Akari’s stylists have teamed up with the Sea Dogs and 99.9 The Wolf to help fans donate hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths charity. Since it began the program in 2006, Pantene has donated 18,000 free real-hair wigs to the American Cancer Society’s wig banks for distribution to cancer patients.

You must have at least 10 inches of non-chemically treated hair to donate. Anyone who donates their hair during “All the Hair You Can Spare” event will receive to tickets to Tuesday night’s game and a new, free hairstyle from Akari’s stylists.

The event will be held 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Portland Room at Hadlock Field prior to the Sea Dogs’ game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Reserve your spot by contacting Liz Riley at lriley@seadogs.com or 207-874-9300.

So many colors, only ten toes!

Luckily we have all summer for pedicures – and the choices are amazing. From teal to orange, yellow and green, this is the season to be bold and experiment.

“Full-on orange is as bold as red yet there’s something totally summery about it,” says Carole, our nail technician. Carole loves her black polish, but predicts this is the year she and other fans will cross over to bright colors: “The oranges and teals are so hot they look cool. I confess that I have both on, and I feel great!”

Not ready for the rainbow of hues available at Akari? A cool cement-colored polish is a sophisticated new way to set off your bright sandals this spring.

If you just can’t choose, Carole suggests you consider the color of your favorite sandals. A rich fuchsia polish pops against the season’s popular neon green, while bright yellow looks smashing with hot pink.

Don’t forget our long-lasting gel nails are great for toes too!

We asked our staff to recommend their favorite products. Here are our tips from the pros:

Jessica, junior colorist

Straight by Bumble and bumble

“With summer approaching, those of us whose hair becomes unruly in the humidity will be in search of a product that consistently delivers a smooth blowout that lasts. Looking for ease and longevity in a blowout? Straight will be your new best friend.”

Kat, colorist

Curl Conscious Defining Crème by Bumble and bumble

“Used to enhance the curl you already have. It moisturizes and reduces frizz while giving your curls a texture that still allows them to move and bounce.”

Sienna, colorist

Oleo Relax Slim by Kerastase

“For clients with crazy thick hair. It makes short work of a big blow-dry. It fights frizz, adds smoothness and cuts down on blow-dry time. Use sparingly! A little goes a long way.”

Kiersten, colorist

Ciment Thermique by Kerastase

“Not only does it smell delicious, it leaves my hair feeling healthy even after a highlight. It also protects against breakage when heat styling.”

Taylor, junior colorist

Thickening Spray by Bumble and bumble

“I love big hair and this product gives the best results on all hair types depending on the amount applied before blow-drying.”

Jeffrey, senior colorist

Chroma Thermique by Kerastase

“This product protects hair from damage during your blow-dry and contains a UV filter that also protects color from fading. I find that clients who use this product come back to see me after six weeks with color that is still vibrant.”

Nikolina, aesthetician

Jane Iredale Pressed Powder

“I can use this as a foundation or concealer to cover up occasional breakouts. It also has a broad-spectrum SPF 20 so I am protecting my skin from damaging rays all day.”

Erinn, aesthetician

Jane Iredale Active Light Under-Eye Concealer

“It is lightweight and covers up my dark circles while hydrating the entire eye area. I also can use it as a highlighter on my cheekbones to brighten up my complexion.”

Christina, aesthetician

Obagi ELASTIderm

“It increases collagen around the eyes and tightens any fine lines and wrinkles.”

Lily, massage therapist

Creme de Corps Body Butter

“It is extremely hydrating and non-greasy. It is great for moisturizing dry cracked feet and smells like summertime!”

Alex, massage therapist

Obagi Therapeutic Moisturizer

“It is the perfect amount of hydration. The Therapeutic Lotion clears acne breakouts quickly without overly drying my skin out.”

Lindsay, massage therapist

Kiehl’s The Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

“As a massage therapist I wash my hands many times a day, which can leave them feeling really dry but this salve leaves my hands moisturized though at least five washes! Also I love the Gentle Exfoliating Body Scrub and the Deluxe Hand and Body Lotion with aloe vera and oatmeal in lavender and grapefruit scent. Buff and moisturize with these products to leave your skin silky smooth. Use lavender for relaxation and grapefruit for an invigorating experience!”

Bring in two of your obsolete, used or not-so-favorite hair products during May and you’ll receive a 25 percent discount on two new Akari products. We have lots to choose from: Kerastase, Bumble and bumble and Obaji, to name a few. You’ll also receive a coupon for a free Kerastase treatment.

Watch our blog for more information on the latest products and tips from Akari’s stylists!

Here’s how it works: Add $1,000 to an Akari gift card for a silver membership and save 5 percent when you use your card; add $2,500 to your card and save 10 percent with a gold membership; or add $5,000 to your card and save 15 percent with a platinum membership.

Be sure to sign up by April 30!

Flip through pages of the March issue of “Brides” and you’ll find the work of Akari stylist Chhoeun.

Ruth Wang turned to Chhoeun to create not one, but two styles for her July wedding to Edward Bush.

Ruth knew she wanted a very natural style to complement their outdoor wedding in North Yarmouth. Her first step was a salon visit, where Chhoeun styled Ruth’s hair into a “messy” chignon she could wear with a flower pinned on the side. Next came her look for the evening reception: loose, curly tendrils with subtle makeup to complement her natural beauty.

