They say New York is the city that never sleeps, but in my ‘hood, all I’ve got is the bodega on the corner, Gray’s Papaya, the ATM vestibule at my bank and that’s about it. Which is all well and fine if you’ve had a late night out and need munchies to soak up the alcohol or some extra cash to pay the cab driver, but pretty much useless otherwise. Which is why Juvenex Spa, located in the heart of Korea town, is such a gem among gems-it epitomizes New York City in more ways than one, the first and foremost being, of course, that it’s open 24/7.

Juvenex is like no other spa in the city-unassuming would be a gentle way of describing the entrance, tucked away on 32nd St. between 5th and Broadway and sandwiched on either side by Korean restaurants and health food stores. Enter the 5,000 square-foot spa itself, however, and you’re instantly whisked into a world of luxury, an oasis of rejuvenation and relaxation. Korean style.

As soon as you pass through the doors, you’re greeted by the scent of gardenias and lavender. The walls, the floor, and pretty much everything else in the spa is covered by tiny, sea foam green mosaic tiles, giving you the sense that you’re walking on the ocean floor. As you cross the curved bamboo bridge (meant to symbolize the leaving behind of stress, worries and the world-at-large) you find yourself in an open air expanse that boasts a dry heat thermal sauna and a jade igloo made from 20 tons of the semiprecious stone that has been imported from the Chun-Chun mine in Korea. According to Korean beliefs, jade balances the mind, body and spirit well-being; heated like a traditional sauna and infused with a proprietary blend of Chinese herbs, it also aids in circulation, respiration, increases metabolism, detoxes the body, improves liver function and purifies you inside and out, head to toe.

Directly across from the igloo are the soaking tubs, a series of tubs ranging from a cold plunge to a warm, ginseng infused tub (to energize and soften skin) to a hot, fresh- lemon soak (to exfoliate and purify skin; anyone who enjoys a cup of lemon tea in the morning will forever after envy their humble tea bag after luxuriating in this tub). Each one an important part of preparing the body for upcoming treatments.

Adjacent to the tubs is the award-winning Diamond Herbal Steam Room. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to walk through a cloud, simply step inside the herb-infused vapors. Sit for 10-15 minutes to improve your respiratory system and sweat out any toxins the jade igloo didn’t manage to remove. Then stand beneath the cool waters of the Rain Forest Plunge Shower. Next to the shower is a simple wrought iron and white cloth floor screen, which separates the main treatment room from the rest of the spa.

After checking in, you change into a plush terry robe or towel (your choice)-but not for long. Nudity is the norm at this women-only spa, so be prepared to bare it all (or bring a bathing suit). It’s not unusual to see women in the all-together walking leisurely from the igloo to the tubs to their treatments. If you’re more of a Charlotte than a Samantha, you might hesitate to “go there”, but within a few minutes of being surrounded by women of all ages and body shapes, you ease into a state of relaxation (trust me here – I’m a card-carrying Charlotte, complete with a hand bottle of Purell for post-subway rides). Everything is thoroughly sanitized 3-4 times a day, every day; Juvenex house rules.

Modesty in check, you’re your way to begin your purification program. Clients are encouraged to start with the Jade Igloo after showering and told to completely relax and move at your leisure from one treatment pool or steam room to another. You can take as much time as you like. Whenever you’re ready, just signal and your treatment will begin. If only the rest of your world would adopt this theory, right?

I had the Korean Body Scrub followed by a massage and a mini-facial. Led by my aesthetician, Miss Kim (I highly recommend asking for her by name-while I’m sure all the aestheticians are superb, she was superlative). I went behind the aforementioned screen and found myself in a small space with five treatment beds covered in thick plastic. I hopped on a bed and, lying on my back, watched with a mix of amusement and horror as Kim stripped down to her bra and underwear to give me my treatment. Any trepidation I felt quickly dissipated as soon as she began to work her magic.

Filling a basin with warm water, she splashed my body and donned a pair of exfoliating gloves imported from Korea. Using a skin-type specific liquid soap (almond, tea tree, or a specially imported baby soap for sensitive skins) she began sloughing off the top layer of my skin in what has to be the most thorough exfoliating treatment this side of the Pacific Rim. Starting at my feet, she worked her way between my toes, up my legs, over my belly, chest and arms, then flipped me on my side to get another angle. Back, side, stomach, other side and back again. Every inch of my body was sloughed and scrubbed til it was shiny and new. And believe me when I say thorough, I mean thorough – she must have spent 5 minutes on each arm pit (thank god I had shaved) and several behind each ear, a place that hasn’t been scrubbed that meticulously since my mother hung up her washcloth when I was seven. Another splash of warm water from the basin, and I was ready for my mini-facial.

Miss Kim applied a tissue face mask to my face, then painted it with a rich, foamy seaweed concoction to brighten my skin and make it glow. That was then topped with a layer of cucumber so fresh it smelled as if she had just stepped out to the farmer’s market to buy it. She added another layer of tissue to help the ingredients soak into my skin, and then began the energy balancing massage.

She placed a towel over me and, using unscented oil, combined deep-tissue, shiatsu, acupressure, Swedish and stretching modalities to remove every kink and knot from my entire body. A true master, she instinctively knew where I needed more (or less) pressure. When my body was as limber as that of a Cirque de Soleil acrobat, she rinsed me down with a warm milk bath, and then gave me a to-die-for scalp massage with tea-tree shampoo and conditioner.

When this was over I was ushered to the showers, wrapped in a thick terry robe and then led to the juice bar where she brought me fresh pineapple, melon and paper-thin wafers of apple. Sated and re-hydrated with several tumblers of lemon water, I was shown to the Baked Clay Detox Room, a low-temperature sauna with heated clay floor that removes the last of the toxins in the body (should any somehow managed to survive) and helps clients summon the fortitude to return to the hustle and bustle of the city streets.

While Juvenex is for all intents and purposes women-only, they ultimately decided to take pity on the less-fair sex and allow them to enter this haven, too. From 9pm to 6am, the spa becomes co-ed (patrons are encouraged to wear bathing suits). Bring your honey and reserve the Celebrity VIP Room, which features a private hydrotherapy tub that can be infused with sake, milk, seaweed or any number of tinctures, or book a private couples massage behind the floor screen. There are also five multi-treatment rooms for massage, skin care and other treatments that range from endermology and hydrotherapy drainage for cellulite and bloat control to river stone massage, acupressure, reflexology, red Korean clay facials, jet-lag wraps, oxygenated marine ion therapy and a Vitamin C anti-oxidant therapy. There’s also something called the Gyno Spa Cure, available for the first time in the US, an ancient Asian remedy for restore optimum health “down under”.

Almost a week after my treatment, my skin is still softer than it has ever been since I discovered the lethal combo of baby oil and high-noon sun. I’ve been “jaded” and I plan on repeating the experience often. We all know New Yorkers are famous for their busy schedules, but now that we have the 24 hour Juvenex Spa, there is more time to take care of the skin you’re in.

