Shining Image Salon

Ask The Experts

Experience You Can Count On
Carol boasts 35 years of teaching makeup application, with extensive training in Las Vegas and Los Angeles by experts in the film industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are salon products better, or just more expensive?

Salon products are made to be like a prescription for your hair. They are pH balanced. Ask your stylist what that means--if he or she can't tell you, they will not know what products are best for you and are usually selling what sounds good, not what is good.

Concerned about Microdermabrasion?

Read more about Microdermabrasion in our salon newsletter. click here ».

Is there a way for me to "try on" a new style without making a permanent change?

Absolutely. We offer a visual evaluation of hair texture, evaluation of face shape as it relates to style options and a full half-hour of free consultation to help you choose what is best for you!

I want to know more about artificial nails before I have mine done. What can you tell me?

The quality and safety of artificial nails depends almost completely on the training and experience of the nail technician who is creating your new nails.

Concerns about the salon's environment?

Sanitation / sterilization of working area and implements is critical. Also critical is our proper understanding of care and maintenance of the nails to prevent fungus infection, lifting and breaking. We use only FDA-approved arcylic for Nails. There has been a huge problem in the industry with the "quick stop" nail places run by non-licensed people who try to use dental acrylic because it is cheap and harder.

Nail Problems?

Permanent damage to your nail bed comes from using drills and dental bonding agents--making a painful mess of your nails. Always ask about products used and ask to see the your technician's license.

What type of acrylics do you use?

We use OPI Competition 3000 acrylics, and feel that this is a superior product line.

Are Permanent Cosmetics Right For You?

The field of Permanent Cosmetics (Cosmetic Tattooing) is rapidly expanding in popularity. Women all over the country are learning of the benefits of having Permanent Eyeliner, Brows and Lips or Lipliner and now eyeshadow! Wake up looking as good in the morning as you did in the evening.
Preview Our Before and After Gallery »

Need independent advice?

Visit SmartSkinCare.com to obtain independent skin care information. It's a portal for savvy consumers. They don't sell skin care products or cosmetics. Nor do they endorse skin care manufacturers. There goal is to help you make genuinely informed choices in skin care and rejuvenation. Skin Care Information, Research and Reviews

What are the benefits to Permanent Cosmetics

The benefits of Permanent Cosmetics are being discovered by a wide range of people, including professional women, older women with poor eyesight and unsteady hands, those with allergies to traditional cosmetics and athletic women whose exercise program precludes wearing makeup.

Many women will not tell you that they had Permanent Cosmetics applied, as they want to give the impression that they look their best at all times. However, being involved with this field for over 18 years, I can vouch for the fact that many thousands of women are discovering the wonderful freedom from not having to worry about their makeup.

While it may seem like a big effort, it is imperative that you visit the site where the work will be done. Remember that you are having your appearance altered permanently, so it is important that you recognize this fact and treat this as a major, life-altering decision. Women are thrilled with the results from having Permanent Cosmetics applied, if the work is done professionally.

The first clue to the professionalism of your technician is the physical appearance of their salon. The Center for Disease Control requires physical cleanliness and a sterile working environment. Find out if the location meets this outward criteria. Ask if there is hot and cold running water on the premises, other than a public restroom. If the work is being done in a beauty salon, check to see if it is in a separate room where hair treatment particles and other contaminants cannot circulate in the air. Do not consider a salon where this is not the case.

Next, look at the technician's physical appearance and cleanliness. Are their clothing and hair clean and neat? Do they use new gloves? Do they use new sheets on your chair/bed? Are their nails clean and short?

Most importantly, find out if the technician uses sterile needles and equipment with every client. There are some machines on the market that cannot be heat sterilized or are not fully disposable. Ask to see the autoclave. Do not go to anyone who does not use this type of sterilizer on their equipment, and walk away if needles are not taken from a sterile package.

Ask about the technician's background. Find out how long they have been in the industry and how many procedures they have done. Ask to see all certificates of training and continuing education. As this field is rapidly evolving, the technician should be attending an industry convention or going to a class at least once a year. for relatively new people in the field, find out how many hours of training they have had. A two-day course is not enough and should disqualify a technician if she/he has not been in the field for more than one year.

If you desire to have your full lips colored permanently, find a technician who has been in the field over one or two years. Full lips is a more advanced procedure than eyeliner and eyebrows and should only be entered into after careful consultation with the technician.

Do I need a consults? YES - Shining Image Salon provides you with a free Consult Complimentary which is required before most treatments to determine skin type & appropriate treatment, test patch for allergic reaction. May be combined with any waxing or facial service.

Additional Questions

Please write to us at starsalon@aol.com or call (603) 883-2668. We will respond as quickly as possible. We will be happy to send you a salon menu of over 100 services, a listing of our products or provide you with a complimentary consult to get you started!

Antique Perm Machine