by William McAllister | Oct 9, 2016 | massage
Read on to Get the Lowdown Before Your Next Rubdown
With so many techniques and so little time, choosing the massage style to suit your needs can be a challenge. From stress-melting to tension-busting and everything in between, the art of massage therapy has long been revered for its ability to keep the body and mind at peak performance. Variations in pressure, technique, areas of focus and desired outcome set the various massage styles apart, but which one is right for you? We’ve put together a quick guide help you figure out which massage style best suits your needs.
Read on to get the lowdown before your next rubdown.
Swedish Massage
Best for: Relaxation, stress relief, first massage
The most common form of massage therapy, the Swedish massage is designed to warm up the muscle tissue to release toxins, tension and general soreness. The therapist will use hands, fingers and sometimes forearms to perform long, gentle, soothing strokes with light to medium pressure.
The Swedish massage is revered for its ability to kickstart circulation and eliminate lymph and metabolic waste often stored deep within the muscle tissue. This technique is ideal for those seeking relaxation and first time spa-goers.
Deep Tissue Massage
Best for: Relieving acute tension
A deep tissue massage is much like the Swedish with an increased level of pressure. This technique hyper-targets deeper layers of muscles and tendons to eliminate toxic waste, blockages and tension in the body. Expect muscle-melting movements utilizing friction to generate heat and stimulate blood flow and deep kneading and muscle manipulation to release chronic muscle tension and knots.
Aromatherapy
Best for: Improving energy blockages
Feeling drained, lazy or grumpy? Improve your flow of energy while detoxifying the body by treating yourself to an aromatherapy massage custom built to cater to your mood. Aromatherapists interview each guest to determine goals for the session and craft a unique blend of essential oils accordingly to help relieve stress, ease anxiety or eliminate toxins.
Reflexology
Best for: Boosting immune function, stress relief, detoxifying
Reflexology is the ancient art of applying pressure to reflex points on the soles of the feet, hands and ears as an alternative health treatment, utilizing the body’s natural capacity to heal itself. Each pressure point corresponds with an organ and system of the body and can be manipulated to promote overall well being and release blocked energy throughout the body.
Sports massage
Best for: Preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance
Whether you’re sore from beach yoga, biking the MacArthur Causeway or jogging the sandy shores of South Beach, a muscle-melting sports massage pinpoints your most painful parts with deep muscle work to target problem areas causing pain and inhibiting performance training.
McAllister’s professionally trained therapists identify the exact location and intensity of discomfort and employ a variety of firm stroking techniques to break down scar tissue and improve elasticity to effectively increase mobility, stimulate blood flow and relieve chronic pain. Sports massages can be performed prior to a bout of heavy exertion to prime muscle tissue or after to flush the system after a race or sporting event.
More than a decade ago, William McAllister hatched an idea to disrupt the beauty salon industry in Miami Beach. He contemplated what salons once were in years gone by. He yearned to recapture their unique contributions to both personal beauty & community. In the past 10 years, he’s forever changed the industry, and according to him, he’s just getting started! He draws from a unique background – encompassing everything from neurophysiology, business to firefighting- and built South Beach’s busiest & most reviewed beauty concept in South Florida.
by William McAllister | Sep 26, 2016 | hair
Ever wonder how your favorite celebs mix up the color, style and length of their hair so frequently? It’s no magical, star-powered secret reserved for the elite – Hollywood’s leading ladies have hair extensions (and some fabulous stylists) to thank for their lengthy locks.
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More than a decade ago, William McAllister hatched an idea to disrupt the beauty salon industry in Miami Beach. He contemplated what salons once were in years gone by. He yearned to recapture their unique contributions to both personal beauty & community. In the past 10 years, he’s forever changed the industry, and according to him, he’s just getting started! He draws from a unique background – encompassing everything from neurophysiology, business to firefighting- and built South Beach’s busiest & most reviewed beauty concept in South Florida.
by William McAllister | Sep 11, 2016 | skin and body
Post-Summer Skin Rehab
Between the sun, wind, chlorine, saltwater and endless hours in the sand, summer has likely left your skin in need of some serious TLC. We rounded up the best beauty fixes to tend to your biggest summer skin bummers. Fall, our facials will have us ready for you!