Juvenex Spa
25 West 32nd Street, 5th floor
(between 5th Avenue and Broadway)
New York, NY
646-733-1330
http://www.juvenexspa.com

Hello Mamas, happy June. I love this month, hot days and cool nights. Perfect for my idea of being pregnant. People look at me and ask me how I can stand being pregnant in the summer – I love it, that’s how! I want to be as naked as I can get, very tan with painted feet and toes and sparkly jewelry. No bulky layers, no dangerous ice thank you. How do I achieve my fashionable look you ask? The perfect balance.

It has been my own philosophy to not hide my pregnancies, but accentuate them.I couldn’t if I tried, I get huge! I am constantly fielding questions, “My, are you having twins?” My first pregnancy I felt sensual and bought lingerie and made my husband take pictures of my version of “Mama Demi.”This pregnancy has a different feeling, something more exhausted by my active toddler, more settled, more wise. Sophisticated and sexy for date nights with Papa. Practical and easily washable for all-day Jax chasing and food smears. Let’s hit the stores mamas.

First let’s start with value and the basics. Just like any good wardrobe for a New York City gal, you want to get the four musts: black pants, black skirt, black top, black jacket. Then add color around these basics. For value maternity shopping here in New York, H & M is fabulous! (www.hm.com) I went in to check it out, and bought great black pants, khaki pants, 2 tops, 2 tanks (1 black of course), shorts and a skirt and I think I barely spent $150. I’m not kidding.
The other great Big Apple value find is at Jane’s Exchange, a second-time-around store in the East Village. I talked to a great employee who said that mamas love the wide spectrum of labels all on one rack.The gentle price tags for a 9-month commitment are quite appealing as well. Go check it out at 207 Avenue A, near 13th St. Jane’s phone number is 212-674-6268. Finally, if you have a car, just drive right through one of the tunnels into Englewood, New Jersey where there is a Target with a budget-conscious, basics line called “in due time.”

Popular shopping for Manhattan mamas is done online or via catalogs.Let’s face it: Some mamas are working full-time. For even us part-timers, dragging a toddler, while pregnant and sick is not conducive to feeling attractive and in a “let’s try on clothes” mood. I am going to channel all your tireless surfing to two essential sites mamas: www.babystyle.com, and for the more corporate mama: www.annacris.com.1 or 2 stops, I swear. Babystyle.com has everything you need – the basics and more. In fact, they carry the terrific Belly Basics line (Bb) that has the Pregnancy Survival Kits – usually 4 items of for instance, a black pant, black top, black skirt and black dress at a great value. God bless them! I think they understand the brain frazzle that goes on the minute a woman conceives and has made these kits like “Pregnancy for Dummies” with titles like “The Short Sleeve Pregnancy Survival Kit” and “The Long Sleeve Pregnancy Survival Kit.” Babystyle has great value as well. They have an outlet button that when you click, it takes you to “maternity markdowns.” You can’t believe the prices! Check out the dresses – ooohhhh, I am so tempted to keep shopping and press “go to cart” right now!

But honestly, if I buy one more maternity item, even I will feel shame and guilt. I have the most extensive maternity wardrobe ever – it’s ridiculous. I remember when I was first pregnant with Jax and I felt resolved to stay fashionable and not go baggy and hide.I looked at my husband and said, “Listen I am a fashion delight to any man – I have been basically the same size for 20 years and I’m conservative. I add a couple items a year.” John listened attentively, waiting for my punch line delivery. “So this is the only time I want to indulge myself and feel absolutely beautiful and happy, for both of us.” He laughed and smiled. How could he refuse?

Finally New York Mamas, after getting the basics and achieving it at a reasonable cost,we must at least peek at the extravagant. We do after all live in New York where daily, celebrity mamas such as Gwyneth and Kate are photographed looking like red carpet-fertility-sex goddesses. They are shopping at “Veronique Maternity” gals. Just pop on over to their 1321 Madison Avenue location and grab a look-see. Or go online to www.veroniqematernity.com. But here’s the catch, do not go to “Veronique Maternity” without Papa Bear. You will most likely never spend the money yourself. You will rationalize about the costs of bottles, breast feeding pumps and wanting to send Junior to the right private kindergarten. But slip into the dressing room with a couple of their Academy Award numbers and Papa Bear is thinking, “Now that’s an outfit to ravage.” No matter how you fight him, he will race the card through the machine and race you home. Trust me on this one, trust me.

To sum it up simply mamas, you’ll probably maternity shop the way you shop normally.I always start basic and conservative and then build into what I consider my own personal version of pizzazz. Pregnancy didn’t change that. Ok, here’s a favorite story from my attic. I just can’t help myself. On my first pregnancy with Jax, I attended a 3-day wedding event on Block Island.The first day I was casual with slacks, a tank, pearls, and bangles. The day of the wedding, I did another tank, a long peasant skirt, pearls, a wrap around sweater and a fabulous straw hat. On the third, a pink shirt dress and a bold, multi-colored pink hat. The evening of the “straw hat,” a hazily drunk but very cute man, said, “God, if you weren’t married, you are the sexiest pregnant woman I’ve ever seen.” Like if I was single and pregnant, I would have jumped into the kitchen! But ladies, funny, bold or lewd, I glowed with that comment for days! And you will too, so get shopping and tell me all your great, gorgeous finds!

Love,
Mama

I recently heard a story about a set of twins that were born and placed in separate incubators. One was healthy but the other was malnourished and not expected to live. As the situation grew dire, a nurse decided to go against protocol and put the babies together in the same incubator. The healthier of the two put his arm around his brother in a hug, and with that, the little one’s heart rate began to rise. Eventually, he was deemed to be alright and both were able to go home. I saw a picture of the two infants amongst paintings from a homeless man, magazine clippings, and pictures of flowers on designer Elissa Bloom’s “wall of inspiration” in her studio. And after meeting her, it seems that a little hug goes into each of her designs to make someone feel special and happy.

Though she started off with laminated placemats, this Boston native with no official art training quickly worked through Christmas ornaments to holiday cards to find her most successful medium: beaded accessories. Carrying a sketchbook with her, the founder of Bloomin Designs doodles and then goes back to see what would work well for her line. Originally everything was beaded and we were introduced to “The Girls” – Elissa’s cast of ladies inspired by family and friends that graced about two-thirds of her collection (the other being hearts and butterflies). Currently offering 17 different accessory options, the line that started about two years ago has blossomed along with Bloom.

Some of my favorites from her new Spring/Summer collection are the “Straw Bags.” Offering four designs in a wicker tote, these bags are sturdy but not heavy and give visions of picnics and beach trips with their gingham linings. Each “girl” is hand-appliquéd with her straw hair and flower while the color-coordinated leather straps won’t grab at your shoulder.

The “Girls’ Coin Purses” are the perfect size for a night on the town and are far cuter than carrying your bulky wallet in an attempt to consolidate. With just enough room to bring along your gloss, money, and a key, you can scoot around the city with Rachel (pictured), Lauren, Emma, or Penelope as your sassy sidekick. Their beaded faces lie on top of water-resistant canvas and promise to perk up your night.

