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subscribe to beauty counter blog via RSSA New Yorker In Santa Monica
December 29, 2011 12:38 pm
Los Angeles residents have a new reason to be thankful this month: one of New York’s master cutters has pointed her compass due west. Shin An, the stylist who earned her shears at Mark Garrison salon and Paul Labrecque—not to mention being immortalized by Philip B. (the product guru named not one but two styling aids after her, Shin Shine and Shinade Pomade)—has opened up her first, eponymous salon in the heart of Santa Monica. The setting is idyllic in a way that just isn’t possible in New York; the airy cottage (a cottage!) on a stylish stretch of Montana Avenue features cool, Asian-influenced décor like lacquered wood carvings, traditional Asian privacy screens, and colorful mosaics. While the setting may be new, Shin’s signature dry-cutting technique, which has earned her a very devoted clientele, remains the same. “I always say, ‘when the hair is dry, it doesn’t lie,” she explains. “Wet hair can be deceiving. With a dry cut, I am able to visualize the shape and texture of the client’s hair and sculpt the precise look according to what fits.” Let the celebrity spotting begin.
SHIN Salon, 1025 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica; (310) 310-3128; www.shinhair.com.
If You Like It, Then You Better Put Some Bling On It
December 22, 2011 1:00 pm
For those of you who are still riding the nail art train, we imagine you’re beginning to tire of plain old DIY appliqués. Sure, they’re convenient and come in a wealth of different colors and prints. But to some degree, if you’ve seen one zebra-print overlay, you’ve seen them all. Unless, of course, the zebra-print overlay in question has been decked out in crystals. Dashing Diva’s new Design FX Bling in-salon service offers 20 different bejeweled and bedazzled appliqué options to bring the right amount of “festive” to your holiday dinner table: Choose from a single accent nail or a full set of decked-out fingers—and cradle that cup of eggnog with gusto.
Visit www.dashingdiva.com to find a salon near you.
tags: Dashing Diva, Nails
Phyto’s Damage Waiver
December 21, 2011 12:43 pm
Hair may be the focus there, but Phyto Universe is no salon. Yes, your locks will be shampooed and conditioned, blow-dryed, and styled. But before any of that happens, they will be analyzed thoroughly—using the hair trauma center’s patented Phyto Scope, a giant probe that magnetizes your scalp’s every follicle and oil gland. It’s at once cool and creepy, but every treatment at the midtown hair haven begins like this, including the newest addition to the menu, the Botanical Keratin Repair. Thanks to many years of coloring and heat styling aplenty, I was the perfect candidate for the targeted blend of hyaluronic acids and botanical-born keratin, which together help restore weakened or damaged strands. The service begins with a positively heavenly scalp massage using the essential-oil packed Phytopolleine scalp elixir to stimulate circulation. Then comes the Phytonectar oil (which happens to be made with 12 percent egg yolk, an old favorite for hair nourishing), which is slathered onto the lengths and ends before it is steamed for about 15 minutes to ensure optimal penetration. Following a good washing and conditioning with Phytokeratine shampoo and conditioner (each has ceramides, hyaluronic acid, pomegranate extract, and botanical keratin), my aesthetician applied a generous dousing of a silk peptide and Brazilian palm oil-laced serum. But it’s after the subsequent blowout that you can really appreciate the result of all that keratin: My hair was super-soft and shiny, and my color—which was overdue for a re-up—looked almost restored. Not a bad pre-holiday pick-me-up.
$175, available at Phyto Universe, 715 Lexington Ave., NYC, (212) 308-0270, www.phytouniverse.com.
tags: Hair, Phyto Universe
Jo Malone: Bringing The Art Of Fragrance Combining To The West Village
November 28, 2011 3:46 pm
Fresh on the heels of its brand-new boutique in New York’s Grand Central Terminal, Jo Malone’s new flagship on Bleecker Street is officially open for business. “It is the new hub of the West Village,” James Gager, Estée Lauder senior vice president and group creative director for MAC, La Mer, and Jo Malone, says of the store’s location, which is a stone’s throw away from the recently opened NARS boutique, Diptyque’s new digs, and a sprawling Marc by Marc store, as well as the new U.S. outposts of Parisian haunts Maje and Sandro. The design of the 715-square-foot space is meant to bridge the gap between English classicism and English modernity—”it’s luxurious and contemporary but has references to the classic sensibilities of the past,” Gager elaborates. “The thing l like most about the store design is that it feels like a residence,” he continues of the location’s painted cabinetry, black corbelled walls, and carpets, chairs, chandeliers, and sconces. The thing we like most about the store design? It retains the standard Jo Malone “tasting bar,” so you can try out all of your favorite scents and layer them with others to find a new favorite combination. Another bonus: The downtown address is a much more convenient place for us to pick up Jo Malone’s new, limited-edition Roasted Chestnut candle, which we hope to burn for hours (and hours) through the end of the holiday season.
Jo Malone, 330 Bleecker St., NYC, (212) 242-1454, www.jomalone.com.
