I like to attend events and galas. But the time and energy required to prepare for them can be daunting.
Recently, I attended the Leukemia Ball, a wonderful event covered in The Georgetowner several issues ago. Just getting ready for the night was exhausting — my nails, hair (cut, highlighted, styled), lashes and brows, etc. Three different appointments at three different locations, not including the trip to the dry cleaner to get my gown steamed. Since I hadn’t planned weeks in advance, I had to take whatever appointment was available. When I arrived at the evening’s event, I was exhausted.
Can’t this be easier? Yes — it can! Like the rest of us, I love the idea of having personalized services delivered to my door at the push of a (phone) button. Beauty apps put services at your fingertips. Here’s how.
What: Blow dry, hairstyle and makeup
Who: Stylists with years of experience
Where: Your home, office or hotel room
When: Seven days a week
How: Schedule using a beauty app
What is beauty on demand?
Convenient luxury salon services accessible to the average woman via a beauty app. Like a traditional salon, the apps make money by charging fees for beauty services performed in your home, office or hotel room.
Who is it for?
Those who are time-starved with demanding schedules, typical executive and political types and busy working moms and dads. Need a stylist for your wedding or your daughter’s prom? Whether presentation-ready, anchor-ready, red-carpet-ready or just wanting to look and feel beautiful, this is for you.
How do I use it?
Download an app below. Then choose and schedule beauty services — which are performed simultaneously in under an hour so you don’t have to give up your day.
Is this just a trend? Think again.
Not surprisingly, in cities and other densely populated areas, tons of moneymaking potential exists in applying an Uber model to the massive, disparate market of salons, which do over $20 billion in sales per year with a workforce that is 65-percent freelance. Other mobile service like Rent the Runway, Uber, Airbnb and Amazon Prime demonstrate that the physical constraints of a brick-and-mortar store and service are being dissolved for apps that can quickly scale services to meet demands.
So, guess what I will be using for my next gala or professional event? Yep, beauty apps — to bring the salon to me, make sure I look beautiful and, at the same time, keep my life easy and peaceful.
Rebekah Kelley is the founder of Virtue Skinfood, a wholistic luxury skin care line. To find out more, visit virtueskinfood.com or One80 Salon at 1275 K St. NW.
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- Veluxe Goes beyond typical beauty services of hair and makeup, adding a wellness component that includes on-demand yoga, personal training and massage therapies. Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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- GlamSquad Started in New York, now in D.C. Use the Look Book section to determine a style you prefer. I like the “Off-Duty” or “Sophisticate.” Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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- StyleMeBar Owned and operated by D.C.’s own Tracey and Joe Garcia and Amanda Moran. Hair service offerings include cut and color in addition to styling. Hours: 5 to 9 a.m.
