, you really do need to do salon professional services; you are not going to get that in a box even though T.V. makes you think you can.”
She explains that a professional will match your color and mix colors to get just the right tone.
“It’s really more about achieving that dimensional color, rather than that one color,” but she said that professional color also last longer and looks more natural.
However, Prentiss knows that salon treatments can be expensive, so she tries to make them as affordable as possible for her clients. Jolie Laide offers special discount days including discounts for stay-at-home moms, senior citizens and on Fridays, they take 10 percent off all make up and up-dos.
“If you compare pricing to other salons, we’re good quality for your buck,” Prentiss said.
But, while affordable, they are also recognized for being a top salon in the D.C. Metro area. Jolie Laide has also won a number of awards including One of the Top 200 Fastest Growing Salons in America by Salon Today.
Additionally, they use and sell professional products, including Moroccan Oil, J. Beverly Hills, Surface, Brazilian Blowout and Keratin Complex Blow Out Express.
Readers can find out more about Jolie Laide by visiting their website. Schedule an appointment at Jolie Laide by calling 703-330-8111 and visiting them on Facebook.
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