A Vodka-Infused Toast To Better Pampering
November 17, 2011 3:38 pm
The haute spa race is on in Paris. As Clarins’ new My Blend spa at the Le Royal Monceau and the Guerlain-stocked treatment menu at the new spa at the Mandarin Oriental duke it out for bragging rights, Le Bristol’s revamped relaxation destination arrives with a spin all its own. Spread over three levels, the serene Pierre Yves Rochon-designed space is the new go-to address for La Prairie facials (caviar addicts, take note). It also offers exclusive treatments by niche brands such as My Organic Pharmacy, the aromatherapy-based Russie Blanche and the algae-centric Les Thermes Marins Saint-Malo. But what will really propel this pampering haven over its competitors is the newly erected Russian Room. A first this side of Moscow, it comes fitted with a private hammam, a heated marble table, and a movable horizontal shower. It also serves as the exclusive venue for the Bristol’s Vodka Detox Massage. While we’ve always been under the impression that vodka is best suited to re-toxing, the spa uses the circulation-stimulating alcohol topically as part of a concoction that includes coarse sea salt and sesame seeds (to exfoliate), a citrus essential oil blend (to energize), and sesame oil (to nourish and protect the skin). Make no mistake: ten minutes in the hammam and a top-to-toe rubdown followed by a rinse with that horizontal shower adjusted to hit the meridians just so, will knock you sideways—but only for about half-an-hour. Unlike tossing back a few martinis, this intoxicating pastime leaves you brimming with energy and ready to conquer the world.
Vodka Detox Massage at La Prairie Spa at Le Hotel Bristol, 112 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, +33 1 53 43 43 00 www.lebristolparis.com.
tags: Hotel Le Bristol, La Prairie, Skincare
Caudalie Fast-Forwards
November 16, 2011 4:26 pm
Spending countless hours at Caudalie’s spa at The Plaza in New York is not a difficult task. But if you don’t have time to luxuriate in a two-hour facial followed by a lounge in the relaxation area with a few glasses of fine wine (and more than a few nibbles of fine cheese), there’s a new way to get in, get out, and get your primp on. The Under an Hour collection features four treatment round-ups designed to be completed in 60 minutes or less. Vine Reset offers a detoxifying wrap, scalp massage, body massage, and moisturizing mask; Vine Express showcases a body polish, body wrap, petite facial, and scalp massage; Vine Power includes the spa’s grand facial, which is paired with a manicure and petite pedicure; and Vine Flash combines a petite facial and brow shaping with a bikini wax and polish change. We partook in the Vine Flash on a recent visit to the pampering haven, as it includes four things we typically have to trek all over the city for. The service actually begins with the bikini wax, which is unrushed and thorough, and then transitions into the facial. To keep on schedule, this one comes minus extractions, but a little circulation-boosting massage and deep exfoliation can go along way to enhanced clarity. A brow shaping and lacquer application follow directly after. Needless to say, lunch hour just got way more exciting.
Under an Hour treatments are available at the Caudalie Spa at the Plaza, 1 W. 58th St., NYC, (212) 265-3182, www.caudalie-usa.com.
The London Look: Talking Shop With Josh Wood and George Northwood
November 14, 2011 3:19 pm
For the pond-hopping elite, Josh Wood is a demigod. Londoners like Elle Macpherson, Sam Taylor-Wood, and Laura Bailey keep his number close at hand and visiting starlets including January Jones swear by the King of Color for the kind of golden flaxen that is the envy of the SoCal set. Then there’s his backstage cred: those ombré gray wigs at Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fall 2011 show, and the icy blondes at Louis Vuitton for Spring were both classic Wood. With the opening of his new Atelier of hairdressing earlier this Fall, the King now has a proper court to call his own. Nestled in London’s Holland Park, the destination is “a club of creativity,” as Wood calls it, that gathers the best of the cutting, coloring, and styling worlds under one well-designed roof. The new space supplies innovation at every turn—from complimentary iPads and an in-house chef to specially formulated hair-conditioning smoothies and super-stylist “pop-up” residencies. Here, Wood and his stylist, George Northwood, talk to Style.com about color that promotes “stealth, not wealth,” groomed but effortless cuts, and creating an environment that is plenty hip but never intimidating.
So why an “atelier” rather than a status quo salon?
Josh Wood: Because we’re working with some of the most creative people in the industry and have so much energy under one roof. I think it was important to create a space that could house many different talents, whether they come from the session world or the salon. It’s time to break down the division between the two camps; you can work in both worlds and bring inspiration from each. It allows our stylists to grow and nurture their careers alongside the salon brand. George’s work particularly—the way he cuts and styles is not forced or overdone, just exquisitely groomed and contemporary—has the energy of how I think modern styling should look.
George Northwood: For me, its about being a part of something so creative where different stylists and colorists are out and about doing different jobs, then bringing it back to the table to inspire one another. It has really opened my mind to the concept of there being multiple ways of working—there’s no fixed method. And people feel so comfortable to be here, it doesn’t feel like a salon and it’s so relaxed. The whole experience is first-class, but it’s not intimidating—it’s not too cool for school, and I love that clients recognize that!
