Beauty & Spas in Concord

Nestled inside a cozy brick house rests Salon Serenity, where slate-hued walls lettered with an inspirational saying and light-strewn hardwood floors set the soothing tone that permeates the beautifying emporium. Maroon curtains and a stately fireplace pop out against the turquoise background of the waiting area, and a large canvas portrait of a zebra greets clients and confused lions in the haircutting room. Led by owners Stephanie and Neal Flower, a skilled team of beauty-industry professionals wields handpicked products while snipping, coloring, or straightening hair or prettifying faces with makeup applications.

Having accrued 15 years of beauty-industry experience—including time spent as a teacher for the North Carolina State Board's continued-education classes—Melody-Nicole believes that your nails can make just as much of a statement as your hair. That's why the staff members at Nicole's Nails refer to themselves as nail stylists and devote their appointments to crafting finger- and toe-tips that complement each client's character. With services that range from basic mani-pedis to acrylics and custom designs, they manage to graft art onto both natural and artificial nails. Their polka-dot patterns outfit extremities with retro charm, and advanced 3-D and flower graphics augment pageant-ready waves with clouds of confused butterflies.

At Lash Me Now Lash and Beauty Bar, lash specialists amp up eyes with temporary and semi-permanent eyelash extensions. Using a safe bonding agent, they meticulously apply synthetic fibers to the natural lash line to boost length and volume for two to four weeks with temporary lashes, or 90-days with semi-permanent sets. Aside from applying faux lashes, the beauty experts also shape and tint brows to better match skin tone or weekend wigs, and rejuvenate skin with herbal facials.

The stylists and aestheticians at Lux Salon Studio enhance hair and skin with a range of salon services. They can elongate locks with 12 different extension techniques, such as bonded, cold fusion, and the Brazilian knot, customizing the service to fit the individual’s hair needs. They also customize facials and peels and offer clients five different types of eyelash extensions, including shorter, thicker lashes for a natural look and longer, thicker lashes that say “diva” more efficiently than hiring a litter to carry you from your bed to the living-room couch.

Armed with more than a decade's worth of skincare experience, Helena Collins helps clients achieve and protect healthy skin with medical-grade chemical peels, restorative and corrective treatments, and maintenance therapy. Her unique, hands-on approach involves minimal use of machines and tamed robots, has received national recognition, and attracts loyal clients who typically visit Sois Belle Spa two times a month.

Inspired by her late mother's battle with skin cancer, Helena enrolled in a postgraduate program for an oncology aesthetics certification, allowing her to effectively treat clients battling or recovering from cancer. Helena also travels around the country as a motivational speaker for the Regency Beauty Institute, giving talks focused on helping students transition from apprentice to professional aesthetician.

With birdcage-like wire around its dangling crystals, the chandelier at Snips Salon reflects the atmosphere's marriage of urban and opulent aesthetics. Stylists attend to clients between the exposed brick walls of the second-story salon, combing Bed Head and Catwalk products through strands or accenting features with TIGI Cosmetics. Services include haircuts, color treatments, and waxing for men and women. The team also pours complimentary beverages and furnishes a library of fashion magazines—the models of which can have their gorgeous hair brought to 3-D life with clients' newly clipped braids.