And if that size doesn’t cut it, the “Beaded Garden Disco Bags” should. With a fully beaded front, back, and strap, these are pretty enough to dance the night away in as well as hold your cell phone and a power bar to keep going. Offered in “Tulip,” “Daisy,” as well as my favorite, “Butterfly” with its beautiful glass beads, these are great for the girl who doesn’t want anything to get in her way.

If there are any new moms out there who are laughing at the thought of being able to carry a five-inch-square purse then let me introduce you to the “Jordyn Diaper Bag”. Lightweight and waterproof this bag will not make you look or feel like a frumpy mom, but a domestic goddess. Get ready – okay, we’ve got side sleeves to stash bottles, a snap-in zippered pouch, detachable key ring, cell phone holder, about a million pockets, a diaper pad, and metal feet because its bottom is important too. A little beaded face adorns the front (two new designs are on the way for fall), and all you need now is someone to change the diapers!

Then there’s the bag for those of us who don’t have babies but like to carry around just as much stuff. The “Ribbon Totes,” available in black and turquoise, are so beautiful and functional at the same time. With multi-colored ribbons of different sizes running on both sides of these canvas bags, there’s a little bonus of a beaded “girl” coin purse that dangles from the strap. This is the perfect running errands or overnight bag, and I speak from personal experience when I say that you’ll get lots of compliments.

The great thing about Elissa’s bags is that they’re stylish but very practical. Perfect for gifts for friends or for yourself, her whimsy designs may inspire you to get a little creative, laugh, or just brighten your mood. We could all use a hug every now and then anyway.

Stay tuned for Elissa’s fall collection, Sky Belles, a travel collection of totes, laptop cases, clutches, wallets, and more with new leather cutout “girls” including Decca Music Group’s recording artist, Hayley Westenra, www.hayleywestenra.com. You can also find Elissa’s current collections at Takashimaya, Sacco, and Verve in NYC and at www.elissabloom.com. As a special offer, BeautyNewsNYC.com readers get 20% off if you order before July 4th by entering coupon code “beautynewsnyc”.

We all want to look fabulous, but we don’t want to break the bank doing it. There are silly things like rent, food, and utilities that just can’t be ignored. In the interest of science, I did some research and found ways to look fantastic and still keep your apartment. I’ve got tons of secrets, and every month I’ll share what I know and pass it on to you. Hey, we fashionable guys and gals have got to stick together.

Eyeglasses can really wreck your budget. What if I told you that you could buy a pair of really stylish glasses complete with your prescription for only $39.00? You’d ask what drugs I was taking, right? Okay, I’m not kidding about this, www.39dollarglasses.com has eyeglasses for the entire family. It even has a PDF file called “smart fit” that allows you to download a picture of the frame of your choice. Cut it out; slap it on your face and viola! You can see what they’d look like if you bought them. All glasses have UV protection, scratch coating, come with a hard case, light and thin prescription lenses and are 100% guaranteed.

You can buy transition lenses, colored lenses – they even have varilux! Of course if you add on the goodies, the price does go up. My prescription is very steep, yet when I priced the transition lenses (they go darker when it’s brighter outside) the entire package was only $88.00

Also, the customer support is amazing. When a friend of mine ordered from them and spoke to a customer service rep, she found out that the frames would be too big for her face. The rep helped her find a better-fitting pair. She looked adorable in them.

It’s late at night, you’re hungering for a pair of Sevens or was it a pair of Jimmy Choos? Anyway, the stores are closed and paying retail bites! You could surf around on eBay, but if you get into a bidding war with another buyer, you may end up paying more than what you wanted to originally. Stay on the net, but point and click on over to www.christabellescloset.com Christabelle’s Closet is an online consignment shop where not only can you get a great deal – Seven jeans for $70, Gucci wedge heels for $98, or a Nanette Lepore dress for $90 – you can also consign your fashion oops to the shop. There’s everything from accessories to formal wear and clothing in every size. I heard a rumor that there’s going to be a children’s department by the end of the summer.

Christabelle’s Closet was created by one of the nicest fashionistas around, Miss Christabelle herself. She started the store for two reasons. One: She just loves to shop and wanted to pass along her amazing finds to the rest of us. Two: Ever since her Mom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, she’s been raising money to help find a cure. That’s why a portion of the clearance closet goes to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s disease.

It’s one of the cutest sites on the web. Christabelle’s Closet has charming and whimsical pictures, easy navigation, and cool fashion tips for everyone. You can sign up on her email list and find out when the newest of the new stuff arrives. Christabelle says, “It’s like shopping in your best friend’s closet. I have sourced the goodies. The customer knows when she comes to my site that she doesn’t have to weed through items. They are already the cream of the crop. It cuts shopping time in half for women – and for those who hate to shop, or consider themselves to be “fashion illiterate,” it takes the frustration out of fashion for them. It was also created for my many “new mom” friends who do not have the time to get out there and do the type of shopping they would love to do for themselves. Now they can shop designer on their time and have it be ‘guilt free.’”.

Your hair is your crowning glory. When it looks bad it can ruin even the best day of your life. There are times when an inexpensive haircut can take a bite out of your budget. You deserve the best, and here’s how you can go to the best places and pay nothing to look chic.

Bumble and Bumble has a well-deserved reputation for cutting edge cut, color, and products. Their salon is frequented by ladies who lunch and fashionistas. Luckily you can get the same cut and color as an A-lister, but at a fraction of the cost. How? Just participate in their Bumble and Bumble University program. Bumble and Bumble apprentices and full-time stylists who are members of their networks hone their skills under close supervision of educators, and they are always in need of hair models. That’s where you come in. For a haircut, go to their Monday night open model call at their brand new and luxe location at 415 West 13th Street and 9th and between the hours of 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm. You’ll have a consult, discuss what you want to do to your hair, and get an appointment. Once you’re in the system, you can get your free haircut any time you want. Call 1-866-7Bumble for more information.

Now if you want a color process from a Bumble and Bumble apprentice, you’ll have to fork over $20.00. That amount will buy you color, highlights, or both services. Coloring happens Monday during the day (when the Salon is closed) at their uptown location at 146 East 56th Street. They use Redken products. Call 212-521-6500, ask for extension 411, and they’ll hook you up to a color apprentice. Or ask for extension 300 and you’ll be connected to Emma, or extension 308 and you’ll get Hilary. Both are excellent color apprentices.

Wanna be a Bond girl? Oscar Bond, 42 Wooster Street, New York City, 212-334-3777 also has an apprenticeship program where you can get a cut or blow dry for free. Call the main desk and mention that you’re interested in participating as a hair model in the program, and they’ll set you up with an apprentice. Educators coach them and the results are wonderful. They also have a color program, where you leave your name and number on a sign in sheet, but the wait can be a few months. Services are done weekday mornings.

