Thursday, June 11, 2009

The Hela People Project: Andrea Rodgers (aka Miss A)

On Wednesday we hosted an event here at Hela Spa and Ted Gibson in Georgetown that Miss A organized together with the organization 'Innosence at Risk'.

We took the took the opportunity to talk to Miss A herself (>>check out her blog here!)




Miss A, what have you been up to lately?


Well, last night I hosted "Girls Night Out at Hela Spa" with DC Girls in the Know's Chris Jacobs. I got Botox and Juvederm Ultra Plus. I can already see the great results I got from the Juvederm filler injections that Melanie Erb performed, and the Botox is starting to take some effect. I'm very happy and excited about this. Several other women got procedures last night, and booked appointments. After learning more, the women who attended felt much more comfortable with the treatment options that are available to women now.

You are a Washingtonian constantly on the run and involved in new exciting projects. Tell us a little bit about what you are up to in the near future.

Well, I do a lot of charity work. I founded The Courage Cup in 2006, which is an IRS designated 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation which was established to help at-risk urban youth. We support programs in the mid-Atlantic region which give disadvantaged children individualized attention and a positive alternative activity to keep them in school and off the streets. We support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, and Work to Ride, which is a after school program centered around equestrian sports. They are the very first all African-American Polo Team. On June 18th, The Courage Cup's Leadership Committee is hosting "Summer Swing Under the Stars" on the roof and in the Penthouses of AKA White House, which is a couple doors down from the Metropolitan Club at H & 17th Streets. We will have DC Swing!, an 18-piece Swing band, heavy hors d'ouevres, cocktails, and a great Silent Auction, including some great items from Hela Spa and Alchime Forever. For details on this event, you can go to http://www.couragecup.org/events.php

I'm also on the Board of Innocents at Risk, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to fight human trafficking and sexual exploitation of young girls, boys, and women. We are hosting a screening of the movie, "Taken" at the Letelier Theater, above Cafe Milano on June 29th. We will have a reception with wine and heavy hors d'ouevres in the courtyard before the movie, and then have Q&A with ICE agents, and others fighting Human Trafficking after the show. For more details, visit http://www.innocentsatrisk.org

As a public figure who is constantly out and about, what is your secret to looking so radiant?

Besides the new Botox, and Juvederm procedures, I try to take really good care of my skin, and watch what I eat. I have been wearing sunscreen with a very high SPF every single day since I turned 29. I wear it daily despite the season or weather conditions. It's not just the sun we get by the pool or beach that can age us -- it's the compiled effect of daily exposure to the sun. I just wish I was better about putting it on my hands every time I drive.


As a consumer of beauty treatments, what would be your ideal spa treatment?

The thing I love about Hela Spa, which sets you apart from other spas I've gone to is that Hela is all about the results. Your facials aren't just a relaxing treat -- they actually improve the skin. I don't think I could choose just one ideal treatment, as it's really about the overall individualized plan that Hela creates after doing a VISIA analysis. All the various treatments work together to create healthier, more radiant, younger looking skin.


Lastly, after a week full of social events, what do you do to recuperate and find tranquility?

Honey, I wish I had time to recuperate. Being a blogger means blogging daily, if not twice a day. Like many people in Washington, I'm a Type A, overachieving, perfectionistic workaholic. I am constantly working on PR events for my clients, writing press releases, pitching the media, or planning a fundraiser for one of the charities I support. There is always something to be done! I drink lots of Diet Pepsi and many pots of coffee to keep me going. I should drink more water for my skin!

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Hela People Project: James Henderson

Hela Spa and Ted Gibson are lucky to have colorist James Henderson on our team. To get a better grip on the creative process of coloring hair, we asked him a few questions...

1. What do you like most about your job as a colorist?
What I like most about being a colorist is the ability instantly brighten up a clients skin and eyecolor. Haircolor is a quick way to breathe new life into someone's look.

2. Do you have a favorite color, or combination of colors, that you like to work with?
My favorite colors would be the colors of the different seasons- Reds, browns and golds in the fall. Violets, yellows and pinks in the spring. Whites, grays and dark greens in the winter. We should look to some the rich colors in nature to enhance the natural color of our hair.

3. If you could pick any person in the world and give them a hair makeover, who would it be and what would you do?
Paris Hilton! I would color her hair a rich rose gold and cut her hair super short.

4. What sources of inspiration do you draw from when you work?
I am inspired by art and geometry. By placing color in different shapes we can tailor haircolor for haircuts.

5. What hair advice would you like to give the average female Washingtonian?
Gloss! After every service and in between services! This will keep color rich and shiny.


6. What is the most common question that you get from your clients?
The biggest question is upkeep. For highlights every 6 weeks. For single process every 4 weeks. Remember the further away you go from your natural color the more often you will need to touch up.

