Living up to its name, JetSetters SpaLon in Florence is paving the way for an affordable, luxury salon and spa experience in Florence.

The SpaLon, a combination of the words ‘spa’ and ‘salon,’ provides guests an upscale luxury experience without the upscale price tag. 

“We know when we look better we feel better, and when we pay attention on ourselves, it releases the tension and stress,” said owner Deidre Thomas, a former flight attendant who changed careers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Having spent fourteen years flying to different cities and countries, Thomas was inspired to bring the jet-set life to her hometown of west Florence. When the COVID lockdowns halted airlines, Thomas was placed on a leave of absence. Employees across various industries were losing jobs, and those in the travel and hospitality industries were among the hardest hit. Thomas had the keen foresight to craft a plan-B. She went back to school and got her esthetician license. 

“I bought this building about two months before we even knew what COVID was,” Thomas said. 

The building, located at 713 W Mobile St., was formerly known as Mademoiselle Beauty Salon. For Thomas, starting her business here is a full-circle moment.

“I grew up in west Florence and everybody got their hair done here.” Thomas said. “This was the place to be, period. This is the very same place I got my first press. It’s the first beauty salon I ever walked into. This is where it started for so many of us who grew up in this area, so I had a love for this building as it was.” 

Now forty-one with an eighteen-year-old daughter of her own, Thomas has renovated the former hair salon to suit a more modern, high-class atmosphere. 

“It looks way different than it did when I was a kid,” Thomas said. 

That might be an understatement. JetSetters SpaLon has the vibe of an airy Los Angeles salon frequented by socialites. The moment you step through the glass doors, you’re greeted by bright, inviting lights and elegant decor. A reception desk wrapped in white crystal-studded upholstery serves as a centerpiece for the back half of the SpaLon, where several massage beds are set up. Across from them, against the wall, a tower of sleek glass shelves displays a full store of 100% vegan skin and hair care products. 

“We have a responsibility,” Thomas said of the SpaLon’s totally plant-based product line. “This is Mother Earth.”

JetSetters SpaLon sets itself apart from other salons in the area by offering a suite of skincare services in addition to hair styling. Services include waxing, facials and microdermabrasion, just to name a few. Thomas also specializes in natural hair, offering locs, twists, braids and styling.

“One thing about it, people want to look good,” Thomas said. “So I just chose to continue the tradition that was already laid out for me, but I wanted to do it the right way: go to school, get certified and pass the state board.”

In a society that often tells black women they should be strong and nothing else, Thomas sought to create a space where people from her community could let down their burdens and just be understood.

“We welcome all races here, but we needed something at home,” Thomas said. “I wanted an upscale place that my neighborhood could go to. There was a need for it. I feel like we have a lot of salons around, but as far as spas and ‘upscale,’ I’m the only black spa owner in the quad cities.”

Misconceptions in society about deeper skin tones mean there is a strong need for licensed estheticians of color. Because many professionals only focus on fair skin tones, they may think they need to ramp up settings on equipment when treating people with deeper skin tones, which may lead to injuries and improper care. 

“We have sensitive skin as well,” Thomas said. “It’s almost just like hair: you have to be able to read all levels. Some people unfortunately don’t appreciate the beauty in blackness or the beauty in melanation, so then there may be a lack of understanding as well.”

To combat this issue, Thomas utilizes her position as an entrepreneur to create opportunities for up-and-coming stylists and estheticians in the community.

“One of the main goals for me is to take stylists out of their kitchen and get them licensed,” Thomas said. “That way, whether you stay with us or you don’t, or you go get your own business, you’re licensed to do so. It’s empowering to hire. To be able to bring others up with me and say, ‘Hey, there’s another way. This is how you do this.’”

In addition to serving up looks for clientele, Thomas and her team also serve the community through non-profit events.

“I would never consider myself a role model, but it’s important,” Thomas said. “I do a lot of community activities because I want people to see that if I can do this, you can do it, too.” 

Thomas and her business partner, Sana Wooden, an agent with Marmac Real Estate, team up yearly to organize events and gather sponsors for the W.C. Handy Festival. The blues legend is from the same part of Florence as Thomas, so she feels a connection with him. 

“He grew up here. He was born here. So we do about four or five events for that festival, including children’s free swim parties where we would give out book bags, or give out free food and ice cream, just to show appreciation,” Thomas said.

In the future, Thomas wants to work with battered women and breast cancer survivors. As far as business, she plans to expand her current services to offer permanent makeup for eyebrows, tattoo removal, and lip neutralization—a treatment that restores confidence to smokers whose lips may have uneven pigmentation from tar and nicotine exposure. 

“Just to brighten the lips,” Thomas said, “You know, that ‘I-woke-up-like-this’ kind of lip color. That’s where we’re going.”

Thomas recently started U-N-ThursdAys, where on Thursdays all UNA students receive 25% off every service. That includes facials, body scrubs and brow waxes. Normally ten dollars, a brow wax on U-N-ThursdAy is only $7.50 for students.

“We definitely keep our prices minimal so that you don’t have to pay top dollar to feel top dollar,” Thomas said. “You don’t have to spend a million dollars to feel your best. What we’re mainly promoting is self care. I’ve been in school before and I know the pressure. So we just want to tell you, hey, we see you. We know it’s a struggle, but you can come here and relax and rejuvenate your mind so you can go out there and be the best you that you can be.”