Nancy Ashmore and Jeanette Goff both former salon owners came together in January 1994. They brought their experience and knowledge of the beauty industry along with their passion for it. Twenty-five years later, with a tremendous team of people, the love of the beauty industry and the passion for people is still strong.

Housed in a 100-year-old building with lots of character, the first floor is the salon area and the second floor is the spa area where massage therapy and facials are provided in a relaxing atmosphere. Artisan’s Salon and Day Spa is a place where clients can restore their spirit and express their personal inner and outer beauty. Though it’s been twenty-five years, Jeanette and Nancy still share a mutual love for styling hair, and for providing a space for restoration and relaxation

Artisan’s massage therapist has been with the spa for 15 years. She is certified in several modalities, including therapeutic, deep tissue, pre-natal, reflexology and hot stone massage. One esthetician has been with the spa for 22 years, and the two mani-pedi technicians (one is Jeanette’s daughter) have been with the spa for nearly 20 years. “We treat our team members as we do our clients”, notes Jeanette, “with care and respect. After all, they are the reason our clients return again and again.”

One of those clients recently shared with Jeanette why she loves coming to Artisan’s, saying “It’s such a warm, friendly place. I couldn’t ask for a better place. I feel like I’m coming to see my friends, and I leave feeling pampered and beautiful.” Reviews on the salon/spa’s website are overwhelmingly positive, with 95.7 percent of respondents saying they would refer their friends and family.

Though there are seldom changes to the team, there are sometimes changes to the products and services offered, the team is always seeking ways to improve the client experience. For instance, they recently upgraded their organic hair color brand to Oway Organic hair color, which provides biodynamic color. Short for “organic way,” Oway products are described as “a step above organic,” are never tested on animals, and are also fair trade - three factors important to many of Artisan’s clientele. The water used to manufacture Oway products undergoes two natural purifying treatments: reverse osmosis and ozonation, which produces microbiologically pure water without resorting to the use of chemical disinfectants.

The salon also uses other highquality hair products, including Wella International, Enjoy, Nioxin and Sebastian products, and is a Bumble and Bumble education and retail partner. They are also a certified Ouidad salon, providing outstanding cuts and care for curly hair, which can often be difficult to cut and style.

Last year, the salon added 100 percent human hair extensions to its menu of services offered, and demand for the product continues to grow for a variety of reasons, according to Jeanette “Sometimes clients want ‘wedding hair;’ others simply want added volume or the popular two-tone look without resorting to color.”

The spa uses only disposable foot baths and files to eliminate the risk of contamination. Facials offer microdermabrasion and peels using Sircuit Cosmeceuticals, also available to purchase for home use. The skin care line is exclusive. Paraben- and sulfatefree, with no artificial colors or preservatives, the company goes one step further, using a technique called “chiral correction” to purify ingredients at the molecular level, which improves the overall effectiveness of the product.

For those who can’t decide on a spa service, packages with alluring names like Retreat from Reality, Spa Escape, Spa Sampler, and Ultimate Spa Escape, are available. There is also a client reward program for skin care procedures and products, making it even easier to be pampered on a regular basis.

All of Artisan’s clients share the common trait of desiring a superior level of products, service and training. “We sincerely try to make every client feel cared for in their own unique way. I believe we really excel at listening to our clients, and have great consultations before we begin. Great consultations allow us to better satisfy our clients by meeting their needs and desires,” says Goff.

She admits that there are those who avoid the spa experience because they feel it’s too indulgent. Yet, she believes a certain amount of pampered quiet time is necessary to unwind in today’s hectic-paced world. “The body needs to de-stress to perform at its peak. We are certain that if you give us a chance once, you will become a regular client. We have a great team here, and they truly are a team, working very well together to provide the best experience for every client, every visit.”

Artisan’s Salon and Day Spa is located at 413 Chestnut Street in Emmaus. For more information, call 610-965-3148 or visit artisansdayspa.com.