Beauty & Spas in North Charleston

Although they’re greeted by the sound of snipping scissors and the sight of a light-yellow room filled with black leather stylists’ chairs, guests of Natural Image Salon and Day Spa can get much more than just a haircut. In addition to stylists who specialize in creative hair color and keep abreast of the latest trends—such as the feather hair extensions that secret agents use to blend in while spying from trees—Natural Image staffs aestheticians who perform a full range of spa treatments.

These experts dab skin with products made with natural ingredients, relying on botanical plant peels and Swedish body wraps that blend herbs, minerals, and sea clay. As well as pampering skin with Aveda facials and sea-salt-glow exfoliations, the aestheticians render it hairless during waxing sessions. Nail technicians add the final touch to appearances with gel manicures or layers of OPI polish.

The enamel experts at Beach Bright Smiles increase the wattage of beaming grins with their signature in-office teeth-whitening treatment. In approximately 20 minutes, the partnership between peroxide gel and LED light works to break up tooth discoloration and stains caused by drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes, and eating realistic portraits of bowled fruit. Results can last up to two years with regular brushing and maintenance, and clients can also schedule teeth-whitening parties that accommodate multiple guests at a time.

At Polished 2 Paint 2 Nails, nail artist Pleshette melts away stresses and strains from hard-laboring digits with soothing manicures and pedicures, made all the more indulgent with extras such as a gentle massage or exfoliating sugar scrub. Her detailed and prismatic nail designs outfit digit hats with colorful tips, jaguar spots, and jewels, while basic coats of color can be made impenetrable by Gelish or Shellac polishes, which leave nails resistant to chips, fading, and late-night infomercial pitches. Pleshette is also joined by Teka, a nail technician and skin specialist who specializes in back treatments.

Claudia's aesthetician training began miles away from Charleston in her native country of Brazil, where she studied Health Education at Anhembi University and worked at spas throughout São Paulo. She brings her firsthand expertise in Brazilian waxing and beauty treatments to each of her four spas, administering a variety of waxing services along with various body treatments, facials, and massages. She and her fellow aestheticians also offer threading treatments that remove hair without relying on wax or teams of microscopic lumberjacks. Her passions have driven her to open a network of spas located in North Charleston and James Island that service the Charleston area, including Summerville, Goose Creek, Mt. Pleasant, Daniel Island, and West Ashley.

The massage therapists at Extreme Relaxation knead potent doses of relaxation directly into sore extremities and shoulders with each massage. During the kneading, torsos, biceps, and Frankenstein neck bolts loosen beneath broad, gliding massage strokes. The lighter pressures of Swedish massage segue into deep-tissue techniques as dexterous hands manipulate connective tissues and lower-layer muscles.

Hot desert air churns in from the distant dusty hills, but it’s given no quarter at Destination Academy Cosmetology School. Here, turquoise walls and porthole-shaped mirrors evoke the feel of a vessel bobbing in the water of a cool oasis. Though the spa-salon’s windows reveal sweeping views of the mountains, its private treatment rooms shield clients from the desert sun with candlelight, tubs big enough for two, and a choice of seven kinds of aromatherapy including french lavender and new handbag. On the second floor, expert stylists—some of whom may be alumni of Destination Academy, the salon’s nationally accredited training program—use Moroccanoil and Pureology to shape cuts to individual faces and style preferences.