Read the rest of this entry >
tags: Atelier of Hairdressing, George Northwood, Hair, Josh Wood
Paul Labrecque’s Rebalancing Act
November 10, 2011 6:45 pm
I’m a sucker for any kind of head massage. I linger at the salon shampoo station like a puppy waiting for its ears to be scratched, and I tend to brush my hair far more frequently than actually necessary simply to feel the boar bristles rubbing against my scalp. So when I heard that the latest addition to Paul Labrecque’s treatment menu at its oh-so-posh Core Club location was noggin-centric, I didn’t waste any time booking an appointment. Developed by Pirkko Vaisanen, the in-house wellness specialist, the new Chakra Rebalancing service aims to reboot, realign, and repair your body, from the head down. Vaisanen, with her adorable Finnish accent and cheery countenance, scans your chakras (energy levels) with the help of a few crystals before placing rose quartz on particularly worrisome areas (my heart was fine; my spleen, not so much). Then, thrillingly, the attention turns to your head. Vaisanen begins with a thorough scalp stimulation using a dry brush before launching into a positively drool-inducing neck and skull massage that she administers with a customized herbal oil blend. Then she douses the entire scalp with Paul Labrecque’s Daily Moisture Mud Conditioner and swaddles the hair in a hot towel before shifting her focus to limbs. Employing Reiki techniques, Vaisanen places her hands on specific pressure points to assuage the built-up tension bubbling beneath the surface. The treatment’s final act is an incredibly soothing reflexology session on the feet that is administered with yet another herbal oil blend. Ninety minutes later you’ll feel what I can only describe as a state of absolute bliss.
Paul Labrecque at the CORE Club, 66 E. 55th St., NYC; www.thecoreclub.com.
tags: Hair, Paul Labreque, Pirkko Vaisanen, Skincare
A Cut Above
November 9, 2011 7:32 pm
Takamichi Saeki has been earning a reputation for his unique skills with the scissors since starting his styling career in New York more than 15 years ago. Known for the kind of haircut that looks good fresh out of the salon—and four weeks later—Saeki slowly built up his business to include coloring, and an obligatory keratin straightening treatment. “But people really come for the haircut,” he admits. Not to mention the convenience factor: The city’s downtown cool crowd has relied on Saeki’s prime below-14th-Street digs since his first space opened on First Street and First Avenue, and then again when he upgraded to a loft on Great Jones. Devoted clientele will also no doubt follow him to his new location at 263 Bowery. “It doesn’t look like a hair salon, it looks like an art collector’s private house,” the coiffing star says of the 2,000-square-foot destination located a few doors down from the New Museum. Designed by architect Sandra van Rolleghem, the minimalist layout includes six styling stations, a color area where guests can let the foils do their work while they peruse a selection of choice glossies, and white walls adorned with artistic elements like leather-rimmed replicas of 1920s Hermès mirrors and a freehand charcoal mural that Seiki commissioned from his friend, artist Santi Moix. Another draw: Takamichi HAIR is one of the city’s few destinations that stocks Japanese product lines like Nigelle, the brand credited with inventing Japanese hair straightening. And then there’s the location’s proximity to the Whole Foods on Houston and its truly epic kombucha bar. What? Like you weren’t thinking the same thing.
Takamichi HAIR, 263 Bowery, 2nd Floor, NYC; (212) 420-7979.
tags: Hair, Takamichi Seiki
Make Up For Ever Goes West
November 8, 2011 7:08 pm
Make Up For Ever founder makeup artist Dany Sanz is known for innovations that range from specialized foundation that is nearly invisible to pore-scrutinizing HD cameras to eyeliner so waterproof that synchronized swimmers swear by it. And while Sanz’s professional line became consumer-friendly about ten years ago when it got prominent placement in Sephora stores worldwide, the brand has never had a real home to call its own in the States. That’s all about to change, though. After cutting the ribbon on a pop-up shop at the Sephora store on Broadway in New York earlier this year, the brand will open the doors to a new West Coast flagship on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles this week. The 1,300-square-foot boutique officially opens on Friday, and in addition to signature aesthetic touches like hot-pink neon signs, black brick, and colorful photos of body-painted Parisian models, shoppers can create custom palettes out of the more than 1,400 products that line the shelves and then see the pigments’ potential color combinations brought to life on a touch-screen Smart Board the size of a large TV. The space is also crawling with experts who provide 30- to 60-minute beautifying sessions, which, in a store exclusive, can be recorded and downloaded to a USB drive for future reference. “Our customers are always saying to our artists, ‘I wish I could take you home and have you do my makeup every morning,” says Michelle Carroll, MUFE’s Executive Director of Sales. “We wanted to offer them that experience.” For the visual learners of the world, this just might be the ticket to finally figuring out the secret to crafting a truly legit smoky eye in the comfort of your own home.
Make Up For Ever, 132 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles; www.makeupforever.com.
tags: Dany Sanz, Make Up For Ever, Makeup
