Cutting-Edge Salon
Julius Michael
1 Christie Pl, Scarsdale
(914) 725-1123; juliusmichael.com
This sleek new salon, with its shiny white walls, glossy slate-gray floors, and ethereal-looking styling chairs, has the LA boutique look down pat—right down to the gorgeous clientele and stylists. But a pretty face only takes you so far—we come back for the great cuts and color. Owner Julius Michael trained with celebrity hair colorist Rita Hazan, working on such stars as Mariah Carey. Now he’ll use those skills on you. The salon gets brownie points for all the sweets from Lulu Cake Boutique, located just around the corner, in its waiting room.
Green Salon
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Dragonfly Hair Studio
54 Maple St, Croton-on-Hudson
(914) 271-1336; dfhairstudio.com
The hair products are organic, the wallpaper is biodegradable, and the flowers at each of the three stations are fresh. They don’t even use paper cups here, for heaven’s sake. We love the green aspect, but also the spiritual, holistic vibe (and the coffee brought in from The Black Cow Coffee Company around the corner). Owner Tara Colavecchio worked for 18 years in Manhattan, at such top salons as Frédéric Fekkai, Le Salon Chinois, and Pierre Michel Salon. Her staff is just as experienced and talented; most have years of New York City experience.
Fitness Craze
SoulCycle
7 Popham Rd, Scarsdale
(914) 713-1200; soul-cycle.com
SoulCycle is the brainchild of Julie Rice, who didn’t think New York spinning classes were up to the standards of her LA classes. She opened a small, candlelit space in New York City and the concept took off, becoming the latest workout craze with fun, pump-it-up music. One of our colleagues tried it (“I thought I’d throw up”), made it through, and loved the afterglow. She’s a convert.
Hair Extensions
NTNY The Salon
549 N State Rd, Briarcliff Manor
(914) 923-1300; ntnythesalon.com
A colleague who is accustomed to spending up to $1,000 on extensions was thrilled when she got them applied at NTNY for less than half the price. “I live by the ‘you get what you pay for’ maxim, so I was a bit nervous to try someplace new,” she says. “But I have to say they did a fantastic job.” And it’s no wonder: Salon owner Tara Pomposello has been lengthening locks for 10 years and has the coveted platinum rating from Great Lengths, a major player in the extension biz.
Hair Salon Expansion
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Beautiful Hair Company
Salon & Spa
101 Bedford Rd, Chappaqua
(914) 238-5050; bhcsalon.com
We remember the sweet little jewel box that was Franco Marino’s first salon in Pleasantville, with just six chairs and 500 square feet of space. This multiple Best of Westchester-winning salon soon outgrew the space and moved into larger (1,850 square feet) quarters, with 14 chairs, nearby. Third time’s a charm: In December, Marino packed up and moved his whole operation to a free-standing building in Chappaqua with 3,080 square feet of space over three floors and 22 chairs. The secret to the salon’s increasing success? Before taking that first snip or applying one drop of color to a new client’s hair, Marino spends a good half hour discussing the client’s needs, lifestyle, hair texture, and styling methods. The result is worth the extra time: cuts that are effortless to maintain and color more perfect than what your were born with (we’ll never tell).
Hair Salon with SoHo Vibe
Gloss Salon, Katonah
25 Parkway, Katonah
(914) 232-7655; gloss25.com
Shannon Nitti opened this cheery, light-flooded salon last December, and, with the floor-to-ceiling windows and dramatic framed mirrors, it looks like some hip artist’s gallery. Which, of course, it is, since Nitti transforms lackluster locks into living art, all the while wearing four-inch heels and an engaging smile. The salon, which also features stylist Andrea Caballero, specializes in color, cuts, Brazilian and keratin treatments, and extensions. Hershey’s Kisses set in bowls throughout the room only add to the sweetness.
Salon for Multicultural Hair
Renee & Co. Hair Couture
32 Westchester Ave, White Plains
(914) 437-7000; reneehaircouture.com
The mission of this funky and sassy salon is to make every type of hair “sing” in ways other stylists haven’t been able to. Owner Renee Robinson and her stylists have more than 60 years of combined professional experience dealing with chemically processed hair, creating intricate braids, and applying straightening, perming, and smoothing treatments. The salon also offers waxing, eyelash extensions, and ear piercings, as well as keratin treatments and hair extensions.
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Spa
Bellava MedAesthetics & Spa
182 Rte 117 Bypass Rd, Bedford Hills
(914) 864-2140; bellavaspa.com
This gorgeous new spa combines medical services with decadent spa pampering in an über-cool space filled with furnishings by Jonathan Adler, Eames, and Philippe Starck. The mediside, led by board-certified plastic surgeon James R. Lyons, MD, offers injections, laser liposuction, hair removal, and skin resurfacing. Luxurious spa services are the soothing counterpoint.
Indulgent Treatment
Miriana Day Spa
590 Commerce St, Thornwood
(914) 773-2300; mirianadayspa.com
We can’t choose just one, so why should you? There’s the Rose Petal Dead Sea Salt Scrub and Massage, which starts with a full-body scrub in a low-mist steam room and involves lots of warm water pouring over your body and luscious creams being massaged in. And there’s the Thai Herbal Ball treatment, in which you are massaged into another dimension with warm, muslin-wrapped herbal balls. Both treatments are little slices of Eastern heaven. Continue the indulgence and enjoy a freshly baked cookie or two, strategically placed in jars throughout the spa.
Spa in a Hurry
Footsie Reflexology
213 E Main St, Mount Kisco
(914) 864-1673
footsiereflexology.com
A quickie spa treatment sounds like an oxymoron, but, when you can get a mid-day pick-me-up without taking off your clothes, you can start to see the wisdom. Think of it as the nail-polish equivalent of a spa: quick, but well-worth-it services that give you the mini power-nap you need, with time left over to get back to your busy day.
