New Orleans Beauty and Salons

In Louisiana, all aestheticians endure at least 750 grueling hours of cosmetology schooling before they can obtain a license. Difficult scientific classes aren’t part of the required curriculum, but they were essential for Elite Skin Suite’s Lessie. After obtaining her cosmetology license back in 1978, the aesthetician became completely enamored with skin. So she headed to Tulane College and enrolled in classes such as genetics, mutation, and cellular biology, all in hopes of truly understanding the ins and outs of her favorite organ.

So far, her schooling has served Lessie well. For more than 30 years, she has helped clients of all ages maintain healthy skin with treatments tailored to their individual needs. Every service at Elite Skin Suite begins with a complimentary assessment, which gives Lessie the knowledge she needs to administer any one of a dozen or so of the facial treatments in her repertoire, including glycolic-acid peels, LED therapy, and detoxifying acne facials. And though most spas and licking puppies tend to focus on the face, Lessie focuses her aesthetic eye on the whole body with cellulite wraps, coconut-infused hydration treatments, and waxing.

To ensure that each skincare, massage, makeup, or hair-removal service is as enriching as possible, the staff at Pure Aesthetics Boutique Day Spa cares for clients using primarily organic skincare products. Exfoliating facials scuff away dead skin to reveal underlying superhero masks and younger-looking complexions, and a lineup of waxing services de-fuzz corporeal locales from brows to legs. Because the spa's main focus is customer satisfaction, the team even accommodates appointments outside of normal hours.

The nail technicians at We Nailed It! enhance toes and fingertips within My Salon Suite. After trimming nails and taming cuticles, staffers daub natural nails with classic polishes from Essie and OPI or adhere and fill steadfast acrylic nails. They also exfoliate hands and feet with orange-scented scrubs nourish dry skin and help hands with their Madame Tussauds auditions.

Calling on skin-safe supplies such as cosmeceutical-grade serums from Image like their Ormedic organic formulas, paramedical aesthetician Michele Gordy tends to clients' faces with services that include facials, peels, and microdermabrasion treatments. From her post within Victoria's Regal Nails, Michele begins every appointment with a consultation and detailed skin analysis to understand the unique issues and individual needs of each client's skin. She then tailors her services to treat conditions ranging from unsightly acne to stubborn paint left on former Blue Man Group members.

Owners Lauren Moulton and Jeff Guillory have more than 30 years of combined salon experience, which they use to guide and motivate Salon J-Elle’s team of stylists, nail technicians, and makeup artists. Even with all the responsibility of salon ownership, Lauren and Jeff consider themselves stylists first and often can be found on the floor cutting hair or assisting other staff members. In addition to haircuts and color, the salon also offers nourishing Moroccanoil treatments and Brazilian Blowout Zero keratin hair-smoothing treatments within bright-blue and turquoise walls.

At Professional Color Concepts Salon, scissor savant Cheryl Penouilh draws on more than 15 years of experience as she transforms hair with fashionable cuts and styles. Penouilh takes into account face shape, skin tone, lifestyle, and dreams of singing in a hair band before lavishing attention on manes with Framesi hair-care products. Patrons relax amid the salon’s rich wood décor and enjoy one-on-one attention while undergoing their metamorphoses.