On the day of the wedding, Chhoeun was on location to style Ruth, her mother and sister. She didn’t want to use a lot of hairspray to hold Ruth’s style, so she first applied Bumble and bumble Thickening Hairspray and then Does It All styling spray to protect her hair from curling iron heat. Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode gave Ruth’s hair the hold it needed and left it soft to the touch.

Chhoeun taught Ruth how to “finger tease” her hair when she let it down for the reception. Finger teasing, unlike backcombing that makes hair more tangled, produces larger, soft curls. (Try it yourself: Hold the end of your hair in one hand, then slowly move your other thumb and forefinger up the piece of hair.)

Ruth’s hair – and the weather – were picture perfect for her special day.

“Our wedding came out exactly as we had imagined, and it felt like a miracle,” Ruth told the magazine.

Each year Akari styles hair for dozens of Maine brides and their wedding parties. Appointments generally are booked at least six months in advance. Call us at 772-9060 to learn more about wedding hairstyles.

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We’ll treat you to wine and hors d’oeuvres as Akari’s Medi Spa team of staff, nurses and doctors present the latest, amazing results in cosmetic fillers.

The evening will feature special savings on Sculptra and Juvederm: Buy three vials of Sculptra and get another one free; buy one syringe of Juvederm and save $100; or buy two syringes and save $300.

Sculptra offers natural-looking results that last up to two years or longer. Each treatment of one syringe replaces lost collagen and is commonly used to correct facial wrinkles or nasolabial folds, the “parenthesis” lines between your nose and mouth. The treatments usually are done in three to five sessions, scheduled four to six weeks apart.

Juvederm offers immediate results to correct loss of volume and moderate to severe facial wrinkles.

Purchase a filler package and you’ll also receive 10 percent off any additional Medi Spa package.

We hope you’ll join us! Call Spa Coordinator Eliza Harris at 772-9060 or email eliza@akaribeauty.com to R.S.V.P. or if you have questions.

Just ask Genevieve, who styled Jillian Parker’s hair, as seen in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. The bride’s imagination, a little experimenting and just the right products were key to this wedding success story.

Jillian’s photo of her dress and toned-down Marie Antoinette aesthetic were a good starting point for the styling process, which involved several salon trials prior to the wedding. She and Genevieve envisioned long, loose curls – the perfect complement to her bare-shoulder gown.

The bride-to-be’s biggest concern was Maine’s unpredictable weather and how the soft, romantic style would hold up on her special day. The trick, says Genevieve, was a mix of hairspray and hair powder.

Genevieve first exaggerated the curls with a curling iron so they would fall loosely throughout the day. Dry texture was essential to hold the style, so she used hair powder near the roots of Jillian’s hair to to soak up natural oils and provide more lift.

Next came the shine. Silicone might have collapsed the look, so Genevieve instead used layers of hairspray to add sheen and allow movement.

The result: A picture-perfect wedding, fit for a queen.

You could have one of the 35 million cases of nail fungus reported each year in the United States. Left untreated, nail fungus can be embarrassing, painful and even lead to infection.

Akari’s PinPointe Foot Laser offers a fast, painless solution in just two treatments. The laser procedure is 88 to 96 percent effective in eliminating nail fungus and yeast and is the only laser treatment for nail fungus approved by the FDA.

Oral therapies, such as Lamisil, are only 65 percent effective, have possible side effects that involve the liver and don’t combat yeast colonization.

Your treatment will begin with a relaxing, sterile medical pedicure by one of our certified nail technicians. The laser procedure is administered by Akari’s Dr. Christopher Toth, the only medical provider certified to provide PinPointe Foot Laser in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

If you’d like to learn more, view this video from “Good Morning America” or call us today!

You’re not alone.

Akari is introducing One Talks lunch and learn group sessions with Wellness Coach Krista Haapala that will guide you through steps toward more focused living. Take an hour off from your busy schedule to sift through competing interests in your life and learn how to make effective changes.

One Talks will be held monthly from 12 to 1 p.m. and are free with your purchase of a healthy lunch at Akari’s bistro. You’ll even receive 50 Akari points for attending and 10 percent off salon services booked before or after One Talks. While the sessions are designed to walk you through steps of self-realization, participants may choose to attend any event.

Session I, Feb. 29: One Choice will allow you to examine incremental changes that shape our lives: Every time you make a choice you face another reality.

Session II, March 23: One Truth will inspire you to believe in yourself and focus on what you really want. Learn how to extract the “shoulds” in your life, be brave and distill your wishes for faster, more effective change.

Session III, April 12: One Gift will give you the opportunity to meditate on your gift to the world. You’ll discover the wisdom that comes with finding what you really want and what you can give back. Learn how to shape your focus in a way that’s good for your life now.

Session IV, May 11: One Breath will teach you how to slow down and breathe. You’ll discover how to connect to your intentions and take a mindful approach to change.

Session V, June 1: One Edge takes participants to the edge of discomfort, the place of growth where potential meets fear. We’ll look at why we feel restless and use that as an opportunity to make our biggest gains.

 Session VI, June 15: One Life, our final session, will inspire you to take action, embrace the simplicity of living in the moment and choose who you want to be.

To join us, RSVP to 772-9060.