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation occurs when UV rays kick melanin production into overdrive, resulting in dark spots on areas overexposed to the sun during the summer months – namely the face and hands. To reduce signs of photodamage at home, look for a lightening agent like kojic acid to stop additional and unnecessary melanin production and to help fade the appearance of discoloration. Try SkinCeuticals Phyto+ Botanical Gel, designed to help improve discoloration without irritation. The soothing gel is infused with cucumber and thyme to calm skin and is delivered in a hyaluronic acid base to hydrate parched skin and improve the overall appearance of skin.
Spa Solution: The Skinceuticals Gel Peel found on the skincare menu at McAllister Spa combines glycolic and lactic acids to exfoliate surface cells and hydrate the skin to effectively minimize the appearance of surface lines, smooth out rough skin texture, and fade hyper-pigmentation.
Soothe Irritation and Redness
Painful sun rash, burns and eczema flare-ups can all be attributed to a cocktail of excessive sweating, chlorine exposure, UV damage and irritation from sunscreen. Treat your sensitized skin to a reparative formula, like Dermalogica Barrier Repair, meant to reinforce the skin’s lipid barrier layer and form a shield against environmental assault. Oil of Evening Primrose, Borage Seed Oil and silicones as vitamins C and E help combat free radicals that can lead to inflamed and irritated skin, putting your itching, burning, stinging and redness to bed for good.
Spa Solution: The Dermalogica UltraCalming® Facial Treatment on McAllister’s facial menu relieves sensitive skin and reduces redness, itching and reactive flare-ups while protecting against a loss of the skin’s protective barrier.
Firm Up Sagging Skin
Overexposure to the sun saps skin’s elasticity by damaging skin’s elastin fibers and slowing collagen production, causing skin to lose its spring. Breathe new life into a sagging complexion by zapping collagen production back into high drive with products containing high percentages of vitamin C, an essential for collagen synthesis. Dermalogica MAP-15 regenerator is formulated with a highly-effective form of Vitamin C, which works in tandem with a blend of White Tea, Hyaluronic Acid, Glucosamine, Phospholipids, Algae and Yeast extracts to help stimulate collagen production, brighten skin tone and neutralize free radicals to dramatically increase hydration, firmness and elasticity.
Spa Solution: A Dermalogica AGE Smart® Facial Treatment helps control the biochemical triggers that lead to skin aging, including fine lines, age spots, and skin sagging, while treating signs of visible aging so skin is smoother, firmer and healthier.
More than a decade ago, William McAllister hatched an idea to disrupt the beauty salon industry in Miami Beach. He contemplated what salons once were in years gone by. He yearned to recapture their unique contributions to both personal beauty & community. In the past 10 years, he’s forever changed the industry, and according to him, he’s just getting started! He draws from a unique background – encompassing everything from neurophysiology, business to firefighting- and built South Beach’s busiest & most reviewed beauty concept in South Florida.
by William McAllister | Sep 6, 2016 | hair, News
Miami Beach’s Hair Extension Destination
Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend obviously hasn’t experimented with hair extensions! The absolute best accessory, extensions allow you to test drive a new ”˜do with little commitment. From long to short, short to long, and back again, extensions let you play with different colors, textures, or simply add some extra oompf to otherwise limp locks. And now McAllister now stocks a wide variety of Hotheads Hair Extensions in the most common hair colors and lengths. We’re told that our hair salon now carries the largest selection of HairTalk & Hotheads hair extensions in South Beach. …You’re now just minutes away from fuller, thicker and longer hair!
Our Stylists Share Tips on Care of Hair Extensions
If you have been thinking about thickening those tresses, but you just don’t know what to expect, here’s a little window into our extraordinary extensions! First, to guarantee a long-lived look, it’s essential to practice good technique. “What are proper maintenance techniques?” you might ask… Let us enlighten you! Straight from the McAllister stylists, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to extending the life of your newly-acquired luxe locks.
Shampoo With Care
It’s critical to wash human hair extensions with only sulfate-free or paraben-free shampoo, specifically on the roots. Lather hair gently and work the shampoo down the hair. Rinse and blot hair gently and if shampooing at night, make sure hair is completely dry before going to bed.
