I met the owner Therese about five years ago at the shop's former location in North Chicago. Due to some commuting issues, I had to find a salon in Gurnee, and started frequenting a much larger, impersonal, well-known salon. One of the few treasures in that salon was Amanda who was my stylists for a good three years before she left that salon.
I walked into Essence VIP looking for a new stylist since no one at the other salon quite matched Amanda in skill nor "personality," and lo and behold: I re-discovered Amanda! She is by far one of the best stylists to touch my hair. I trust her implicitly, and I am always satisfied with the outcome. If I ever win the lottery, Terez is going to lose a sytlist, since I am going to hire Amanda as my personal daily stylist! ;)
I am not very adventurous with my hair, and I usually get a shampoo and style for my long, ever thinning hair, but I have seen Amanda create some beautiful, complicated styles with other clients. She does a wonderful job with my hair!
All the women at EssenceVIP (especially Therese, the owner) seem to enjoy their craft. There is a true sense of comaderie amongst the women and the clients, which creates a very relaxing, jovial ambiance and a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
I would highly recommend EssenceVIP to anyone looking for a unique salon specializing in haircare that complements the many facets/textures of our community.
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