The Aveda Institute 233 Spring Street, New York, 212-807-1492. Aveda has a student salon where the advanced students get to ply their trade to the public. Again, they are supervised by educators to provide excellent results. A cut or blow dry is $18.00, single-process color starts at $35.00, highlights start at $35 for a partial and end at $75.00 for full. Hours are 9am-5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Evening hours are 5:45 pm to 9:30pm, but their last evening appointment is taken at 7:30 pm.

Behind the red door at the Elizabeth Arden Salon lies incredible bargains. Haircuts are $20.00, color and highlights are $40.00, and the pampering is done by apprentices. They use Wella products. Elizabeth Arden is at 691 5th Avenue. Call 212-546-0200 and ask Brenda Penderson or Stephanie Scoppo, they are the haircut educators and they’ll match you up to an apprentice. For color the color educator is Sherri, or call Sara, an apprentice directly at 646-305-4249 for an appointment. The training classes are Tuesday nights.

Matrix Institute is looking for a few good heads. Their testing salon uses professional stylists to test everything from hair products to color. All services are free and occur between 8 am-12pm, and 1 pm-5pm Monday through Friday. The Matrix Institute is located at 575 5th Avenue, third floor in the atrium (the L’Oreal Building). Call 212-984-4926 for an appointment or walk in and sign up. You’ll walk out with great hair and a goodie bag filed with products.

Boys who’d like to get a cut in a clubby atmosphere may want to be a hair model at John Allan’s. John Allan’s is New York City’s only hair salon for men that has pool tables, a cigar bar, and is a great place for boys to be boys. They have two locations: downtown at 96 Trinity Place, 212-406-3000, and midtown at 46 E 46th Street, between Madison and Park, 212-922-0361. They occasionally need models so, give them a call for more information.

When you hear “Westminster” you probably think of the kennel club and its poncey dog show…you might even think of England, but unless you have visited the Warwick’s Hotel Westminster, you probably don’t think of Paris. One visit will change all of that. Located on Rue de la Paix, between Opera and Place Vendome, this prestigious hotel has more than a fancy address and beautifully appointed rooms. There is a character to the Westminster that is often lacking in many other grand hotels. Perhaps it’s the 150-year history, or the meld of French and English decor and convention.

I began my stay at the hotel with an introduction to the main floor lobby, which is richly decorated yet very warm and comfortable. It was just a hint of what lay ahead in my room, the Van Cleef & Arpels suite. Of course, the name alone lends itself to certain expectations, and the Westminster lived up to every one of them. In fact, each room that I toured while staying at the hotel was beautifully decorated, warm, inviting and elegant.

The bathrooms are fully modernized and spacious. They have been finished with marble floors and countertops and large sumptuous tubs that are ideal, considering you are right in the heart of Paris’ luxury shopping district. Rooms also come equipped with air conditioning, high-speed Internet connections, voicemail, safes and very well-stocked mini-bar.

What makes the Westminster particularly special in my eyes, all of these amenities aside, is the staff. Truly charming and helpful, with none of the reputed Parisian attitude, this is where I learned how propitious a concierge could be. In fact the entire staff was helpful, friendly, and accommodating. Even when placing a room service order, after a bit of a challenge due to language constraints, there was a knock at my door and I answered to find the assistant to the chef standing there, with a menu in hand, to be sure that we had communicated accurately so that my order would be prepared as desired.

The Westminster also has a new fitness center, located on the top floor, that has a stunning view of Paris. The center is also air conditioned, to keep you cool as you work out in this sunbathed facility. There is also a lovely, relaxing Orlane spa where you can book beauty treatments and massages. There is a steam room as well, for a relaxing infusion of eucalyptus. Because the Orlane spa is managed by Orlane, I recommend making spa appointments in advance, though I am advised that an hour or two is all the notice the hotel needs to have a technician on site.

For the true gourmand, The Westminster’s Le Celadon Restaurant is reason enough to make this hotel your home while in Paris. The Michelin One Star rated eatery lives up to its name with its decor. Elegantly decorated with silk, crystal and celadon porcelain in a mixture of oriental and regency decor, it is clearly the ideal restaurant for The Westminster.

I was so charmed by this hotel and its staff that I truly hated to leave. It is a must for anyone traveling to Paris for pleasure, shopping, the opera, whatever brings you to the City of Lights. Warwick International Hotels owns the Westminster, giving travelers two Warwick options in Paris. I also spent a night at the sister hotel to the Westminster, the Warwick Champs-Elysees Paris, where I found an equally charming and helpful staff (you have to appreciate a concierge who gets you the best table in the house at Kong, with just a day’s notice) and a more modern flair. Boasting spacious and well-appointed rooms in a hotel located on the Champs Elysee, this hotel is ideal for business travelers and visitors who want to enjoy the nightlife on the famous tree-lined street.

For more information on the Westminster and other Warwick hotels, go to www.warwickhotels.com or telephone them at (33) 1 42 61 57 46

In the course of history, the Swiss have been known for its contributions to the greater good of society – the Rolex, milk chocolate, and neutrality. Even more impressive is its government funding of the production of organic goods. One such product is by Hormeta, and it is a mix of minerals that are a core ingredient in a new treatment at the Four Seasons Spa – the BioTechnical Slimmer.

According to the spa’s website, this firming treatment aims to regenerate “microcirculation in areas where collagen or elastin has been damaged to help tone and tighten skin, reduce water retention and relieve aches in joints and muscles.” This is a hefty claim, and with summer on the horizon, I was eager to give it a whirl.

Upon arriving at the Four Seasons on 57th Street, with its grand marble entrance, the sanctuary nestled in the underground called my name. A private elevator, entombed in gold and marble, dropped me at the spa’s entrance. Appearing from what seemed out of nowhere was Suk Mancinelli, the spa manager. A petite Korean woman, Suk greeted me with a warm smile; her unassuming presence put me at ease immediately. Suk escorted me to the women’s lounge, complete with hot tea, coffee, and a bowl of shiny, ripe red apples. It was St. Patrick’s Day, and I must have been the only person in New York City not out celebrating and drinking green beer. Instead, my body would soon be covered in a green seaweed wrap.

The treatment room was serene, dim, and relaxing. I lay on what they call a “cocoon bed floatation unit,” which really means an elevated waterproof bed with a cushy cushion underneath what appears to be a space blanket – you know, one of those silver blanket marathoner’s receive at the end of the race. Atop of my bare body rest towels for warmth.

Suk, my therapist, exfoliated my body with a soft-bristled hand brush – working in a clockwise motion. This helps jump-start circulation and energize me, she said, in addition to ridding my body of dead skin to create a clean slate for what’s to follow.

Next, Suk applied a gel base, mixed with the Hormeta mineral formula from Switzerland. Minerals are essential to remove toxins and to promote healthy skin. It serves as a conduit when the seaweed mix is applied, aiding in its absorption of the epidermis. The gel-based mix will help tighten and firm the skin. Generous applications are rubbed on the usual problem areas – the thighs, belly, back, hips, and oh yes, the derriere – I’ll admit it, she didn’t miss a spot.

