Beauty & Spas in Ardmore

At Salon Sheena Janelle, the young woman watched as two thimble-sized humans began their ascent up her long, straw-colored locks. They had started off slow, testing that the hair could withstand their weight, but now they were really moving—clearing a full inch of vertical distance every 10–12 seconds. On her left earlobe hung a small green flag that read “trim and blow-dry”; on her right, a bright red flag that read “shave head completely.” So far the tiny human on the right seemed to hold a slight advantage, looking, between the two, to be the more experienced climber.

The young woman loved her yellow hair and despaired at the thought of having to shave it off. She watched in dismay as the left climber lagged ever increasingly behind. At one point, he had lost his grip and slid down a full body length. He looked spent, already beaten.

The climber on the right was now even with the corner of her chin, the flag just seconds away. He pulled himself to the side of her mouth as a brief resting place. Without conscious thought, she grabbed his tiny leg with her teeth, then whipped her head to one side and released it. A faint scream receded into the distance. The climber to the left had taken advantage of her head's momentum to swing upward, and he now dangled victoriously from her lobe, green flag in hand.

The stylist poked her head in, "They're done already? So what will it be?"

The young lady smiled, "Trim and blow-dry, please."

A Best of Philly 2009 poster from Philadelphia Magazine hangs proudly in the window of Salon Charisse, recognizing Patricia Oelbaum's waxing prowess. As Patricia strips away hair from bikini lines, limbs, and faces in the backroom, a talented hairstyling crew bustles in the airy styling arena. Amid french-vanilla walls and floral paintings, the stylists reshape 'dos and add luminous dimension with highlights. Frizzy locks cascade like waterfalls of butter with help from Express Keratin treatments or the more powerful Japanese hair-straightening technique. The salon's stylists and aestheticians also host birthday parties, where they primp partygoers with manicures and makeup.

HairTini owner Danielle Ward, along with her business partner, Jessica, personally snips each strand that enters her salon. Employing Redken products, the beauty duo perform signature services such as the HairTini conditioning treatment, which imbues parched locks with moisture. They also tend to the rest of the body, painting pallid skin with airbrush tans and waxing away unwanted fuzz. Dramatic black-and-white wallpaper, accented with paintings of shoes and stray mustache hairs, surrounds the two as they work.

Inside Studio di Estetica, a series of arched entryways leads guests to a room drenched in warm orange and yellow tones and ornamented with Roman-inspired decor. In this colorful setting, stylists reshape men’s and women’s coiffures and add color with highlights. Facials, waxing treatments, and eyebrow tinting take place in a private spa room surrounded by electric-purple walls, whereas nail technicians pamper hands and feet in the mani-pedi corner.

Tamed Hair Salon has its name for a reason. Sure, the stylists—like in any salon—cut, style, and “tame” hair, but they’re also armed with something extra: their very own signature smoothing treatment. Packed with natural proteins, this curl- and frizz-taming serum effectively seals the hair’s cuticles, locking in smoothness and shine and blocking frizz for up to two and a half months. Of course, Tamed’s hairstylists aren’t just about banishing frizz. Within an expanse of sea-foam-green walls anchored by wooden floors, they also cut and style strands using K.Style products, and enhance color with highlights, lowlights, and grey blending with help from Lakmé color solutions.

Meanwhile, in private spa rooms, aestheticians wielding Rica wax made from vegetable oils and real beeswax remove unwanted hair from the faces and bodies of both men and women. Guys can prepare for a day at the beach or a night at an underground swim meet with anything from a chest or stomach wax to a “manzillian.” Aside from waxing, the skin specialists also exfoliate and cleanse pores during customized facials and full-body salt scrubs. The entire Tamed Hair Salon–crew—both stylists and aestheticians alike—also gathers guests for birthday and bachelorette parties, during which they pamper and beautify partiers with hairstyles and full makeup applications.

For over 60 years, The Mane Attraction has helped to beautify the locks of Lansdowne residents. Since 1949, four sets of owners have welcomed guests, with the current owners and their team of four stylists taking up residence in 2001. Just as the style of coiffures has evolved over the years, so too has the salon’s list of services–the roster now includes Keratin treatments, thermal ionic straightening, and long-lasting temporary extensions.