RED DOOR SPAS: SO MUCH MORE THAN A FACIAL
Recently, I spent a day of pampering at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa flagship in New York City. There are many reasons to indulge in a spa experience—a cleansing facial, a deep-tissue massage, a full-body scrub—but my goal that day, was to get a brand new haircut and groomed eye brows.
The Red Door Spa is one of the most trusted names in the business, and they offer everything from haircuts, coloring services, and styling, to brow waxing, manicures/pedicures, and of course, a good hot stone massage or two. If visiting the flagship location, be sure to get a cut with Zahir Ziani, national creative director of Red Door Spas, and a wizard with his shears. Ziani will take one look at your face and hair and let you know what “look” will suit you best. What’s incredibly fab is that even with such talented hands, a haircut, blow dry, and finish start at only $95!
Since I like to wear my hair long and I’m not terribly fond of bangs, I opted for an edgy yet safe look. Ziani partitioned my hair into three sections, and gave me layers tailored to each section (getting “generic” layers will make your ends more voluminous, but leave the top part of your hair relatively flat). What I ended up getting were layers tailor-made to each section of my hair, including the top. The result was volume both on top and at the bottom.
Before and After: with Red Door Spas' National Creative Director and stylist, Zahir Ziani
The result was fabulous and I had a haircut I will be proud to live with, day in and day out. Too often, we forget how comprehensive the offerings of a spa can be, but it’s worth keeping in mind that a good spa offers the following:
Hair Cut/Style/Color Services: You don’t have to rely on a salon to find a brilliant hairdresser. Several top spas hire only the best (Ziani has won several awards for his work, and he is a fixture at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, providing a clear vision and catwalk styling for haute couture designers’ models), and you are in as good hands here as you are with your favorite salon.
Waxing Services: Whether you need a bikini wax or a brow tweeze, the professionals at a top spa will have you covered. My aesthetician, Elena, has been with Red Door Spas for over ten years, and she’s particularly keen on using the shape of your eyes and face to determine your brow shape.
Manicures/Pedicures: Aestheticians at spas are trained to provide a range of services, from waxing to pedicure, so chances are that you’ll meet your waxing specialist again at the mani/pedi bar. But relax—they really know what they’re doing! In the short space of an hour, you can get your brows waxed and your digits draped in new nail lacquer color. How cool is that?
Facials: Let’s not forget the fact that a spa is a haven for facials; I’ve had both facials and massages at the top spas and they are worth every penny. Remember to schedule them regularly: it’s not the best idea to just get one every six months. Good skin takes time and practice.
Massages: Everyone goes to the spa for massages—that’s what they’re all about. Take the time to find the masseuse (or masseur) that is right for you and stick with them. A knowledgeable masseuse really can help relieve the stress of modern life.
Much more than an occasional luxury, spas can help with a whole range or your beauty needs. The U.S. Spa Industry actually grew at a healthy rate in 2012 by 4.5% to 156 million visitors, according to a study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
How often do you get your spa fix? The next time you plan a spa day, consider booking more than a massage or facial.
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