After the gel was slathered on, Suk applied a seaweed mix all over my body. The seaweed is imported from Britain. She then wrapped me in the space blanket, covered neck to toes. To keep me warm, Suk set a layer of blankets on me. There I lay, much like a burrito.

For the next 20 minutes, while the gel, minerals and seaweed worked on my body to re-hydrate, detoxify, and rejuvenate my skin, Suk attended to my aromatherapy needs. Beginning with the inhalation of a delicate “Renew” formula, my olfactory senses awakened. She continued to give me a hot facial compression, and a pressure-point head and neck massage.

It’s Suk’s philosophy, as much as the “Spa-ology” of the Four Seasons, that the guest is not left unattended. “I give full treatment for the full hour,” said Suk, “I want to people to say they got a ‘Wow’ treatment … and to come back.”

While I was wrapped up for 20 minutes, Suk recommends a longer session, as much as 45 minutes. It’s important to note that this, like any body-wrap treatment, should not be received more than three times a week because it can cause the opposite affect – the dehydration of the skin.

After 20 minutes, Suk unwrapped me, though I remained under the towels. Now, for those of you who are hydrophobic, I should warn you what’s next can cause any water-loving person to become a little ruffled. I tell you this only to be prepared, because in the end, it’s quite soothing.

Up until this point, I noticed an unusual contraption – a Vichy shower – mounted on the wall. It has a long-central pipe with several pairs of legs, each with two faucets as feet. The shower was placed a few feet above my body (though not directly over my face) and turned on. While the Vichy shower is minding its business rinsing off the seaweed and gel, Suk is busy with a hand-shower, circulating in a clockwise motion, gently massaging the muscles. “Water helps balance your energy,” said Suk. “The clockwise motion harmonizes the whole body.”

After my water logging, I emerged from the water, dried off, and showered in private room. After, I looked in the mirror, examined my belly, thighs, and overall tone of my body. My skin seemed tighter, firm. I definitely felt better.

Now, I would be lying if I didn’t walk into the spa specious of the “slimmer” claim. And I only had one session, so a fair assessment is impossible. However, the treatment exceeded my expectations, and Suk catered to my every need. My skin was soft, rejuvenated and visibly refreshed. In fact, my skin hadn’t been that soft since I was baby.

It’s clear to me that the benefits of this treatment are greater than just firmer, glowing skin. My body felt detoxified, my skin tight and weightless.

The Spa at the Four Seasons has offered this treatment since October of 2003, and while mostly women receive the treatment, said Suk, many men have reaped its benefit. She said that one man was able to buckle his belt one notch smaller when he left. It’s Suk’s standard that the Four Seasons “be 110 percent for the guests.” As promised, Suk provided a memorable “wow” treatment.

More information about the Four Seasons Hotel Spa can be found at:
http://www.fourseasons.com/newyorkfs/vacations/spa_services.html

It is located at:
57 East 57th St.
New York, New York
Tel: (212) 758-5700

It was love at first sight – or should I say touch. They have literally thought of anything and everything the male body could possibly need. Naturally, I’m talking about Zirh, recent winner of the Best Grooming Range award from FHM magazine’s prestigious 2003 Grooming Awards. Now there are quite a few companies getting notoriety for developing a streamline of products for the average man. For example, I’m sure that many of these companies recognize that a man’s skin is three times thicker and oilier than a woman’s – that our hair composition is different than a woman’s; that we tend to just smell more than the average woman. However, female hygiene and beauty products tend to be more nuanced and tailored to specific needs, depending on the chemical makeup of the user. Zirh understands that men, like women, are not all built the same inside and out (though many women might disagree). They have four methods of cleaning your face, depending on your skin type. They have three different kinds of body bars of soap. They have various ways of dealing with skin blemishes, regardless of if you’re more prone to blackheads, whiteheads, shaving bumps, or ingrown hairs. The only way I can do justice to the product line is if I write a dissertation. I recommend that you go to the website for very detailed, yet clear and understandable, information at: http://www.zirh.com.

What I can do is focus on facial care, an area of which most men neglect and delegate to antibacterial soap (sounds drying and flaking to me). Squeaky clean on the face is not a good thing. Sure, it feels fresh, but using antibacterial soap (or just plain soap) on the face will leave it completely naked and dry, where in time you will be more prone to wrinkling and skin damage from the elements, the sun, and just the normal effects of aging. Whether you sweat a lot on the job (like me) or spend a lot of time in the sun (also like me), it is important that you understand what happens to your face. The chafing cold air is abating. Quite a few of us went skiing, hence exposing our skin to frigid cold and garish sunlight. We need to not only repair damage that has been done, but we need to learn how to protect our faces, especially since we’re starting to suntan in Central Park. Now that I’ve gotten you all paranoid, let me address a few facial products that I absolutely swear by.

Clean – Alpha-hydroxy acid is a combination of glycolic acid (from sugar cane), lactic acid (from milk), and malic acid (from apples) that works to remove the fine lines, brown spots, blackheads, dry patches, oil, and other impurities found in the uppermost layers of your skin. They also encourage the growth of healthy, new skin cells. Good stuff, right? Clean contains far more alpha-hydroxy acids than the average cleanser. Not only does it help remove dirt, oil, and acne-causing bacteria, it restores the skin’s natural pH level while delivering a cool, refreshing sensation (from menthol). You can feel it working, and like I wrote in previous articles, men like to see, or at least feel, immediate results from their efforts. Use it twice daily on both your face and neck. Now the clean does have menthol oil in it, so be careful when you wash around your eyes. When you rinse, your skin is may feel more moist than you might be used to; just remind yourself that this is a good thing – make a mantra out of it if need be. Scrub – I have a thing for exfoliants, I really do. Maybe it’s because I have oily skin, large pores, and am prone to hairline acne and blackheads. Wow, that was a pretty picture. But many guys fall in this category. For the risk of blowing my own horn, you would never really know I have these problems because of facial scrubs. However, most scrubs on the market are too weak, too abrasive, or too drying on my face. When used about 1-3 times a week, the facial scrub removes dead skin cells without any scratching sensations. It prevents blemishes and irritations by neutralizing surface oils that can cause acne. Lastly, a modest amount of good ol’ aloe moisturizes the skin to counter that drying effect of many facial scrubs. Again, keep clear of the eyes. I personally use Scrub after Clean – whatever works for you.

Correct – When I saw this little tube, I had to ask myself why I would need “vitamin-enriched serum” that’s jam-packed with over 60 – I repeat, 60 – vitamins and minerals. Zirh promotes it as a great moisturizer and a nice balm to apply after shaving. I already have a water-based face moisturizer. The immediate thought that came to mind was whether or not this “serum” would be too oily for my face, which needs to breathe or at least think it’s breathing. But I’m adventurous, so I gave it a try. I squeezed out a small amount of this thick, tannish liquid and spread it around my neck and face. Lo and behold, I became a convert after an entire day of bartending on an 80-degree day where the restaurant’s air-conditioning wasn’t working properly. My skin felt soft, not oily – resilient, not exhausted. It turns out that Correct also combats harmful free-radicals (think facial spots or worse – skin cancer) by encouraging collagen production and improving capillary health (think fresh and rosy complexion). It keeps the skin soft and moisturized throughout the day, unlike many moisturizers on the market that need to be constantly reapplied. I personally like to use it in the shower after using Scrub, then lightly rinsing any excess after a minute or so.

