Beauty & Spas in Lakewood

Experience is everything at Chez Elle Salon & Spa. Just seven staff members boast more than 100 years of combined experience on their collective resumé. Kathryn Hill, the salon's master stylist, claims 37 years in the biz, and thanks to her expertise and a full stock of Unite Eurotherapy and Kevin.Murphy haircare products, the salon earned a nomination in the Best Hair Salon category from CityVoter in 2012. On the spa side, Chez Elle's master aesthetician has been customizing facials in Hungary and America for close to four decades.

The full-service salon and spa leaves no aesthetic stone unturned, offering body waxes, Shellac and Minx nail treatments, massages, and tans delivered via airbrush UV bed—all within upscale environs. A stone fireplace welcomes clients, and the waiting area's ornate glass fixture reflects an eye-catching pattern on the red ceiling. In the nailcare area, metallic decals offer uplifting advice such as "Cherish Yesterday," "Dream Tomorrow," and "Let your fingernails dry before running them through your new do."

Susie Ardabili, a 20-year veteran aesthetician, puts the Susie in Susie Organic Skin Care and helms a team of holistic beautifiers who refashion facial surfaces with nature-friendly, chemical-free treatments. Susie’s therapeutic touch—coupled with a menu of high-end treatments—has helped her attract celebrity clientele including Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Susie and company take the time to personalize each organic treatment, from custom ginseng and vitamin K facials to man-scaping services that focus on burly strands sprouting from the nose to forming flannel patterns across the back. Clients can also stock their homes with a handful of natural retail products, such as Susan Posnick makeup.

At Beauty Bar, purple-and-white checkered floors, a disco ball, and other retro-themed decor transports cocktail hour back to the ’70s. While guests sip on martinis and other cocktails, glamour technicians beautify nails with express manicures, topping nails with long-lasting polish instead of melted-down fishing lures. The vintage saloon stays open until 2 a.m., allowing guests to flaunt their freshly dazzling nails on the dance floor during DJ nights like the hip-hop ladies night or Friday dance parties.

Aesthetician Shauna Newell believes that eyebrows balance and define the entire face. That’s why she takes such care to wax, trim, and tweeze her clients’ brows into well-groomed arches. She further accentuates faces with eyelash extensions and under-eye treatments that plump and brighten tired eyes.