The Spa at Bella Boutique stay innovative

By Laurie Gordon
NEWTON — Laura Rinaolo might not have a crystal ball, but when it comes to foreseeing what innovative progressions in the beauty industry will take off, she is a professional.

For 25 years, Rinaolo has used her instincts, business sense, and at times, taken chances on bringing in something radically new to keep The Spa at Bella Boutique thriving and on the cutting edge of the latest and greatest in the industry.

A Sparta native, Rinaolo opened the business as Tanfastic in 1989. She paired the tanning with a high class nail salon, and right away, established a loyal customer base which realized her attention to detail and quality in both staff and products.

Soon, Tanfastic grew to take over the entire building at 277 Newton-Sparta Rd. in Newton, and in time, Rinaolo changed the name to The Spa at Bella Boutique to more adequately reflect the expanded services offered.

Things that set "Bella" apart include offering clients medical-grade services and products at spa prices and fully-trained licensed staff members with very little staff turn over.

For Rinaolo, her staff is the heartbeat of her business, and she takes great care in who is hired for each specialty the salon features.

"If you take the time to hire and train the right people, customers take note," she said.

Services include anything related to nails, microdermabrasion, a menu of individually-customized facials, organic spray tanning with which the color is mixed specifically to match the tone of tan desired by the customer, waxing and a multitude of hair services.

Debbie Koncevitz and Jenine O'Dea are the salon's hair specialists and are known for precision cuts, avaunt-guard styles and specialty in color.

Bella's manicure and pedicure experts include Kimberly Lonsky and Maryanne Woods. The Male Room at Bella Boutique was added a few years ago and is directed by Susan Ayres. "Once men see the special treatment, tailored sink and new lounge area, they keep coming back," Rinaolo said.

Bella's electrolysis machine is one of the best available, and their electrolysist was hand-picked by Rinaolo for her reputation as one of the masters in this advent in permanent hair removal.

Cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Mohktar Asaddi, is the Medical Director at Bella Boutique's Medispa. The recipient of numerous awards in his field, Asaadi, thoroughly evaluates new techniques then innovates and integrates them into his practice.

With offices in both New York City and Livingston, he is available at Bella once per month to perform procedures including Botox, Juvederm, Juvederm Voluma, and a new, revolution of Juederm for the under eye area.

Rinaolo brought Asaddi to Bella nearly a decade ago for his precision, attention to detail and manner in which he takes time with each patient to determine what they want and what will work best for them.

Rinaolo's foresight extends from the business to her staff. When she saw a potential beauty career in her receptionist, Rebecca Ryan, she helped her realize her cosmetology dreams by assisting her with school.

"She's one of the most talented young ladies I've seen, and is so multi-faceted within the field," Rinaolo said. "She can do anything related to beauty and do it well."

"We test all products and services on ourselves before offering them to our clientele," Rinaolo said.

She's seen too many "miracle in a bottle" products out there and makes sure Bella carries only products that are highly effective. Products include those by SkinMedica, Obagi, Murad, Morrocan Oil, Awapuhi, GK and Matrix. Sometimes clients who are not sure exactly what they need are invited to stop in for a complimentary consultation. The boutique also has jewelry, accessories and clothing around, perfect for birthday and holiday gifts.

Staff is pivotal, top-of-the-line services and products are a must and the salon's ambiance is an extension of Rinaolo's personal philosophy - to create an oasis where clients can have an exceptional experience in an environment that is both luxurious and relaxed.

"I've seen other salons come and go over the years," Rinaolo said, "I think one of the secrets to longevity through economic ups and downs is being true to your customers." To this end, she's trained herself to see through the eyes of her clients, constantly assessing their preferences and adding things they'd like to see featured at the salon. "Quality and attention to detail speak for themselves," she said.

The Salon at Bella Boutique is located at 277 Newton-Sparta Road in Newton. For more information visit www.bellaboutiquesalon.com or call 973-579-7709.