Shave Cream/Shave Gel – Gel or Cream? You can’t go wrong with either – it’s a matter of preference, really. I personally like the gel better because I can see what I’m shaving underneath. If you’re prone to shave bumps and ingrown hairs, the clear gel will give you a heads up if your razor is getting too close to uneven areas on your face. The gel smells fresh, moisturizes well, and doesn’t irritate the skin like other shaving products. The shave was close and clean. I personally found that the cream performed almost as well; it didn’t moisturize as well, and the shave wasn’t as clean. Regardless, shave after you get out of the shower; you’ll get a smoother and closer shave on your face and neck because everything is softer, including your hair follicles.

Soothe – Do you wince right before you put on aftershave? Soothe is refreshing, light, and has a gentle scent that’s not overpowering. Most importantly, it doesn’t sting. It works fast to stop post-shave irritation while healing small razor nicks and cuts. Unlike a lot of aftershaves that require you to pour copious amounts in your hand over the sink while splashing your face, Soothe acts more like a lotion so you get a more controlled and thorough application without wasting product.

Restore – This is one of my favorite Zirh products. Practically all women and hardly any men realize that the most delicate part of the face is right underneath the eyes. Restore is formulated to help reduce puffiness and dark circles under eyes. I’ve used it on multiple occasions after a long night of debauchery. The skin around the eyes look healthier and more resilient as the product heals collagen and locks in moisture. Use the product very sparingly after you get out of the shower. For those of us who wear contacts, put in your contacts first before applying the eye cream. Restore is perfect for men who get a lot of sun exposure or who get wrinkles and bags under the eyes with age.

Fix – I use Fix right after I apply Restore. Many people think that I look young for my age. I have the oil in my skin to thank for that – oil: the secret of youth. Unfortunately, as a result I have an oily T-zone (forehead and nose), and Fix does the trick as lemon oil and salicylic acid work to minimize redness from irritated skin and acne while speeding recovery by dissolving away dirt and oil. It also has antibacterial and antifungal ingredients for those who like that germ-killing action in their cleaning products. For those of us with very oily skin, use the product in the morning after you shower and at night, after you wash your face (you do wash your face at night, right?) and before you go to bed. I personally found a noticeable decrease in redness on the sensitive, acne-prone areas around my hairline. Pimples and pimples-to-be (those nasty invisible suckers you feel just under the skin) tend to disappear in a day or two. Plus, the tingling sensation I feel gives me the added assurance that the acids are working. Again, please keep any product clear from your eyes.

Everything I wrote might seem a lot and a bit too high maintenance for the average, busy New York male. But believe me when I say that not only are these routines necessary for long-lasting, healthy, resilient skin, but they become rote quite quickly and add only a few minutes to your morning (and night) routine. Looking at the bigger picture, the tradeoff is a no-brainer. Don’t forget, most skin damage is irreversible, but it’s never too late to start taking care of your body’s largest organ. One of the greatest things about Zirh is that it’s very, very efficient – a little product goes a long way, so conserve. Lastly, I didn’t even address the Sun Care Kit (shown above), which is an essential during our humid, garish New York summers. Again, I highly recommend visiting the website to get brief but comprehensive product descriptions of these and any other products made by Zirh (which, by the way, is made in the good ol’ USA).

Zirh
http://www.zirh.com
Customer Care
Email: customercare@zirh.com
Telephone: 1-800-295-8877
212-813-2100 (Outside USA)

It was 1994. I was at a gym for the first time in my life in preparation for Spring Break in the Bahamas when my friend Jessica made the following statement: “I want to have Linda Hamilton’s Terminator arms.” Back then, the only thing I knew I didn’t want were fat arms. But today, with sports clubs jam packed at every hour and famous actresses starring as action heroines in countless Hollywood blockbusters, I am now fully aware of just how ahead of her time Jessica was in saying that. Though the air conditioners are finally on full blast, long sleeves are now out and halter tops, strapless dresses and spaghetti straps are back in for the summer. Fortunately, there are ways to get your arms up to Hamilton-par in just a couple of weeks. Read on for a complete workout and tips from 2 professional personal trainers! But first, fashion designer Holly Kristen offers some great advice on how to wear those trendy summer styles.

Her fashions have been seen on the runway in her own sold-out show during Fashion Week ’03, and Holly was the only featured designer for VH-1′s “Band on the Run”. Opening soon is the Holly Kristen New York Showroom featuring her exclusive designs made of the highest quality materials and fabrics. It should also be noted that 5% of all profits are donated to the Holly Kristen Childhood Cancer Fund. Her commitment and generosity are as evident as her fashion sense and style, and this designer is certainly someone to look out for.

As a couture designer for celebrities, royalty and fashionistas alike, Holly knows just how important fashion is when flattering an individual’s body and accentuating her greatest assets. For example, she notes that halter tops are flattering to the arms because the lines they create draw attention to some of women’s greatest features – the neck and collarbone. V-neck and scoop-neck shirts are ideal for a busty woman wishing to elongate her neckline and thin out her torso (as long as cleavage is kept under control). She comments that thin spaghetti straps look great on everyone but notes that flat-chested women wear tops with straight necklines especially well. When looking at short-sleeve T-shirts, Holly says to be sure the sleeves are angled upward and outward. This cut elongates the arm while allowing movement and avoiding pinching of fleshier parts (on even the thinnest of women).

As with the rest of the body, black is flattering to the arms as well, but colorful tops can be great fun in the summer (and all year long for that matter). Light tops can show off your fabulous tan. Vertical or diagonal stripes as well as sleeveless shirts with high necks help create the illusion of a thin, long torso.

Fashion designers like Holly Kristen can do wonders to maximize your appearance, but you have to do your part as well. Obviously a healthy diet and exercise are essential to staying in shape, but it is possible to target certain areas of the body with isolated exercises. Felicia Mannino is a certified personal trainer (by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and International Fitness Professionals Association). She has appeared in “The Complete Book of Abs for Women: The Definitive Guide for Women Who Want to Get into the Ultimate Shape” by Kurt Brungardt. Felicia is a personal trainer at New York Sports Club while also training private clients. She practices what she preaches and she has the arms of steel to prove it! She also has the clients to prove it. A recent bride worked with Felicia exclusively on arms for one month, for 1 hour long sessions twice a week and was able to see significant results and wear her strapless wedding gown with confidence. Women should generally stick to doing more repetitions (sets) using light weights (5 lbs or 7.5lbs) to avoid bulking up. Doing this helps develop lean, toned muscles. The following resistance-training workout consists of 11 exercises targeting each major muscle group of the arms. Some things to remember:

1. Your stance for all exercises should be feet facing straight forward, your legs shoulder width apart with a slight bend in your knees.

