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Beauty, love and hope above a Dairy Queen

Aphrodite's Salon in Puyallup

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Aphrodite’s Salon in Puyallup sits on top of the Dairy Queen, a seemingly odd location to get movie star glam. But the names are kind of related. The Dairy Queen is the queen of milk, and Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty and love, borne from a sea of foam not unlike a milk shake, more or less.

But ascending the steps beside the restaurant, you leave behind the fluorescent lights and enter a warm, inviting space.  The former Tanfastic tanning salon — still in operation, under the new name — has been expanded into a salon space where Laura Thiery works her extension magic along with permanent makeup (and where she will soon provide eyelash extensions) while stylist Amy Nunally works her cut and color magic, often in tandem with Thiery’s extension work.

But don’t think that this salon is all about the superficial side of beauty. Though many of the Hollywood types donning false tresses might be in it for a quick style change, it’s Thiery’s intent to bring the hopeful side of the process to light.

Hair loss conditions such as alopecia and chemotherapy — and even male pattern baldness — can be aided with the application of the hair shanks, which can be applied directly to the scalp. Thiery does heat-welded extensions as well, all utilizing natural hair sourced from India, “temple hair” offered freely as a religious rite of passage.

“Hair is huge,” explains Thiery. 

She’s just had her extensions removed, and Nunally’s color retouch job has added depth and brightness to her hair.  But Thiery is fretting. Without the bulk of the extensions on her head she says she feels bald, but in no way does she look it.  It illustrates the importance of her service for those who, once accustomed to a full head of hair, might find themselves with less than their crowning glory.

Although the service isn’t inexpensive, Thiery offers discounts for those with medical conditions while Nunally offers new clients a free haircut with color. — Jessica Corey-Butler

[Aphrodite’s Salon, 15412 Meridian St. E., Puyallup, 253.221.0741, www.aphroditessalon.com]

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