Spas & Salons

Another holiday, another panic attack: What on earth is there left to get for the man in your life? Well, a good home-cooked meal should work, but if that’s not your idea of a special gift, I suggest you say “I love you” with:

… a Hot Shave
I recently got the chance to check out Alexander’s for Hair, a mid-range, family-owned, all-in-one spa and salon in west L.A., and I thought, “What a great place to take my [insert any family member here]!” Formerly the male-targeted Reeder’s Barber Shop, complete with beers and flatscreen TVs, Alexander’s for Hair has undergone a recent makeover to suit its growing clientele base, offering more services for both men and women as well as eco-friendly hair products by Eufora and high-quality GRAM skincare by Dr. Bernard Gramlich (you should see his skin!). Helmed by new owner Krissy Smith and her mom Jeanne Phares, the salon has both a small-town feel and a cosmopolitan flair — perfect for those who want luxurious treatment but find super-high-end salons and spas either intimidating or just not worth the extra dough. Best of all, while you’re loved one is getting his Signature MVP Hot Shave, you can indulge in a Eufora Deep Conditioning and Scalp Treatment (free this month with any color service), a fantastic facial, a mani-pedi or a delightful (and affordable) deep-tissue massage (ask for Barbara!). Ah, the perks of co-ed bliss.

Alexander’s for Hair is located at 11515 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. Call (310) 473-0462 to make an appointment. Readers, mention the code AFHGO through February and you’ll get 30 percent off your service!

… Custom Kicks
If the love (or like) of your life is a label-savvy jet setter who frequently blends street style and upscale threads (or just likes any of the aforementioned), he’ll appreciate the new G3 collection by Ryz, the brainchild of former president of Adidas America and Adidas Japan Rob Langstaff. (more…)

If you’re already racking your brain about what to do for Valentine’s Day and all you’ve come up with is “Dinner out or dinner in?,” consider taking pause from all the hustle and bustle at a quiet oasis such as Spa Luce. A seasonal offering on the spa menu, the delightful aromatherapeutic Spa Luce Valentine’s Day Couples Massage, $370, gets my vote for best investment in relaxation. It features massages performed side by side in the couples room, a mineral-salt soak in a hydrotherapy tub built for two, and a complimentary bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.

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I’ve been lucky enough to get the chance to visit a lot salons in Los Angeles, but one of my favorites is Warren-Tricomi on Melrose.  It had been awhile since I was there, but recently, I headed over for a cut and color and it was every bit as great as I remembered. (more…)

“New Year, New You,” is a common theme. But aside from new eating habits, a new workout plan and a list of things to organize in 2011, the new you can often include a new look. And for me, that usually means a new hair color.

I look at hair color as a fun way to change things up — and it’s way less of a commitment than a haircut. If you don’t like the results, there’s no need to spend a year or two growing it back out — you can usually just color it back to its prior state!

That said, I’ve met a lot of people who want to take the plunge but are afraid they won’t be able to pull off their dream hair color. Those people have said to me, “You’re so lucky; you are one of those people who can pull off any hair color. I’m sooo not.” Well, I’m not either — and I have the bad-hair-color photos to prove it. My secret weapon? A good colorist, specifically, celebrity hair stylist Marco Pelusi of Marco Pelusi Hair Studio in West Hollywood.

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New York spa lovers rejoice! Now you can book last minute spa appointments at great deals through the new sale site bTreated which offers appointments for the day of the booking and the following today.  This is one of our favorite sales sites to date! The deals site which launched today offers up to 50% off deals today at luxury spas like The Wellness Spa @ The Benjamin Hotel and salons like at the Christoper Stanley Salon.  Deals can even go up to 80% off.  The site works with different spas every day so you’ll just have to log on to see what’s on the menu.

The site is member’s only but we’ve got an exclusive invite for TDO readers!

Only NY spas are on the menu for now, but we’re hoping that it expands quickly!!

Say bye-bye to inconvenient hair appointments! Last night, I got a taste of the new Blowout Bar at the Argyle Salon & Spa (located inside L.A.’s landmark Sunset Tower Hotel), where hours are being extended to accommodate clients in the morning and evening.

I stopped by the salon after work to check out their blowout menu, which features four types of blowouts: the Argyle Signature ($40), the Hollywood Blowout (glam volume!, $40), the Beachwaves Babe (finished with a curling iron, $50), and the Polished (finished with a flatiron, $50). (more…)

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Recently, I took a ill-timed, direct red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans for a wild wedding weekend, only to regret not taking a nap before the three-and-a-half-hour trip. (Anyone who was there during Halloween/Voodoo Fest weekend might know that it was practically impossible to check in to your hotel early.) Unfortunately, this was my first time in The Big Easy, and wandering sleep-deprived through the French Quarter at 8 a.m., fueled only by a cup of chicory coffee and a plate of beignets, was — well, not so easy.

Imagine my elation when I literally stumbled upon the charming Kinetix Spa and Salon (formerly Ofadean). On a whim, I asked owner Michael Mikolajewski if there was a “quiet room.” He smiled and gently said the prettiest word I’d heard all morning, “Yes.” I then asked if he could accommodate me and my delirious husband, despite the fact that the salon was bustling with some of what must have been 100 bridal parties in town that weekend. Again he said, “Yes.” (He really had that southern hospitality thing down.)

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In New York City, time goes by too quickly.  Whether it’s time before a deadline, the time you get to spend sleeping, or time for a work day lunch- the truth is, a New York minute really does go by in the blink of an eye.  That’s why a few weekends ago, I decided to head to The Lodge at Woodloch, one of the Northeast’s premiere resorts where time is meant to be savored and enjoyed and cherished with a loved one- a best friend, a significant other, a parent.

The Lodge at Woodloch, located in Hawley Pennsylvania, is only a short bus ride but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.  It’s the distinctively “grown up” arm of the Woodloch family- an adults only resort which focuses on food, spa, health and wellness.  The focal point of the resort is a 27 room indoor spa and salon which offers an extensive range of hair, body and facial treatments.  The spa is open from 7am to 10pm on weekends, ensuring that all guests have ample time to experience the treatment they want.  My personal recommendation? Book a massage the night you arrive.  It’s a wonderful way to wind down after a long day and will immediately put you in the right mindset for the rest of your stay. (more…)