2. Always have a slight bend in your elbows and knees to avoid hyperextension due to straightening the arms.

3. Inhale on the concentric phase (harder motion – 2 seconds) and exhale on the eccentric phase (easier motion – 4 seconds).

4. Stand up straight for proper posture and contract your abdominal muscles while performing all exercises.

5. Always begin each session with suggested warm-up (squats, jumping jacks, cardio etc.).

6. Stretching after you exercise is mandatory! Hold each stretch for 30 seconds (approximately 3 deep breathes).

First Session:
1. Biceps curl to overhead press – Targets the biceps, lats & shoulders.

2. Shrugs – Targets the shoulders; stand up straight/no protruding forward.

3. Bent arm Deltoid Raises – Targets the deltoids; keep arms at a 90 degree angle & raise to shoulder level.

4. Forward Chest Press – Targets the pectorals muscles & triceps.

5. Bent-over Tricep Extensions – Targets the triceps; stand in a lunge position keeping your back straight & extend your arm from the elbow.

6. Felicia’s Universal Exercise – Bicep Curl, bent arm raises, straight arm raises to lateral release.

Second Session:
7. 21′s – Targets the second head of the bicep; hold weights so thumbs are facing up. 7 reps of lowest position to mid position. 7 reps of mid to shoulder position. 7 reps of lowest to shoulder position.

8. Bent-over Rows – Targets the lats, traps & biceps; bend at the waist, let arms hang down in front of you and bring arms back to pinch the mid-traps by bringing elbows towards each other.

9. Lateral Raises – Targets the lats; keep arms straight (slight bend) and raise them from your side to shoulder level.

10. Push-ups (Regular or with knees on bent on the floor) – Targets pectorals & triceps (SEE WILL BROWN’S INSTRUCTIONS BELOW).

11. Overhead tricep extensions – Targets triceps; standing straight up, one arm at a time at a 90 degree angle with opposite arm supporting the working arm.

12. Repeat Felicia’s Universal Exercise.

Contact Felicia personally (who is pictured above) at FeliciaMannino77@Hotmail.com. Each session should take a total of one hour. Generally, personal trainers recommend working out 4 times/week. Cardio should be done in the morning ideally, and you must be within a certain target heart rate range for best results (especially for weight loss). But weight training is the key to re-shaping and toning your body. To get that overall fabulously fit look, Certified Personal Trainer Will Brown recommends the following:

1. Change your routine and increase the amount of weight used once you reach a certain level of strength. Challenge yourself and experiment with new ways of exercising. Will had me incorporating principals of martial arts and boxing to get my heart rate up, maintain concentration, improve balance and increase strength. What a fun and productive way of working out your body (not to mention your frustrations!).

2. Work with what you have – Use the wall, a chair, free weights and your own muscle resistance to create exercises that work specifically on your problem areas. Will showed me the proper stance when doing squats and leg raises, revealing just how important balance and focus can be when toning your arms and legs.

Pushups -
Will’s arm workout began with a set of 15 Pushups. He says to remember to keep your back straight and your hands a little more than a shoulders width apart. Breathing is essential because it will help you stay relaxed and focused and provides fresh oxygen to the muscles being used. (If you are fatigued from doing regular pushups, do them on your knees.)

Triceps -
Tricep pushdowns and chair dips. When doing the tricep pushdowns remember to stand with your feet shoulders width apart and slight bend at the knees. Keep your elbows in at your sides and press a straight bar downward toward the floor. The start of the exercise is at a 90 Degree angle. Start with 2 to 3 sets of 15 reps. (Remember the breathing) Chair Dips : You will need a flat bench that is at least 12 inches of the ground. Put your feet in front of you and extend your legs as well. Holding on to the bench with both hands at your sides, lower yourself in a controlled fashion towards the ground. Do not bounce up and down. Do at least two sets of 12 reps.

3. Make sure you are doing all exercises correctly to ensure safety and avoid injury. What’s the point in going overboard to the point where you can’t exercise at all and can’t maintain your fabulous body?

4. Don’t worry so much about how much you weigh. If the muscles in your new toned arms are tipping the scale, that’s not such a bad thing!

So go out and buy that fabulous spaghetti strap backless gown you’ve been eyeing at Bergdorf’s! Or throw on that old tank top from the back of your closet. In just a matter of weeks, you can make your entire summer wardrobe look fantastic! Whether your inspiration is a personal trainer, your favorite fashion designer or Linda Hamilton herself – Summer is the perfect time to look your very best!

Contact Will Brown at WB Fitness Inc. 203-536-0804 or wcbrownjr@yahoo.com

Contact me at Stephanie@beautynewsnyc.com for more information regarding Fashion Designer Holly Kristen.

What’s the beauty buzz in New York City? Well, it’s the same this summer as it was last summer and will be for summers to come: you look gorgeous, you feel gorgeous, and you do as little as possible in the process. Complicated hairstyles and makeup are out the window, which means, basically: if you’re doing anything to your appearance in the morning which requires a “touchup” later on, you’re asking for trouble (and subtracting precious time from your naps in the park, chardonnay on someone’s patio, etc.). Now is the time to toss out the clutter in your medicine cabinet, and rendezvous with just a handful of goodies, all of which double-team your beauty and minimize your mirror time – so you can get your boo-tay out the door and into those sweet summer nights.

If you’re looking to fall in love fast, I can’t recommend highly enough the Terax haircare line, which I recently started using (and using, and using). Terax is a well-known New York favorite, available at Ricky’s, Bigelow’s and www.sephora.com. This Italian line features a number of hardworking products with relatively uncomplicated ingredients, and the simple agenda of maintaining balanced moisture in your hair. If you’re a minimalist, I would start with the Shamp Latte (a silky shampoo that smells like a vanilla latte) and Crema conditioner (four-time winner of InStyle magazine’s “best overall conditioner”), and ask yourself, Do I even need anything else in my hair? Because you may not. On one of my first days starting Terax I combed my wet hair into a bun, had my day, and at night took out the bun to find my hair smooth as though it had been set, at which point I realized that I forgot to use any sort of styling product that morning­ – my hair felt detangled and smooth already. As with all high-quality beauty lines, you need very little Terax product to achieve an effect. The point is that your hair feels good, not that it feels like you used a good product.

However, that’s not to say that summer products aren’t a great idea, especially when they do the job of two or three, and take great care of your hair. Terax also makes lovely Styling Lotions (I like “Volumizing” and “Shine”), which are extremely light – practically liquid – and keep your style very “touch me” as they condition the hair.

Another great summer product: Frederic Fekkai SPF Protectant Spray with shea butter. This is fantastic protection for all-day conditioning in the sun. It has a delicious, buttery fragrance (use it on wet hair, and when you take your hair down to go out that night – yummy.) If you color or highlight your hair this spray provides protection for your color, and also conditions the scalp. Frederic Fekkai Glossing Shampoo & Conditioner, and Glossing Styling Crème, infused with olive oil, are also summertime champs: they deeply condition and add gorgeous shine to your hair while somehow not feeling heavy. Frederic Fekkai can be found at www.sephora.com and fine salons.

