26 Aug 2010 Day spa offers pampering, ‘the healing power of touch’

Daneen said she, Wendy and their other sister, Kim Williams, have all worked in the day spa and beauty business. Williams opened The Gathering, one of Conway’s first day spas, and operated it for 11 years.

“We all ended up in the business and never really thought about it,” Daneen said. “From a little girl, I always knew. I was always in makeup and creams. I love makeup. I pretty much knew I was going to be a makeup artist from the time I was 12 years old.”

Her family was from California, but after her parents moved to Conway, Daneen came to visit them during her freshman year in college. She fell in love with Arkansas and enrolled at the University of Central Arkansas. She left the area and started a career in retail makeup.

During this time, she earned her aesthetician’s license and eventually ended up back in Arkansas working at Dillard’s at Park Plaza in Little Rock.

Wendy often encouraged her to start her own business.

“She always said, ‘you need to do it yourself. You’re so good at it.’ But there was comfort in the corporate structure at Dillard’s. Timing is funny,” Daneen said.

Eventually she decided to take her sister’s advice and began taking clients once a month in Conway at the day spa. She and her sister worked together for a year before she purchased the business.

“She believed in me to help me go out on my own,” Daneen said. “I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for her. When I was getting ready to leave Dillard’s, she said, ‘You should have done this a long time ago.’”

After a year of working together, Wendy was in the process of getting an addition to the building approved when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“She was quite the trooper,” Daneen said. “I was here to run this and keep things going. She came back and worked (but) cut down tremendously. She came to me right when my husband and I moved (to Conway) in October and said, ‘Do you want to buy the business?’”

Wendy was in remission, but she was ready to retire. At first, Daneen refused the offer of buying the business. Wendy asked her again in early summer, and she accepted.

“I think she wanted to keep it in the family,” Daneen said.

She discussed some aspects of what makes Elan and Star Aesthetics special.

Seven years ago she earned her medical assistant’s license. Cosmetology is now under the Arkansas Department of Health, she explained.

“I needed to be more trained in sanitary guidelines,” Daneen said. “Continuing education is important. It made me way more aware of hygiene (and) cleanliness. It’s important to make sure it’s really, really clean – all your implements. Especially the nail girls.

“Elan’s known for their pedicures and manicures. (The salon) won a reader’s choice award for them. It’s a rock fountain pedicure.”

In addition to manicures, pedicures, facials and massages, the day spa has a nurse anesthetist, Cathy Rougeau, who administers advanced facial aesthetics, including Botox, Juvederm and Radiesse.

Daneen said women who come to Elan will enjoy some peaceful, tranquil time.

“I love to pamper women and make them feel better about themselves – make them feel special,” she said. “I truly believe in the healing power of touch. So many of the medical spas don’t touch. They sandblast the face and throw on the chemical and out you go. I love the touchy-feely part. I think it’s so important, especially the way the world is now, for women to take some time out … and take care of themselves. I feel like if I get the person to feel good and relax, they’ll actually be more beautiful.”

She said the clients are one of the reasons she decided to purchase the salon.

“I love these clients,” she said. “They’re the roots of Conway. I hated to see someone strange come in and buy it and these ladies not get to experience what they love. I am so grateful to be back in Conway.”