We’re here to give you personalized service, skin education, and the highest quality products.
A mother-daughter team
Meet Teresa!
Teresa is owner and operator of Professional Image Enhancement in Cedar Rapids, IA! She is an energetic wife and mother of three who enjoys salsa dancing, perfuming her home with her latest cuisine inspiration, collecting Snow Babies, and providing the highest quality service to her beloved clients. Teresa is a licensed cosmetologist (L.C.) and licensed electrologist (L.E.) since 1995 and often attends the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference to maintain at the forefront of the industry.
Meet Katherine!
Katherine is our website and brand manager! She is a wife and daughter living in the Netherlands with her husband. She enjoys cuddling with her dog on the couch, digging through flea markets, dancing salsa & bachata, building easy-to-use websites for local small businesses, keeping this website beautiful, and managing our Facebook page. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 2013 with her bachelors in Business Management & Organization.
How we do things
Our Philosophy
You are an individual.
No two skin types are the same, nor eyebrows, nor faces. We want our services to reflect how incredibly unique you are. We take the time to get to know you, your needs, and your goals. From understanding you and your skin, we individualize each of our treatments for each of the individuals we are serving.
In order to make informed decisions about your skin care, you need to understand how and why your skin will react to a product or service, so we work with you to determine what will be best suited for your needs. We don't just want you to buy a product or service, we want to help you discover what is going to be best for you and your goals. Education is our priority.
What we offer
Our Services
Every one of our services revolves around you. None of our services are bottled, canned, boxed, or pre-assembled; they are each personalized. Each treatment is unique for each individual.
When you schedule an appointment at our salon in Cedar Rapids, it begins with a consultation to get to know you. What are your goals? What challenges have you faced to get the look or feel you've been searching for? Every skin type is different. Every face is different. Every client is different. You're an individual, so we believe your visit should be, too.
What we stock
Selecting our Products
At Professional Image Enhancement, we look behind the label of every product we sell. What are the ingredients? What can they do for your skin? How might they react with different skin types? We intimately get to know our products so we can teach you the most about them and how best to use them.
We don't just sell one exclusive line of products. We want the best, and for us, that means a variety of brands and producers to create the most diverse and highest quality skincare product selection. Our products focus on skin therapy by combining the best knowledge with the latest technology.
To learn about some of the different products that we carry, and how we can create a customized skincare regimen for you, call us at (319) 373-9596.
Do you have your own question that isn't addressed here? We'd love to answer it for you!
Call us at (319) 373-9596 - talk to you soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: What makes Professional Image Enhancement different?
We focus on 3 things: Quality - Education - & Personalization. We want the best for our clients so we focus on ingredients, not name brands, and carry a variety of product lines. We take time to understand you, your skin, and your goals. We explain what each treatment specifically does and how the skin reacts to different treatments and chemicals. Education is key, not just for us, but for our clients as well. Finally, every one of our services is completely customizable. Every person is different, so we believe their treatment should be, too!
Q: What if I'm not sure what treatment options are best for me?
Gives us a call and we can discuss your questions and set up a consultation to further explore the best treatment options for you.
Electrolysis
Q: What is electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a type of permanent hair removal. It is accomplished by using a small needle to follow the hair to the root and destroys the hair follicle (what produces the hair) using electrical energy and/or heat. The hair is then removed and does not grow back! For more detailed information, see our popular info brochure here.
Read more permanent hair removal with electrolysis.
Q: What type of electrolysis do you use?
At Professional Image Enhancement, we use the blend method of electrolysis which uses a combination of both the galvanic and thermolysis methods.
Q: How many electrolysis sessions will I need?
The number of treatments is dependent on a variety of factors including the size of the area being treated, the amount of hair in that area, the type of hair, and what has been done previously for hair removal. Some people have dense hair growth, while others have more scarce hair growth.
Q: How long is one session of electrolysis?
Sessions begin at 15 minutes and can go as long as an hour or more. This simply depends on your tolerance and of course, our availability.
Q: Is electrolysis painful?
This is also very dependent on the individual and their general tolerance for pain. It has been described as not much worse than plucking the hairs, and may have a stinging or prickling sensation. We also use a local anesthetic to help reduce pain.
Q: Does electrolysis work on any color skin or hair?
Yes, electrolysis does indeed work on any color hair or skin.
Q: Does electrolysis cause scarring?
Scarring is very unusual when performed properly. It's important to follow the aftercare instructions we will provide to you.
Q: Are there any limitations to successful hair removal using electrolysis?
Waxing and tweezing can cause the hair follicle to bend or change shape. So if you've used these as common hair removal methods, then it may be difficult for the needle to reach the hair follicle easily. This can be discussed with you in further detail at your consultation.
Q: What's the difference between electrolysis and laser hair removal?
Electrolysis targets the hair follicle specifically while laser hair removal targets melanin. Melanin is what gives your skin, eyes, and hair its color or pigment. The laser used in laser hair removal seeks out the dark pigment in your hair and uses heat to damage the follicle. Melanin does not produce as much pigment in lighter hair (blonde, white, grey), and therefore is not as effective in those cases. The laser also cannot differentiate between the dark pigment in your hair and the dark pigment in your skin, so it not ideal for patients with tan or darker skin as the treatment may burn the skin. The ideal candidate for laser hair removal is someone with dark hair and light skin.
Electrolysis removes one hair at a time while laser hair removal treats a small area of hair all at the same time. However, laser hair removal does not remove all of the hair in the area treated. Because of this, under the FDA many of the laser hair removal equipment on the market can only be marketed and labeled as "permanent reduction" of hair as opposed to "permanent removal" as electrolysis can be described.
The bottom line: There are a large variety of laser treatment and they all make varying claims. Depending on who you talk to and where you read, there are different descriptions of the level of "permanence" that laser hair removal treatment can achieve, however electrolysis is a clear cut permanent solution to hair removal.
We recommend these unbiased articles for more information on the difference between electrolysis and laser hair removal:
- Electrolysis Versus Laser Hair Removal from about.com
- Permanent Hair Removal. Is It Possible? from about.com
- Electrolysis Hair Removal 101 from about.com
- Removing Hair Safely from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA)
- Laser Hair Removal: Definition from the Mayo Clinic
- Laser Hair Removal: Results form the Mayo Clinic
Skin Care
Q: How do I chose a facial?
If you're not sure where to start, we will dedicate the first part of your appointment to a consultation. This is when we'll take a look at your skin and discuss what your goals are. From there, we can help you chose what types of facial treatments would be best for you. In order to determine the right treatment, we need to see your skin. Because of this, we can't make any specific recommendations over the phone. But feel free to call us with any additional questions or concerns.
Q: How do I prepare for my facial?
Don't worry too much about pre-facial prep. We want you to be comfortable, so come as you are. We will take care of washing your face and making sure it's facial ready.
Q: Do you sell the products you use in your facials?
Yes! If there is a product you loved that we used during your facial, ask us about purchasing and home use. We do not, however, offer our chemical peels for sale in our store as they require the use of a professional due to their chemical strength.