7. What hair cut/color/style do you think will be the next big thing?
The next thing will be using different shapes in the placement of color to bring the different angles and lines of modern haircuts.

Screening the sun

We like the sun here at Hela Spa and Ted Gibson. But more so, we like to protect ourselves from the damage that the sun can cause. Therefore we have stocked up on everything you can possibly need for the sunny summer ahead!

The Z-Silc is our bestseller and there are many reasons why. The texture is thin, but not runny, and it doesn't clog your pores. It goes on without making your skin oily and is perfect to use as your day-to-day protection. This sunscreen is best for oily to combination skin types.

If your skin happens to be on the drier side, the Ti-Silc is perfect for you. Ti-Silc also comes in Sheer to eliminate the whiteness that a sun lotion can sometimes cause.

For the guys we have a Ti-Silc Scalp Defense (perfect summer gift). This SPF covers the area on your scalp where the lotion doesn't go on as easily as it comes in spray form.

Really, there are no excuses to not be in the sun, as long as you are protected and safe! For a complimentary consultation on what sunscreen may fit you the best, just come on in.
Our sunscreen goddess Amber peeks up behind the bottles...

Vanja's Pick: The Perfect Party Song

Vanja takes the nostalgic route -- "Part Time Lover" with Stevie Wonder! (Was she even born when this song came out btw??)

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Don't Have Weekend Plans?? Brighten up with $75 Spa and Salon Treatments!


Come celebrate with us at Hela Spa and Ted Gibson and receive beautiful savings...

::Sunday and Monday May 24th and 25th @ Hela Spa in Georgetown
*Brazilian Brow Combo (normally $110) $75
*The Lena Ohlin or The Greta Garbo Facial (normally $100) $75
*The Stockholm Swedish Massage 50min (normally $120) $85
*Recieve $100 off any Botox or Filler (normally $350 - $700)

::Saturday and Sunday May 23th and 24th @ Ted Gibson at The Collection in Chevy Chase!
*Recieve $75 OFF any color service with our Fab Colorist, James!
*Add on a Specialized Color Glaze (normally $95 - $130) just $50

::Sunday May 24th @ Ted Gibson at The Collection in Chevy Chase!
*All Haircuts(normally $95 - $150) $75. *All Blow Outs (normally $60 - $95) $40. *Spa Manicure and Pedicure with exfoliating scrub (normally 105) $75


Call 202 333 4445 to book your treatment! (Offer only lasts as long as we have appointments available!)

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Hela People Project: Photographer Ruthi David

Ruthi David. That's the name of a Virginia-based photographer who we are incredibly lucky to be involved with here at Hela Spa and Ted Gibson. She has won tons of awards and been seen in many publications such as the Random House coffee table collection The Big Book of Babies.

Ruthi will be at Hela Spa for a special mini-session photo event on June 1st from 11am-3pm! To make sure you get a slot, reserve now! These sessions are specifically for mom and baby, or baby/child individually. (For individual baby sessions, babies should be able to sit up on their own.) Please email Ruthi David at rdavid@rdavidphotography.com for more information or to reserve your timeslot.

We were so curious about this extraordinary woman, so we had to ask her a few questions....

So tell us a little bit about R David Original Photography, for those readers not familiar with your services.
I am a portrait photographer specializing in children. I do the majority of my sessions on location - either in client's homes or outdoors, but I love it when I can meet new people at mini-session events, such as the event we have scheduled on-site at Hela in June. I love talking to children, bringing out a shy grin, coaxing them out of their shell a bit to capture the spark that makes every child unique and wonderful.

What about your job do you like most?
I love meeting people, and I love knowing that I can give a family an image that looks genuine and captures them the way they really were at a given moment in time. Being entrusted with a family's memories is a great privilege.

How did you get started?
Well, I grew up in a house where photography was always an obsession. My mother had a darkroom in our house growing up. You had to be careful that when you got a pitcher out of the refrigerator it was really Kool-Aid and not darkroom chemicals! So I learned to take pictures using film and doing darkroom developing. I went digital when my first child was born, 10 years ago, and just fell in love with the instant gratification aspect. For the next six years I was a serious amateur, and finally decided to make a go of this as a business after the birth of my youngest child in 2005. The rest, as they say, is history!

Where can we find you (website, blog, location)? I live online!! The Portrait Site: www.rdavidphotography.com | The Event Site: www.rdavideventphotography.com | The Blog: www.virginiachildphotographer.com/blog

Friday, May 15, 2009

Our aesthetician Brianne and Mary Amons on Channel 9!

Always wanted to truly understand what's going on with your skin? Check out the video and learn more about the VISIA!