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Natural Awakenings Lehigh Valley

Organic Tans and Beauty Bar : Lehigh Valley’s Best-Kept Secret

Apr 29, 2019 07:24PM ● By Sheila Julson

Aesthetician Lorena Bravo is aware that her specialty salon, Organic Tans and Beauty Bar, has a reputation for being a client’s best-kept secret, but she’s okay with that. She and her staff strive to serve everyday women that are subtle about their beauty and want to naturally enhance their appearance through specialty services such as spray tans, eyelash extensions, teeth whitening, facials, makeup and eyebrow shaping.

“Our clients walk out of here with a spray tan, but they don’t look like they’ve had a spray tan,” Bravo says. “Instead, they are asked if they’ve just returned from a beach vacation.”

Organic Tans and Beauty bar was one of the first businesses in the Lehigh Valley area to offer spray tans, also known as airbrush tans. Bravo discovered spray tans after she had a skin cancer scare when she was only 24 years old. The experience was a wake-up call to eliminate her exposure to UV radiation from sunbathing and artificial sources like tanning beds.

“We hold a strong belief that spray tanning is a lifestyle —a healthier lifestyle,” Bravo emphasizes. “We’re not out there trying to educate everyone, but to provide an alternative for people that realize the harmful effects of tanning beds or too much sunbathing to obtain that bronzed tan look.”

Bravo and her staff use a tanning solution that contains aloe vera and skin nourishing vitamins. It’s free from perfumes, dyes and parabens, which are commonly added to other brands to extend the shelf life. Bravo notes they use product quickly, and it doesn’t stay open on a shelf for long periods of time. The solution is made in the United States and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Bravo adds that although spray tans are temporary, an additional advantage is that spray tan clients are serviced by licensed aestheticians that are knowledgeable about skin and can recommend solutions for dryness, or they notice if a client has a mole or skin discoloration that should be examined by a physician.

For clients interested in hair removal services, Bravo uses Nufree, a soy-based wax that’s applied just two degrees above one’s normal body temperature. “It helps avoid burns and lifting of the skin. It’s a safer alternative to standard hair removal wax,” she says. For lash extensions, Bravo partnered with Utah-based Borboleta Beauty. Not only does she carry the brand, but Bravo also sends her licensed aestheticians to Borboleta’s training program to learn how to safely and effectively apply their lash extensions.

Clients interested in teeth whitening services can come in for a 45-minute session, during which they receive a pre-filled teeth-whitening tray. Once the tray is in the mouth, the client sits under an LED lamp that activates ingredients in the gel. The client is provided with a fresh tray every 15 minutes. The whitening gel is made with teeth sensitivity in mind, so it contains a lower amount of peroxide.

In addition to providing affordable specialty salon services for women and men, Bravo values maintaining good relationships with her aestheticians and providing them with opportunities to hone their skills and succeed at providing aesthetic services.

“I want to leave a legacy for aestheticians that are fresh out of school and give them a chance,” Bravo concludes. “From me, they’ll learn techniques and how to elevate themselves, their brand and their business. The more they grow, they better, and that also makes our clients feel good and confident when they walk out the door.”

Organic Tans & Beauty Bar is located at 1752 W. Allen St., Allentown. For more information, call 610-821-8888 or visit OrganicTansLV.com

Sheila Julson is a freelance write rand regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines through the country.