Beauty Black Book

Soda Salon
924 Garrett Street
404-622-1565
Price: $45 and up
Masters at multidimensional color, the stylists at Soda Salon treat hair like a canvas fitting, since the space doubles as an art gallery. But don’t expect a stuffy museum vibe: The down-to-earth staff and cool setting have won this salon a loyal following.

Van Michael Salon
39 W. Paces Ferry Road, NW
404-237-4664
Price: $28 and up
Whether it’s a sleek bob or cascading waves, stylists deliver easy-to-wear cuts that suit a client’s hair texture. A free blow-dry lesson ensures salon quality results at home.

Wet Paint Nail Studio at Purple Door Salon and Spa
321 Edgewood Avenue
404-808-9931
Price: $20—$50
Terrance Terry wants his nail services to feel as good as they look. That's why he insists clients sit back and sip a glass of wine (or nibble on his stash of gourmet chocolate) as he scrubs, buffs and polishes hands and feet to perfection.

Sweet Samba
884 Monroe Drive NE
404-347-5211
Price: $5—$60
Thoughtful extras like a glass of wine when you arrive and TVs on the ceilings make appointments more pleasant. But it's the nearly pain-free waxes that ensure an enjoyable visit. The owners swear the secret is the hard wax that contains beeswax imported from Brazil—it goes on in an almost transparent layer and leaves clients without redness or irritation.

29 Spa at the Mansion on Peachtree
3376 Peachtree Road
404-995-7529
Price: $140—$185
Married to a third-generation winemaker, Lydia Mondavi works with labs in Napa, Calif., and Milan, Italy, to produce grapeseed-based spa treatments. During the October cabernet harvest, the crushed seeds are rushed from the vineyards for use in the soothing facials.

Rigsby-Frederick Salon Gallery Spa
7520 Perkins Road,
Suite 240
225-769-7903
Price $30 and up
If there’s a big social event on the horizon (think Mardi Gras balls and Louisiana State University homecoming), this is where the pre-party happens. While the chic updos—ladylike buns are the current craze—will last the night, clients rely on the salon’s keratin—infused hair-smoothing treatments to resist Louisiana’s sweltering heat and thick humidity.

Umi Salon
75 Newbury Street
617-247-0770
Price: $155 and up
Owner Jeffrey Dauksevich conducts offbeat yet insightful color consultations, often asking, “How do you want to feel?” before going to work on your hair. The “therapy” doesn’t end there. His staff has earned attention for an ability to rehab botched dye jobs and use the balayage technique (see sidebar) to create truly believable blondes.

Mizu Salon at the Mandarin Oriental
776 Boylston Street
617-585-6498
Price: $125—$150
Elan Sassoon, son of the legendary stylist Vidal, continues the family legacy of precision cuts at his new futuristic white-on-white salon. High-tech extras, like Myvu goggles (movies are projected inside the lenses) and WiFi laptops, keep clients well entertained.

Bella Sante
38 Newbury Street
617-424-9930
Price: $27—$95
This trendy spot is the ideal place to give yourself some serious post-shopping-spree rehab. The Foot Facial includes a hydrating massage, enzyme scrub, and warm paraffin treatment.

Bella Skin
846 Walnut Street (Newton, Mass.)
617-796-7900
Price: $10—$65
Newbies to Brazilian waxes should know that the staff members at this cozy three-room spa are masters at making your first-time going bare comfortable. Technicians work in small sections and don't allow wax to cool—often the source of the sting. As a result, clients say they provide "the best Brazilian ever" and "you'll never be afraid of waxing again."

Skincare Physicians
1244 Boylston Street (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
617-731-1600
Price: $100 and up
Working under the guidance of Yale dermatologist Jeffrey Dover, the aestheticians at this top-notch practice have a clinical eye when it comes to treating skin. Their "medical facials" are all about deep cleansing and using active ingredients like glycolic acid. The result? Clear, glowing skin (no cucumbers required).

The Spa at Charleston Place
205 Meeting Street
843-937-8522
Price: $38—$75
You work hard to keep your face looking young, but what about those wrinkles and spots on your hands? At this relaxing spot, technicians use marine extracts to slow the signs of aging and leave skin smooth for days.

Michael & Michael Salon
365 W. Chicago Avenue
312-951-0779
Price: $65 and up
Each stylist is trained in dry cutting, a technique that allows them to tackle tricky cowlicks and excess bulk for natural-looking styles.

