Michelle Menard, Owner and Master Stylist of Serene Salon & Spa
About Serene Salon & Spa
At Serene Salon and Spa, we offer our guests the ultimate Aveda experience. Our team is committed to providing our guests not only beautiful hair and spa services, but a whole relaxing and serene experience. Our talented and dedicated technicians work together at the highest level of team service to ensure we meet the needs and schedules of our guests. Each has different areas of expertise and we encourage our guests to experience the skills of our entire team. We are committed to offering exceptional customer service and ultimately a relaxing retreat from everyday life.
Meet Our Team
Michelle Menard
Owner & Master Stylist
Michelle started her career in Cosmetology in 1997. She has always worked with Aveda and advanced education is so important to her. Keeping up with changes in the industry and trying new techniques has lent itself to her professional growth over the years. For several years she was a hair color educator for Aveda, training stylists in salons and at the education center. She has attended classes and conferences all over New England, New York City, Minneapolis and New Orleans.
After many years as a stylist she decided it was time to start her own business and she opened Serene Salon & Spa in November of 2010. She was passionate about creating a place where guests can visit to relax, be pampered and escape from our fast paced lifestyle. Serene is a place where professionals can grow & hone their skills, through coaching and education, and strive to be better each day. Education continues to be vital to her career, she loves learning new techniques, coaching her team to grow personally and professionally. In 2018, Michelle began her journey with Reiki. She has been a Reiki Master since 2019. Practicing reiki has brought peace, harmony and healing into her life. She loves sharing Reiki sessions with her guests and bringing much needed healing and balance to their lives. Her Favorite Aveda product, if she had to pick one, is Stress Fix Body Creme. She loves the aroma and how soft it makes her skin feel. When she’s not working behind the chair or running a business she loves yoga, reading, working on craft projects, and relaxing at home by the fire indoors or out with family and friends.
Amanda Cardaropoli
Master Stylist
Amanda began her career in 2003. Education has been a contributing factor to her growth and success as a stylist. Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, she works each and everyday to really listen to her guests needs and delivers what will work best for their lifestyle. She has attended trainings all over New England, New York City, California, and Colorado. She spent 5 years working in California. She has worked on several photo shoots over the years, and worked back stage doing hair for Fashion Week in NYC in 2011 and 2012.
Her favorite service to perform is highlights, she loves the subtle differences that enhance natural beauty. She joined the Serene team in 2017. What she loves most about being at Serene is our relaxing vibe and everyone she works with. Learning new things inspires her, no matter what there is always something to learn or take away from any training opportunity. Her all time favorite Aveda product is Hand Relief, she can’t live without it, it makes her hands feel usable. When she’s not doing amazing hair, she loves working on DIY projects and going to the beach.
Emily Calabrese
Stylist
Emily joined the Serene team in 2016 as a Front Desk Co-ordinator, while she was still a cosmetology student. She was licensed in 2017. Over the years she has honed her skills and attended many advanced classes, all over New England and in Minneapolis. Balayage and lowlights are among Emily’s favorite services, she loves that they can offer a bold or natural change to completely transform her guest’s color. Working in the industry keeps her inspired because its an ever evolving profession. She gets to be creative every day behind the chair to bring her guest’s desired look to life. Emily is grateful that everyday she can work in a job she loves and spend her day with people of all ages.
Her favorite Aveda product is Beautifying Composition Oil, she loves the aroma and that it has so many uses in her everyday life. She loves being a part of the Serene team because she is surrounded by great co-workers, clean beauty products and a relaxing environment. When Emily isn’t at Serene you can find her doing home projects, learning new hair and makeup trends and spending time with her family and friends.
Lia Montalvo
Master Aesthetician
Lia started her Esthetics career in 2018. She joined Serene team in 2019, starting as a Front Desk Desk Co-ordinator and learned Aveda esthetic techniques before moving into the treatment room. She is always eager to learn what the biggest skincare trends are so she can offer her guests more services. She has attended many classes all over New England, to enhance her service offerings, expand her skincare knowledge and perfect her massage techniques. She has a passion for delivering beautiful brows! We call her the “Brow Queen”, one of her favorite services to perform because it instantly changes your face, it enhances a guest’s other features and gives people more confidence. The Aveda products she can’t live without are the Outer Peace Acne Pads because they save the day when you have a breakout and the Hydrating Lotion because it’s lightweight and keeps her feeling moisturized all day and night.