Pilates
Apogee Pilates & Wellness Center
140 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains
(914) 644-8884; apogeewellness.com
The core of most fitness regimen is to, well, work the core, and nothing does that better than Pilates—and no place has a Pilates program as varied and consistently excellent as the ones at Apogee. You can have one-on-one training or take any number of group mat classes, including one titled “Pilates and Props.” There are additional centers in Bedford Hills and Manhattan.
Zumba
Z8 Fitness
82 Prospect St, White Plains
(646) 389-3488; z8fitness.com
Z8 Fitness is on a mission to get all of Westchester dancing. Its eight instructors have been teaching Zumba classes since 2009, and, before starting their own collaborative program last year, they taught at Best of Westchester-winning studios in 2010 and 2011. In addition to teaching classes at St. Bartholomew’s Church in White Plains (and secondary locations), the group hosts fundraisers, Zumbathons, and performs at county events, sharing their “Zumba love” with the masses.
Private Yoga Teacher
Caomh Kavanagh
(917) 593-6251
physical.bodhi@gmail.com
Caomh Kavanagh is the yoga maven known for keeping New York City ladies fit and firm—but she’s actually a Westchester gal and will come to your home, or find a space, for individual or group classes. Specializing in vinyasa and power yoga, she designs a practice based on clients’ needs—and you’ll never have to fight for mat space again.
Facial Rejuvenation
Skin N.Y.-Westchester
118 S Ridge St, Rye Brook
(914) 213-5724
skinny-westchester.com
Julie Pipolo’s clients are often asked if “they’ve had some work done,” a thinly veiled euphemism for “Who did your facelift?” The answer is a resounding “Nope!” Their great-looking skin is a result of Pipolo’s no-nonsense protocol of dermaplane facials, peels, skin stampings, and lasers (the latter performed under the guidance of medical director Scott Wells, MD). Mature skin isn’t the only type to benefit at Skin N.Y. Angela Iaco is on staff to navigate teenage clients through the acne years.
Thorough Skincare
Skincentre Advanced
Medical Aesthetics
220 S Central Ave Hartsdale
(914) 949-6200; myskincentre.com
SkinCentre has an extensive menu of services including facials, fillers, injectables, lasers, and even plastic surgery. Joseph J. Sozio, MD, and his team take a medically oriented approach to skincare, unlike salons and spas with treatments geared more to beauty. Physicians on-staff and on-site either perform or directly supervise services rendered.
Meditation Center
Vajra Light Buddhist Center
234 Central Ave, Hartsdale
(914) 607-3583; vajralight.org
Part of what makes Vajra Light so great is that it is accessible—the classes and meditation workshops are taught by English-speaking, Western teachers who have been trained in the Kadampa tradition. More pluses: You don’t have to be a member to attend a class or workshop, and there are offerings to accommodate any schedule.
Yoga Center
Yoga Loft at Bedford Post
954 Old Post Rd
Bedford
(914) 234-7800
bedfordpostinn.com
The ancient mystics say serenity is hard to find, but clearly they haven’t seen the Yoga Loft at Bedford Post, an extraordinary, architecturally stunning space filled with light, peace, and—dare we say?—bliss. Choose from such classes as Gentle Flow & Restorative, vigorous Vinyasa, and Candlelight Flow. On the fence? New students pay just $50 for two weeks of unlimited yoga.
Wedding Hair
| Photo by Phil Mansfield |
Salon Posh
516 W Boston Post Rd, Mamaroneck
(914) 899-3333; salonposhhair.com
When a bride comes to Diane Mammana for a trial run of her wedding-day hair, Mammana perfects two looks with her—one for great weather and one for rain. “The problem is, sometimes they both turn out so great, they don’t know which to choose,” she says. “But that’s a good problem to have.” The staff at Salon Posh takes the dress neckline and hair accessories into account before creating a look, and undecided brides can connect to the in-house Wi-Fi and search for inspiration on the Internet right there and then. Bridal parties can get their hair done in the salon, or Mammana can bring her team off-site to your wedding location.
Wedding Makeup
Jill K. Imbrogno, JKFlashy MAKEUP SERVICE, INC.
(845) 661-7717; jkflashy.com
Every bride has an idea of how she should look on her wedding day—some go for the natural, no-mascara style; others want to glam it up—and Jill K. Imbrogno, president of JKFlashy Makeup Service, Inc., knows how to tease out what each bride wants and match the makeup to the dress, the accessories, and even the venue. “I ask so many questions,” she says. What started as a part-time job at a MAC counter during grad school for Imbrogno became an all-consuming interest and eventually led to a full-time career, so you know she’s passionate about makeup. And, since she’s been doing it since 2005, you can bet she knows what products won’t smudge if you start to tear up at the altar.
Chic Stylist
Cecile Chapaveyre
The Salon at the Ritz- Carlton, Westchester
3 Renaissance Sq White Plains
(914) 467-5891
ritzcarlton.com
Cecile Chapaveyre has that je ne sais quoi that all French women seem to possess and, after she works her magic, we believe a little of that chic rubs off on us. Chapaveyre doesn’t believe you need a lot of products to have good-looking hair—just a healthy scalp and a precise cut. And after an hour in her chair, we agreed.
Old-Fashioned Hot-Towel Shaves
| Photo by Phil Mansfield |
Aspire Boutique Salon & Barber Parlor
70 Main St, Tuckahoe
(914) 337-3400; aspireboutiquesalon.com
A shave and a haircut at Aspire will cost you more than two bits, but we’ll bet the barbers of yore never dreamed of adding on aromatherapy or a face, head, and neck massage, which makes the shave experience here a blend of the best of old and new.