Honey Child Salon & Spa
1350 W. Randolph Street
312-573-1300
Price: $65 and up
It’s no surprise that Bambi Montgomery named her salon after her grandmother’s favorite term of endearment: Her skill with extensions and chemical-free hair relaxer earns the affection of everyone who steps inside the door.

Zoetica
1250 N. LaSalle Street
312-280-0800
Price: $40—$85
This USDA-certified organic wellness facility (one of the first in the country) offers one-of-a-kind hand and foot treatments. Aestheticians whip up a custom blend of natural ingredients to smooth rough cuticles and calloused heels, then buff nails until they shine like polished glass (there's no lacquer involved).

The Spa at Trump
401 N. Wabash Avenue
312-588-8020
Price: $30—$125
Spending the day in the truly Trump-size 23,000-square-foot spa turns a dreaded wax into an escape. Arrive early enough to enjoy the sauna and deluge shower (light panels change colors to create a soothing mood). The removal process is gentle, and the lounge area's Chicago River views are stunning.

Channing’s Day Spa
54 E. Oak Street
312-280-1994
Price: $90—$190
Owner Cheryl Renella has a reputation for using unexpected treatment ingredients to yield beautiful results. Her latest invention: the Caviar Facial, which includes freeze-dried fish eggs (imported from Switzerland) to promote cell turnover and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Julia Roberts and Whitney Houston have both indulged.

Frederic Fekkai Salon
47 Highland Park Village, Suite 207
214-219-3600
Price: $125 and up
Locals flock to Fekkai’s airy salon for sophisticated yet simple glamour (think sexy cuts, bouncy blowouts, and glossy color).

Zaspa at Hotel Zaza
2332 Leonard Street
214-550-9492
Price: $75
Filled with lush flowers and the scent of lemongrass and vanilla ginger, this Balinese-inspired sanctuary isn't your average mani-pedi joint. Upon arrival guests are escorted to the locker room, where they can slip on a plush robe and bamboo slippers before buffing and painting.

Skinfinity Aesthetics
8335 Westchester Drive
214-454-5505
Price: $18—$70
Owner Mary Vidal-Gray prides herself on understanding skin sensitivity and hair-growth patterns; she wields wax with virtually no sting. And her after-care lotions, spiked with lavender and green tea, are almost as soothing as her Texas accent.

Renee Rouleau Skin Care Spa
1722 Routh Street, Suite 113
214-735-4364
Price: $125—$675
Master facialist Rouleau really knows how to get under your skin—in a good way. Her unique blend of antibacterial potions has been known to work magic on even the most troubled complexions. The Bio Visage facial uses low-level electric current and two plumping serums to firm and tighten instantly. Clear-skinned beauties Ali Landry, Lisa Rinna, and Eva Amurri are all Rouleau devotees.

Click Salon
231 Milwaukee Street
303-399-9469
Price: $50—$150
Shear Genius finalist Charlie Price runs this unassuming but highly trafficked spot. Many of his stylists, who regularly work the photo-shoot and New York Fashion Week circuits, are whizzes at creating truly modern, cutting-edge styles.

Waxing the City
1664 Market Street
303-592-2929
Price: $15—$55
Dedicated to hair removal, this salon has won dozens of awards for affordable, friendly service that takes the anxiety out of waxing. Plus, the no-tipping policy is an added incentive for a monthly visit.

Figo Salon
265 N. Old Woodward Avenue
(Birmingham, Mich.)
248-723-7990
Price: $66 and up
The color experts at this hip salon don’t want to see clients coming around too often. That’s why they pride themselves on applying rich hues that stay vibrant past the two-month mark. For damage control, their dyes contain the lowest levels of ammonia on the market.

Barberella Hair Studio
3301 Edwin Street
(Hamtramck, Mich.)
313-871-0700
Price: $50
Don’t be fooled by the retro décor: Owner (and sole stylist) Sandra Kramer Shaw’s cuts are anything but old-fashioned. She snips precise bobs and streamlined layers that are flattering on every face shape.

Spa Julianna
444 S. Main Street (Plymouth, Mich.)
734-455-4445
Price: $55—$110
As if the classic manicures and pedicures weren't decadent enough (all include a thorough sea salt exfoliation and 5-minute massage), the team also offers a signature Night and Day pedicure—80 minutes of pampering in a private suite.

Immerse Spa at the MGM Grand
1777 Third Street
313-465-1656
Price: $30—$320
Thanks to signature treatments from Sonya Dakar—the Los Angeles aesthetician known for adding potent natural ingredients to tackle acne, dehydration and sun spots—a visit to this skin-care haven guarantees a glowing complexion.