I have really been missing my ombre hair. I don’t dye my hair often or get too crazy with it when I do (although I’ve had an obsession with trying midnight blue streaks…one day…). But ombre – which basically describes a dark-to-light gradient – is different to me. I feel like it adds dimension, and is a little more interesting than my usual monochromatic blah hair.

And since I don’t do it often, there are very few people I trust with it. Mary at Sam Brocato is one of them, but it can get pricey ($200+ for highlights) and my wallet is only so deep. Incidentally, my writer/hero, Nicci, has been telling me for MONTHS about how fantastic her hairstylist sister, Brooke, is -– so much so, she recently opened her own private studio The Bird House in Carroll Gardens. “You HAVE to visit her. I know I’m biased, but my friends who have gone to her have said it was literally the best haircut AND color they’d ever gotten,” Nicci wrote me in an email. Now I know one thing about Nicci is she will NOT promote something she doesn’t believe in, so it was an easy sell and I decided to give it a try.

I made an appointment with Brooke and trekked down to Brooklyn (about 45 minutes from midtown) yesterday morning. I had no idea what to expect but when I got to the front I realized how private of a studio this is!

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You’re all invited to attend a VIP party at Bliss! They’re launching their new “fabulips” collection. Pop in for a lips spa treatment on August 24th. RSVP, Details below!

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Shy

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By Melissa Stephans

New York may be the fashion capital of the US, but when it comes to beauty, Los Angeles reigns supreme. Those of you who don’t believe me should watch an episode of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. These ladies have been nipped, tucked, tucked again, lasered, lifted, Botoxed, and Juvedermed–all in the name of beauty.

The great thing about being a native Angeleno is knowing where the movie stars, trophy wives, and reality queens go to get these procedures done–especially when they want to keep it on the down low. Though Bev Hills may be “Mecca” to L.A. beauty junkies, the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village is the secret hideaway to where the elite flock when they must recuperate from plastic surgery.

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I’ve found that a lot of my hijabi friends have a hard time finding a quality women-friendly salon where they can get their hair cut in a comfortable setting. Good news is Tribeca salon, RARE (started by celebrity stylist Ruth Roche), is hosting a launch event called “BEAUTY UNVEILED” on Sunday, August 21st, specifically geared towards women who wear hijab.

They intend to dedicate every third Sunday of the month from then on exclusively for hijabis. Pretty cool, huh? Call 212-343-9133 to book an appointment! Services include haircuts, color, blow outs, threading, scalp massages and more.

Salon info:
RARE
317 Church St
at Lispenard St.
New York, NY 10013
212-343-9133
Tribeca

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Shy

By Nicci Jordan Hubert
There are some moments in life you just won’t forget. My trip to The Plaza for Caudalíe’s fragrance launch was one of those moments. Here’s what happened:

As I stepped out of the non-glamorous subway, wearing my non-glamorous practical footwear, I looked to my right and saw the shimmering beacon of NYC luxury, The Plaza hotel. Unable to avoid the slight shame of switching shoes in public, I did what I had to do (I went all out and wore these babies), then glided along the sidewalk ready for a brush with luxury. The moment I entered, the elegant surroundings didn’t disappoint. It’s a beautiful place, but you didn’t need to hear that from me.

I was sent up to the 4th floor, to the Caudalíe Vinothérapie Spa. The lovely treatment director, Régine, greeted me, and I was swept away into a tour. Wow. Everything–everything–is perfect. From the soft aroma to the bowl of grapes on the guest table to the peacefully flowing water fountain to the beautiful employees with perfect skin, I felt as though I was transported to my very own ideal alternate universe. “Can I move in?” I asked one of the employees, to which she gave a warm and polite smile, even though I know she’s heard that question a million times.

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I first heard about Mizu via Twitter of all places. Teen Vogue beauty director Eva Chen (one of my faves to follow on any social media outlet, she’s so entertaining!) had just tweeted about her visit to the pristine salon on Park Avenue. I knew if she was raving about it, it had to be worth the hype. I came to find that the salon was actually started by two former Bumble and bumble stylists, Vaughn Acord and Damian Santiago. They use some of the best hair products out there (Bumble and bumble, Oribe, Kerastase, Davines, and Moroccan Oil). Me and my flat hair that day were more than excited to be invited to check out the salon firsthand!

The obvious is, the two-story salon is gorgeous. On top of that, Mizu boasts an extremely talented staff with each stylist accumulating over 20 years of impressive experience — stylist Dominick Pucciarello does most of the Victoria’s Secret models, while Ashley Hanna tours with Jordin Sparks. My stylist, Japanese-born Ayato Yokojima, has hair styling is in his blood — his parents who still reside in Japan have a salon of their own. He adapted a natural affinity for hair and ended up getting into the business himself! He decided I needed a wee bit of lift, so he used Oribe’s Volumista while my hair was still wet that gave me volume around my roots.

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