Garden City, ID Beauty and Salons

The brick storefront that houses Salon 162 has been a destination for style since the 1980s, when it first earned repute as a popular barbershop. Things have certainly changed since then, but not so much as they might appear. Star-shaped lamps, bright yellow furniture, and local artwork have replaced the peppermint barber pole, but owner Nancy still holds fast to the longstanding tradition of good grooming. She and her team of stylists cut, color, and highlight hair with professional products from Pureology. A firm believer in keeping up with the times, Nancy enrolls in yearly trainings to learn the newest techniques for smoothing hair and ushering confused bees out of beehive hairdos.

An episode of Seinfeld once poked fun at the concept of “double-dipping” a chip, adamantly comparing the unforgiveable act to “putting your whole mouth right in the dip!” Though LunchBox (A Waxing Salon) doesn’t serve party snacks, when it comes to waxing, the spa’s waxologists steadfastly adhere to the “no double-dipping” rule. After all, it is their mission to provide a comfortable, safe, and hygienic experience, and double-dipping tools into a clean vat of wax only spreads germs.

Their commitment to hygiene also includes the use of disposable table and body covers, and when it comes to keeping clients comfortable, the staff has a few more tricks up their sleeves. First, they employ speed waxing, a method that cuts time on the table nearly in half. Second, they use wax infused with azulene—an agent of chamomile—that has anti-inflammatory properties that make it possible for even those with sensitive skin to undergo facial or body waxing with minimal irritation. The staff can also add a little frill to freshly smoothed and sculpted areas with glitzy add-ons such as glitter tattoos and eyebrow tinting.

Dr. Katherine Elstun, medical director of Eagle Health and Wellness, understands the frustration patients feel when a physician lacks the time to discuss the lifestyle changes that will lead to better health. Eager to redefine the traditional doctor-patient relationship, she expanded her team to include a medical aesthetician and clinical counselor who work cooperatively to execute anti-aging skin treatments, weight-loss therapies, and synchronized cartwheel routines. The wellness squad motivates patients within bright and airy offices decorated with vivid wall art and neatly stacked herbal and medical-grade products.

Smiles marred by drinking coffee, tea, and wine or smoking brighten two to eight shades under the ministrations of Smile Labs of Boise, a center specializing in teeth whitening. There, patients paint their own smiles with Applia-Brush gel, a hydrogen peroxide-based formula that hydrates teeth more effectively than showering with an open mouth. Cold blue light from an LED lamp then activates the photosensitive gel, accelerating the whitening process so teeth can achieve the perfect snowy color in 15 minutes.

Inside Jamaca Me Tan, Heather expertly decorates faces using a SofTap permanent makeup system. She applies hypoallergenic pigments to the skin for perfectly arched brows and eye-catching eyeliner that produces a 3-D effect and stays put while sleeping, working out, and bobbing for apples. Also at the salon, tanning beds imbue bodies with a golden hue and a team of spray tan specialists bronze pelts in 60 seconds flat.

It’s clear as soon as customers see the front desk at Monkey Dooz—three hollowed-out barrels beneath a thick of faux palm trees—that it’s no ordinary hair salon. When they see the jeep-shaped salon chairs, they’ll realize that it is, of course, a hair salon that serves kids and Indiana Jones doppelgangers. It's the endless amount of little details that keeps kids entertained during haircuts and spa services such as manicures and facials. Most importantly, though, is that Monkey Dooz’s staff is a carefully selected bunch that exudes compassion and patience for little ones.