Article courtesy of The Ingersoll Times

Spa up for design award.

Specializing in making people look and feel good, an Ingersoll business has been recognized for its own good looks.

Roots to Ends Hair Studio & Tranquility Day Spa is a finalist for the salon/spa design of the year in the 2006 Canadian Hairdresser Magazine Mirror Awards.

Owner DJ Alexander says she entered the Charles Street East facility for the national award as a tribute to her mentor, Len Murphy, who died last year after 55 years in the beauty business.

"He gave me a lot of inspiration to go into this (business)," said Alexander who opened Roots to Ends 10 years ago.

This is the first time Alexander has entered the business for an award. In submitting the entry, she had to have photographs taken of the studio and spa.

She also had to credit everything from the facility's interior and exterior designers to brochure designers. That was easy because she did all the designs herself when the business relocated from Thames Street to Charles Street in September of 2004.

An owner-designed spa is fairly unique, Alexander said, because the businesses are often designed by firms that specialize in spa design.

"As soon as I walked in this is just how I saw it," said Alexander about how she came up with the design for the new location.

She sent in the entry without telling any of her 15 staff. The salon/spa design of the year is one of about 20 Mirror Awards.

In February, Alexander received a letter that the business was one of six finalists in the category.

"I never thought anything would really happen until we received the letter," said Alexander about her reaction to the news. "It was very overwhelming, shocking. And then I had to let my staff know what I'd done."

One of the six finalists will receive the award during the 12th annual Mirror Awards gala at the Toronto Convention Centre April 8, which Alexander said is like going to the Oscars.

She is taking all of her staff to the event.

"I feel the need for all of them to be there," she said. "They're not just workers, all of us are equals."

Family and her mentors son and daughter will also be attending the awards ceremony.

Alexander said even if they don't win the award, just being named as a finalist is an honour.

She said she is grateful for the support she has received from the community over the years.

"The clients are so excited," said Alexander about the reaction to the news that the business is a finalist for the award.