IN Mt. Lebanon Fall 2016 | Page 29

SPONSORED CONTENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED CONTENT Celebrating 10 Years of Sensational Hair Care I n the words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” Never has that been more true for Salon La te Da and Spa owner Bruce Harshman, who’s celebrating 10 years in business this year with his business partner and husband, Neill Stouffer. “Ten years feels like 10 minutes. It sneaks up on you,” he said. “I’ve been a hairdresser for 30 years, 10 years as owner of Salon La te Da and Spa, and I feel like 1986—when I graduated beauty school—was a few minutes ago!” Despite the whirlwind of life that has gone by, Harshman said he still adheres to the same tenets of life that he did when he first started out: Be the best you can be in your personal and professional life. Professionally, Salon La te Da and Spa has been providing clients the best in all aspects of hair care and coloring. It offers massage, facials, manicures and spray tanning in addition to hair care, and, along the way, has experimented with other ways to improve the business. “When Neill and I first started, it was Salon La te Da and Distinctive Gifts,” Harshman said, “but it was difficult to stock gifts and focus on hair at the same time, so we narrowed our focus to what we are today. We strive to do the best work possible in that regard and to be better every day.” Today, Salon La te Da and Spa is exclusively about salon and spa services, and Stouffer, a premier Pittsburgh interior designer, runs his own interior design business out of an office in the same building — Neill C. Stouffer Fine Interiors. Ever since its inception, Salon La te Da and Spa was designed to be a place that is elegant, comfortable and fun. Named after a favorite restaurant/bar/cabaret in Key West, Harshman wanted something that was easy to remember, kitschy, and exuded whimsical fun. For the stylists and professionals working for him, Harshman said that while there’s a good vibe going on in the salon, the emphasis on education and training behind the scenes is serious. “We host in-salon classes frequently, bringing the educators into the salon for a hands-on and intimate class rather than just sending people to a classroom with hundreds of other stylists watching on an oversized screen,” he explains. “Many of our stylists are internationally trained. Education definitely is a priority.” In keeping with the education theme, Salon La te Da and Spa also tries to educate clients about the best products on the market. It carries Kevin Murphy products, which are cruelty free and organic, translating to guilt-free quality for hair that matters. The salon also carries Unite and Sebastian products as well. In his personal life, Harshman also gives “110 percent,” volunteering for charities like the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, the Crafton Historical society and Mexican War Streets Society (serving as President of both.) Donating to the homeless especially homeless children and many animal groups. In business he donates to many Mt. Lebanon and surrounding area activities and organizations. To formally recognize its 10th anniversary, Salon La te Da and Spa will hold an Open House on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 6 until 8:00 p.m., which will be open to the public and to clients of the past, present and future. For more information on Salon La te Da and Spa, including a full listing of all the services, the hours of operation and directions, go to the website at salonlateda.com. You can also call for an appointment today at 412.343.0171. Mt. Lebanon | Fall 2016 | icmags.com 27