For great skin this summer, as with just about everything else, less is more. Whether you seek a cleansing routine to get your glow on, or you want a shimmery boost for evening makeup, there are plenty of multi-purpose products at your fingertips to get the job done.

I adore the SOTHYS line from Paris, which features a full range of mild, fragrant, shea butter and coconut oil-based skincare. Impromptu sleepover left you without your repertoire? Keep a tube of SOTHYS Morning Cleanser in your hobo bag at all times! This cleanser (which, again, you need only a tiny drop of) is so hydrating that you could, in a pinch, skip your moisturizer for the day if you’re using it. It might even be a very gentle body wash or shave cream, especially if the alternative is your boyfriend’s grocery store soap! Order SOTHYS products in the USA: 800-325-0503.

Lastly, let me remind you of two of the summer-tested, tried and true. For glimmery, sexy and super-easy glowing skin, you can’t go wrong with NARS “The Multiple.” “The Multiple” is available in an array of peach, bronze, and rose-toned shades and can be used on cheeks, lips or eyes to brighten bare or made-up skin. It is an oil-free, cream-to-powder consistency, formulated in an easy-to-use stick, in the sleek black NARS design. It’s so concentrated that it will last you all summer long, for a million multiple applications!

Dior Luminizer by Christian Dior produces a similarly effortless afterglow, but in a liquid formula that applies like a sheer tinted moisturizer. Very sheer, very soft, and one last time (especially in the heat, where skin becomes oilier) the tiniest drop is plenty. Bonus: smells pretty and floral, like many of Dior’s cosmetics. This is a tiny tube that can be flung into your tote with plenty of room to spare.

That’s the buzz for now! Stay cool, and happy summer lovin’ from Beauty News…

When I was barely a month old, I got my first hair treatment. Perhaps, scalp treatments would be a more accurate description. I was born completely bald, without even the fine peach fuzz that some babies have when they first enter the world. Apparently my lack of hair made my mother terribly embarrassed whenever she took me out, since this was way before the advent of baby headbands. With no pink bow or silk flower on my head, I was often mistaken for a boy.

So my distressed mother experimented with every concoction she came across, relying mostly on old wives’ tales. From rubbing my head with burnt tea leaves, which just gave my dome a dark sheen, to massaging warm extra virgin olive oil twice a day.

My mother swears that the olive oil treatment was a success, because just like a Chia Pet, hair started sprouting on my cranium after six months. Now, years later, I try to convince her that it was only a matter of time before I started growing hair, but she still stands by the remedy of warm olive oil.

Unlike my mother’s myths, the philosophy behind j.f. lazartigue (www.jflazartigue.com) is grounded in science and research. As a hairdresser in France, Jean-Francois Lazartigue was confronted with an array of hair problems, as most of his clients suffered from overly dry or oily hair, or hair loss.

Founding j.f. lazartigue in 1977 with the development of a pre-shampoo treatment formulated with bone marrow in his kitchen, he further developed products based on the best ingredients available. These range from Mexican Blue Algae to help fight the problem of combination hair, Propolis Jelly (a resinous substance collected by bees to tackle oily scalp), to Shea Butter for repairing damaged hair.

Luckily for us, Lazartigue realized that our stressed tresses here in America could use some rescuing and a facility dedicated to the health and beauty of hair, located in the heart of New York (764 Madison Avenue) has been treating clients for the past 20 years. Just as you would indulge in a facial or a body massage, the staff at j.f. lazartigue approach your hair and scalp in the same way. This is no ordinary salon, it’s a hair spa.

Upon arrival at the j.f. lazartigue spa, I was given a glimpse of my scalp using an exclusive camera scope, which displays an image, 140 times the actual size of the scalp, on a monitor. A strand of my hair was plucked and examined under the micro-viewer, which was magnified 160 times. I was even questioned about my diet and lifestyle, and told soundly that if I lied, my hair wouldn’t. It could show if I smoked or took my vitamins regularly. I felt like I was on an episode of the TV show “CSI!”

Surprisingly, my scalp and hair were in reasonably good condition. My recent foray with a shampoo-in hair color left my hair a little parched, while the hassles of city living made my scalp oily. My technician prepared a personalized hair regimen, which the spa keeps a record of, so they can cater the hair treatments for each subsequent visit.

First, I was pampered with the Proplis Jelly for Oily Scalp, which is like a facial – it takes off the dead flakes and purifies the scalp. Proplis Jelly is recommended once a week. My hair shaft was given Deep Action Treatment with Carrot Oil. This pre-shampoo penetrates the hair shaft and prevents breakage.

Treating both the scalp and the hair with different products balances the sebaceous glands. To make sure the products permeated deep into the hair shaft and scalp, I was put under a hair steamer for 20 minutes.

Next, it was shampoo time. What’s lovely about the j.f lazartigue spa is that each booth has its own sink, so you relax in your chair while receiving all your treatments. Both the Marine Shampoo and Moisturizing Shampoo were used because of my combination hair.

Finally, my hair was conditioned with the Vita Cream with Milk Proteins for Fine Hair. The Intensive Sebum Treatment is also recommended at least once a week; this product purifies the hair and stimulates strong hair growth.

The spa is a great indulgence, but if you don’t have the time for an appointment, you can always use their products at home. They’re sold in hair salons and specialist pharmacies everywhere (locations at www.jflazartigue.com). They’re also available online, which has a simple guide to purchasing products based on your hair type.

Since my spa visit, I’ve been using the Moisturizing Conditioner for Color Treated Hair, as well as the Hair-Styling Sun-Filtering Gel. Together with the After Swimming Shampoo, these products are essential in revitalizing hair during the summer months.

You can take the home pampering one step further with the Home Spa Essential Duo – a hair cream and oil serum. Together with the Les Soins D’Exception Shampoo that will be available soon, you can enjoy the spa experience in the convenience of your own bathroom.

One of the simplest treatments recommended by J.F. Lazartigue is giving yourself an auto-massage daily. This means stimulating your scalp when you shampoo to develop the capillaries, promote micro-circulation and activate the hair follicle. They believe this will reduce scalp tension and grow stronger hair.

Maybe my mother was on the right track after all.

J. F. Lazartigue Hair Spa
764 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10021
(212) 288-2250
www.jflazartigue.com

Products also available at following -

Upper East Side
Zitomer – 969 Madison Avenue
Clyde’s – 934 Madison Avenue
Boyd’s – 655 Madison Avenue
Essentials – 1392 Third Avenue

Midtown
Concord Chemist – 425 Madison Avenue
Cosmetic Plus – 516 Fifth Avenue
Four Seasons Hotel & Spa – 57 East 57th Street
Oasis Day Spa – One Park Avenue

Upper West Side
Apthorp Pharmacy – 2201 Broadway