Beauty & Spas in Forestdale

MiBella Wellness Center's medical director, Dr. Mia T. Cowan, revealed two important facts in a Birmingham Business Journal interview—that her guiding principle in business is to always be respectful to others and that if she could have any super power, it would be x-ray vision. Dr. Cowan helps patients improve their health through diet programs and vitamin injections. Additional cosmetic procedures, such as SmartLipo, result in figures svelte enough to shimmy into packed elevators or tuck behind trees during hide-and-seek.

Beautiful You Skincare Specialties' owner Sarah Smelley boasts certifications in aesthetic procedures such as dermal leveling, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion, allowing her to take on epidermal upkeep with a tailored approach. Custom facials work to diminish blemishes or signs of aging, first by asking nicely, then by cleansing and lacquering faces with restorative products from companies such as Dermalogica and Atache. Chemical peels spark an accelerated exfoliation process that reveals a more youthful complexion, and LED light therapy smoothes out blemishes and boosts collagen production, splashing faces with more multicolored light than a head butt from a rainbow.

Studio A owner and 25 year beauty industry veteran Annette Hyche took inspiration for her salon's aesthetic from her communal loves of photography, art, fashion, and design, and created a uniquely visual backdrop for customers looking to discover their own style. An elegant mix of modern colors, gold-framed mirrors, and other vintage-inspired flourishes, Hyche's gunmetal and turquoise hued salon is packed with a team of master aestheticians, hair stylists, and makeup artists ready to help each guest uncover their inner starlet or starfish. Products from Moroccanoil and Clayton Shagal Skincare stand ready at each chic styling station and velvet sofas and leopard-print lobby chairs provide unobscured views of departing bridal parties and other photo-worthy patrons.

The hands are the astronauts of the body—the first explorers to make contact with any matter in your orbit—and the feet are the blazing rockets that propel you into space. Take care of your trustworthy space objects with today's Groupon to Polish Nail Spa: $40 for an essential mani and ultimate pedi (a $73 value). This deal doesn't just spiff up your hands and feet, it invigorates the senses with a bouquet of essential oils and the underutilized arts of hand and foot massage. What She Says: “Girl, we deserve this day for ourselves!” What She Means: I deserve pampering; you deserve my scornful eye, you wretched pile of decrepitude.

Pretty Foo Foo Salon & Spa, located next to Victoria Gardens, peeks through lush greenery and beckons passersby into its calming oasis, where beauty boosters and relaxation experts pamper visitors with the same emphasis they displayed on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Addition. In a flurry of scissor snips and Bumble and bumble products, Pretty Foo Foo's stylists renovate outmoded coiffures with haircuts, color treatments, and a slew of salon services. The aestheticians also send visitors on the path to epidermal perfection with PCA Skin Solutions' fragrance- and synthetic-free serums that erase blemishes, sunspots, and grocery lists scrawled on the forehead.

Sherry Rayborn considers every aspect of her clients’ skincare and relaxation needs before beginning each fully customized treatment. Having worked as both an RN and aesthetician, Sherry focuses her services on improving facial health through the use of fruit-enzyme peels, antioxidant exfoliation, and a feather duster to inspire healthy giggles. Each facial and waxing treatment transpires on a three-fold reclining chair amid low lighting and soothing music.