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Angie Lund is all about making sure her customers at Athena Salon, Spa & Wellness in Windsor are treated safely.
Proof of that is the recent recognition Athena received. The business at 7791 Highland Meadows Parkway was awarded the Eminence Green Salon/Spa certification recognizing salon/spas that are making an impact in the “green’ movement by carrying more than 70 percent natural or organic services and products as well as using practices that are good for the environment.
Lund, 41, who opened her business in August 2009, said Athena has converted in the last 12 months to an environmental/green focus.
“There are just so many products out there that have been linked to health risks,” Lund said. “It is time for people to not only recycle and take care of the earth in that way, but to take care of themselves and the earth by supporting green companies who are looking out for the best products and services to enhance their overall health and the world around us.”
Lund, a wellness coach who employs 11 people, said Athena had to meet specific criteria in order to be recognized as a ‘Green Spa’ such as using reusable or biodegradable/natural/organic options whenever possible with services and beauty products.
Also, Athena was asked to use practices within its company that support a green movement encouraging in-spa recycling awareness programs; reusable glasses verses paper or plastic; non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning supplies instead of chemical based products; energy saving light/computer/energy practices; just to name a few requirements.
Lund said Athena is just one of four salons/spas in Colorado that has been awarded this certification and the only salon/spa in northern Colorado to be given this distinction. Athena is a full salon that provides nail spa (natural and gel), pedicures and manicures, organic facials, massages, body treatments and waxing. Lund said she has more than 2,000 clients, including more than 250 men.
Lund said the “green” certification was a year-long process.
“We started doing the organic and the green focus just because we saw the benefits for ourselves personally and wanted to bring those benefits to our clients as well,” Lund said. “There were lots of things that we needed to do to our business itself in the sense of trade out all of our lights for energy saving lights, make sure all of our appliances were energy saving appliances down to our heating system to our computer system. All of those types of things as well as how we run our business were essential in getting the certification. I would venture to say that it probably cost a few thousand dollars to make those changes, but we did it over the year so I didn’t see the impact of that all at one time.”
Lund said the main reason Athena went into the direction of a green spa/salon was because of its wellness focus.
“With a wellness focus, you have to look at the whole person and there’s so much information out right now in regards to toxins and chemicals that are in beauty care products that we couldn’t ignore it,” Lund said. “If we were going to really come from a structure of wellness and ignored the fact that there are chemicals and toxins in so many of the products that are being used, then we wouldn’t be living our value as a company. So, we decided to take on that organic and natural focus in order to focus on the whole person and not just say, ‘Yeah, you look good,’ but ‘Yeah, you look good and what you’re doing to yourself is actually good for you.’ That was the motivation behind it.”
Lund said toxic products are “out there like crazy.”
“They’re all over the beauty aisles at the stores, they’re in spas and salons,” Lund said. “Pareben is a preservative that is in beauty care products that is in anything from lotions, shampoos, conditioners, makeup, under-arm deodorant, tanning solutions, and this preservative has been linked to breast cancer because it mimics estrogen. We decided we’re going to take this natural and organic focus, even though it’s more expensive for us and also for the guests who purchase the products. But at the end of the day, when you’re looking at the health risk you may not have to face by choosing this kind of a lifestyle, it’s worth it.”
Lund said she is “absolutely 100 percent shocked” that more salons/spas aren’t taking the same “green” route her business has taken.
“Knowing what we know, how can we not do better?” Lund said. “I think there is a responsibility that we have as consumers to seek out the things that are going to be healthy for us, but as a company we also have a responsibility to our guests to be providing the best products and the best services that we can provide to them.”
Proof of that is the recent recognition Athena received. The business at 7791 Highland Meadows Parkway was awarded the Eminence Green Salon/Spa certification recognizing salon/spas that are making an impact in the “green’ movement by carrying more than 70 percent natural or organic services and products as well as using practices that are good for the environment.
Lund, 41, who opened her business in August 2009, said Athena has converted in the last 12 months to an environmental/green focus.
“There are just so many products out there that have been linked to health risks,” Lund said. “It is time for people to not only recycle and take care of the earth in that way, but to take care of themselves and the earth by supporting green companies who are looking out for the best products and services to enhance their overall health and the world around us.”
Lund, a wellness coach who employs 11 people, said Athena had to meet specific criteria in order to be recognized as a ‘Green Spa’ such as using reusable or biodegradable/natural/organic options whenever possible with services and beauty products.
Also, Athena was asked to use practices within its company that support a green movement encouraging in-spa recycling awareness programs; reusable glasses verses paper or plastic; non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning supplies instead of chemical based products; energy saving light/computer/energy practices; just to name a few requirements.
Lund said Athena is just one of four salons/spas in Colorado that has been awarded this certification and the only salon/spa in northern Colorado to be given this distinction. Athena is a full salon that provides nail spa (natural and gel), pedicures and manicures, organic facials, massages, body treatments and waxing. Lund said she has more than 2,000 clients, including more than 250 men.
Lund said the “green” certification was a year-long process.
“We started doing the organic and the green focus just because we saw the benefits for ourselves personally and wanted to bring those benefits to our clients as well,” Lund said. “There were lots of things that we needed to do to our business itself in the sense of trade out all of our lights for energy saving lights, make sure all of our appliances were energy saving appliances down to our heating system to our computer system. All of those types of things as well as how we run our business were essential in getting the certification. I would venture to say that it probably cost a few thousand dollars to make those changes, but we did it over the year so I didn’t see the impact of that all at one time.”
Lund said the main reason Athena went into the direction of a green spa/salon was because of its wellness focus.
“With a wellness focus, you have to look at the whole person and there’s so much information out right now in regards to toxins and chemicals that are in beauty care products that we couldn’t ignore it,” Lund said. “If we were going to really come from a structure of wellness and ignored the fact that there are chemicals and toxins in so many of the products that are being used, then we wouldn’t be living our value as a company. So, we decided to take on that organic and natural focus in order to focus on the whole person and not just say, ‘Yeah, you look good,’ but ‘Yeah, you look good and what you’re doing to yourself is actually good for you.’ That was the motivation behind it.”
Lund said toxic products are “out there like crazy.”
“They’re all over the beauty aisles at the stores, they’re in spas and salons,” Lund said. “Pareben is a preservative that is in beauty care products that is in anything from lotions, shampoos, conditioners, makeup, under-arm deodorant, tanning solutions, and this preservative has been linked to breast cancer because it mimics estrogen. We decided we’re going to take this natural and organic focus, even though it’s more expensive for us and also for the guests who purchase the products. But at the end of the day, when you’re looking at the health risk you may not have to face by choosing this kind of a lifestyle, it’s worth it.”
Lund said she is “absolutely 100 percent shocked” that more salons/spas aren’t taking the same “green” route her business has taken.
“Knowing what we know, how can we not do better?” Lund said. “I think there is a responsibility that we have as consumers to seek out the things that are going to be healthy for us, but as a company we also have a responsibility to our guests to be providing the best products and the best services that we can provide to them.”
WHAT: Athena Salon, Spa & Wellness
WHERE: 7791 Highland Meadows Parkway in Windsor OWNER: Angie Lund HOURS: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday; 8:45 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday TELEPHONE: (970) 223-0273 WEB SITE: www.spaathena.com |