Lia loves being a part of the Serene team because she is surrounded by supportive people and the opportunities for continuing her education. She also loves the inviting atmosphere everyone feels when they walk through the door. The beauty industry keeps her inspired because it is ever changing and there are always something new to learn. When Lia isn’t making her guests feel pampered, giving them radiant skin and perfectly shaped brows, she enjoys hanging out with her kittens, cooking, and shopping.
Gabrielle Godbout
New Talent Stylist & Front Desk
Gabbie joined the Serene team in 2021 as a Front Desk Co-ordinator and Salon Assistant. She received her cosmetology license in 2022. She greets all guests with her bubbly outgoing personality. She is always willing to help out where she is needed and is eager to learn all she can about the industry. Her favorite service is hair color from all overcolor to highlights, she loves being able to consult with guests to bring their vision to reality. Gabbie loves the atmosphere at Serene, the smell when you walk in and the people. From day one she has been welcomed by everyone, she has learned so much since she started and appreciates that everyone wants to help her succeed in the industry. She is so thankful she found Serene.
She is inspired by her parents, her dad has always taught her to work hard and her step mom encouraged her to pursue her career as a hairstylist. Her favorite Aveda product is the Outer Peace Acne Pads because since she has started using them her face has felt so fresh and clear. In Gabbie’s free time, she loves spending time with her family and taking weekend trips to Cape cod no matter the season.
We live a hectic, fast paced life, when a guest walks into Serene I want them to be able to breathe, relax and recharge. When they leave I hope they feel renewed and enjoyed a quiet retreat from the outside world. Our team works hard everyday to be better than yesterday, to give exceptional service to every guest everyday, and to inspire one another and work together in harmony to be the best version of ourselves.
Photos of Serene Salon & Spa in Holyoke
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Serene Salon & Spa Polices and Information
Appointment Etiquette
As a courtesy to our guests and our team, appointments must be canceled 24 hours in advance. By scheduling an appointment at Serene Salon you understand that if you fail to give proper notice you are giving us permission to charge the full amount of your scheduled service. A credit card on file is required upon booking. All credit card information is encrypted.
Late Policy
At Serene we pride ourselves on being on time for our scheduled appointments. If a guest is more than 10 minutes late for their appointment, it is at the stylists discretion if they are able to accommodate them.
Return and Refund policy
If for any reason if you are unhappy with your service. Please notify us within 7 days of your original appointment. We will do our best to correct any challenges as soon as possible. We do not issue refunds on any service.
Retail purchases may be exchanged for another product within 30 days of original purchase. We do not offer refunds on any product purchase.
Parking
We are located in Mill 1 at Open Square. When visiting Serene you may park either in the Mill 4 Main Square lot (enter through yellow door of Mill 1, up stairs to grey door) or in the Lyman St. Upper Lot (black door next to ramp). We are located next to Pearl Bridal Boutique, inside of Mill 1.
Notes and Other Helpful Information
- Our rates do not include gratuity. If you feel it is appropriate, a gratuity is greatly appreciated. Cash, check or Venmo directly to your service provider please.
- If you are having a challenge with any service performed at Serene, please call us within 7 days of the original service.
- Retail purchases may be exchanged or returned for a store credit within 30 day of original purchase.
- We do not guarantee color services by our technicians without the use of suggested Aveda or Back of Bottle products at home.
- Prices vary based on experience and education level.
- All prices subject to change without notice.
- Gift card purchases are not refundable, however we are happy to transfer them.
- For the consideration of all our guests, please discontinue the use of your cell phone while you are with us.
- Please do not leave children unattended any time in the salon or spa.
- We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- All returned checks are subject to a $25 fee.