Get The Right Tools
Trade your traditional brush for a looper brush, designed with looped bristles to gently glide through hair extensions. Start at the ends and work your way up, always brushing in a downward motion. To keep hair from matting, give strands a pre-shampoo comb through.
Steer Clear of Oils
Oil-based products can break down the glue found on extension tape, weakening the bond between the hair and tape, causing them to fall out prematurely. Hair oils also have a way of moving down along the shaft your natural hair, sliding in between the layers of tape and this loosens the tape’s grip on your natural hair. Whenever possible, try to use styling products from mid-shaft to ends, steering clear of the tape tabs completely.
Reconsider Your Sleeping Conditions
To prevent unnecessary matting and tangling, consider wrapping hair up in a satin scarf or swapping out your traditional pillowcase for a satin version, known to minimize friction and prevent tangling.
Trust the Professionals
Last but CERTAINLY not least, have a licensed professional remove and reapply your extensions. All McAllister hair stylists are dually certified by HairTalk & HotHeads Hair companies. Tape extensions typically maintain a luxurious look for 8 to 12 weeks depending on your hair growth. We always recommend a visit 6 weeks after placement so that your stylist can quickly inspect your taped tabs and give you an idea of when you should book your re-taping appointment. So whether your hair is naturally thin or you’re just looking to achieve a little extra length of fullness, it’s time to talk with your stylist about our variety of hair extensions options – from tape extensions to keratin bonded extensions and beyond. Ready to treat yourself? Request an appointment online today. Check out pricing and offerings on our spa menu here.
More than a decade ago, William McAllister hatched an idea to disrupt the beauty salon industry in Miami Beach. He contemplated what salons once were in years gone by. He yearned to recapture their unique contributions to both personal beauty & community. In the past 10 years, he’s forever changed the industry, and according to him, he’s just getting started! He draws from a unique background – encompassing everything from neurophysiology, business to firefighting- and built South Beach’s busiest & most reviewed beauty concept in South Florida.
by William McAllister | Aug 2, 2016 | News
Where in the World has Mark Holloway been?
It’s been a common question over the past few months regarding our Creative Director- Where is Mark?! Mark has been traveling much more frequently because of his relationship with Goldwell. When he isn’t starring in Goldwell Live Webcasts, he’s been teaching future Master Colorists and Stylists at the Goldwell/KMS academies in New York City and Santa Monica. You might even catch a snapshot of him on stage here and there during Goldwell’s “HairPlay On Tour 2016” or as a Featured Artist in the Cosmoprof/BSG shows all over the country.
What Is Mark Doing This Summer with Goldwell?
Mark is now the Lead Artist for Goldwell’s Master Stylist Haircutting program and he is diligently working on his vision of “What’s Next?” with his contributions to the Celebrity Trend program. His co-created design haircuts from his Master Stylist Trend series will be inspiring looks all over North America this fall and he expects to continue intermittently traveling to inspire salons all over to grow and try new things.
So When Can I Schedule my Next Appointment?
Mark’s here every week, but it’s important to schedule ahead of time as he is fully committed days in advance. To help you better plan out fabulous hair, these are the days he is currently scheduled to travel in August, September and October. Otherwise, Mark is hard at work Tuesday – Saturday here at McAllister Spa!
August Travel Schedule
Unavailable 8/5-8/6
Unavailable 8/19-8/29
September Travel Schedule
Unavailable 9/30
October Travel Schedule
Unavailable 10/1
Unavailable 10/7-10/8
Unavailable 10/11
Unavailable 10/15
Unavailable 10/28-10/29
Here’s what Mark Holloway has been up to recently on Instagram…
More than a decade ago, William McAllister hatched an idea to disrupt the beauty salon industry in Miami Beach. He contemplated what salons once were in years gone by. He yearned to recapture their unique contributions to both personal beauty & community. In the past 10 years, he’s forever changed the industry, and according to him, he’s just getting started! He draws from a unique background – encompassing everything from neurophysiology, business to firefighting- and built South Beach’s busiest & most reviewed beauty concept in South Florida.
