Alta Bella: A Glamorous Experience for the Books

When you walk into Alta Bella by the The Edge Hair Studio's, the experience is electrifying — a beautiful lavender smell, rows of colorful shampoo bottles, and a makeup section that reminds you a bit of Sephora.

This morning, the Chamber Ambassadors celebrated Alta Bella’s name change and service additions with a ribbon cutting. Alta Bella means “total beauty” in Italian, explained owner Laura Maurer, and that is exactly what her hair salon delivers.

Maurer was always into beauty. Starting in 8th grade, she styled her sister’s hair, cut her stepdad and cousins’ hair, and trimmed many loved ones’ bangs. “I always liked making people feel good about themselves,” says Maurer. “When someone first comes in, I usually ask first: ‘What bothers you when you look in the mirror?’”

Her current hair salon is drastically different from the little salon she owned on the farther side of town. But after the 2020 derecho storm in Grinnell, she decided to move to Commercial St.“I decided to expand to a bigger space and hoped that the market would join us,” recalls Maurer.

And expand they did — Maurer and her staff bought new hair and makeup products, invested in high technology facial treatments, and delved into the future of skin care and rejuvenation by hiring a medical director.

Maurer highlighted one of their newest services – the Exion Face Applicator machine and EMFACE to the Ambassadors, products they recently began offering from a cutting edge company in Prague in the Czech Republic. The EMFACE machine primarily uses radiofrequency heating to stimulate collagen and elastin production, as well as build up facial muscles for optimal rejuvenation.

The EMFACE machine can treat different parts of the face, from the eyes to cheek bones to foreheads — whether to build collagen back up or reduce fine lines and puffiness. “With your cheeks, it builds your muscles up but doesn't burn fat, so you don’t look so hollow afterwards.” Collagen is a molecule that the body naturally produces, explains Maurer, but with a boost of production, it helps to fill in fine lines and wrinkles.

“The Exion machine is not to make you look twenty years younger than you actually are,” says Maurer, “but to help you look fresh using non-toxic treatments throughout the body.” The machine is also a “muscle builder” and works to give areas more volume, such as lifting cheeks, and eliminating jowl. Exion helps produce more elastin, preventing sagginess in the skin.

The medical director helps choose which treatments are right for Alta Bella clients — signing off on treatments and helping clients feel secure when undergoing these noninvasive treatments. Maurer’s staff is also incredibly talented, not only equipped with extensive hair styling experience, but are certified in conducting treatments using the EMFACE and Exion machines.

And if you are looking for a glamorous beauty experience, the staff at Alta Bella have a makeup section to shop from. Plus, they can do your makeup — whether for bridal showers, prom, or just a simple touchup after an appointment.

Ready to jump into your beauty journey? Visit Maurer and her team at 804 Commercial St. to set an appointment, or view their services on their website. They are also looking to hire an esthetician, so if you are skilled and available, reach out to join their team!

Chamber Ambassadors

Chamber ambassadors who attended this ribbon-cutting include the following individuals, from left to right:

• Erin Bustin
  Grinnell School of Music
• Matt Moyer
  Bayer Crop Science
• Rachel Arseneault
  Ramsey-Weeks Inc. Real Estate
• Donnette Ellis
  Grinnell College & Grinnell College Community Connections
• Dedee Lehman
  All In Real Estate Inc.
• Ashley Sorensen
  Volunteer Iowa
• Jodie Ryan
  First Interstate Bank
• Allison Maurer
  Alta Bella by the Edge
• Nicolle Donnelly
  Poweshiek Insurance Agency
• Laura Maurer
  Alta Bella by the Edge
• Monica St. Angelo
  Grinnell Area Arts Council
• Hillary Gonzalez
  Alta Bella by the Edge
• Jennifer McAlexander
  JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock & Security
• Kaelyn Goodrich
  Alta Bella by the Edge
• Markie Nielsen
  Alta Bella by the Edge
• Dan McCue
  McCue & Associates - American Family Insurance
• Fran Conn
• Trent Arment
  MCG - Mahaska Communication Group
• Lisa Cirks
  Cirks Financial Services
• Yesenia Mozo
  Grinnell Chamber
  Nikki Armstead
  Grinnell Chamber
• Not pictured: Brandy Virchow
  B. Nicole Salon