Beauty & Spas in Parlier

Though threading has been among Asia’s most popular depilation methods for thousands of years, it only recently made its way onto the service menus of Western spas. The ancient practice has shown signs of becoming more of a spa mainstay, however, thanks to an eco-friendly process that also manages to stay on good terms with sensitive skin.

For evidence of threading’s rapidly expanding popularity, one need not look further than Brow Shapes' Eastern-inspired treatment menu. When not sculpting brows into precise arches, the spa’s artists rely on their attention to detail to draw henna tattoos that depict flowery swirls, geometric patterns, or extremely detailed public-transit maps. The spa also features a variety of facial massages, each of which can be customized to relieve pain, aid in relaxation, and improve skin tone.

Drawing on her medical background, Marlene Fortney transmits youthful brightness back into clients' features with skin-refining treatments in an intimate spa setting. Her spa service menu centers on the face in a range of treatments that incorporate creams rich in antioxidants, deep-cleansing ultrasound rays, and enzyme exfoliants that gently whisk away roughened façades like a brick-wall repossession. For more intense skin restructuring, Marlene can draw on a retinue of high-powered treatments, such as glycolic-acid peels or diamond-tip microdermabrasion treatments that work to unveil smooth complexions from beneath dull skin cells. The specialist also brandishes waxing treatments that span from faces to feet to rid bodies of unwanted hair or sculpt brows into arches sharp enough to pop double-entendres in midair.

Dr. Cynthia M. Lopez began her medical career in the Philippines, returning to her hometown after medical school to provide health care to families who could not otherwise afford it. Since that time, Dr. Lopez has become an expert laser cosmetic surgeon, helping enhance the beauty of her clients within a practice designed to evoke the calm and relaxation of Mariveles, her archipelago hometown. Dr. Lopez and her staff aim to demystify the advanced techniques they deploy in pursuit of increasing each patient's confidence, walking them through the steps of liposuction, skin treatments, cosmetic injections, and how exactly they manage to steal and replace the noses of children.

Though high-tech hair removal relies on relatively new technologies, owner Nedra Lockhart has been zapping follicles for more than 40 years—she began in 1970, working at the side of her mother, for whom the clinic is named. Though electrolysis is still on the menu, the entire staff boasts national board certification in laser hair removal through The Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal, Inc. This range of treatment options is essential, as specialists must select the right tool for the job: though considered less painful, lasers target melanin and may not be ideal for those with lighter-colored strands, who may be better served by electrolysis or Photoshop. Besides permanent hair removal, the clinic is home to Scandinavian skincare services by stateside transplant Catharina and mani-pedis by aesthetician Lisa Schuenemann.

Holly and Kristin](http://gr.pn/ngY3Rf) of Elite Wellness Spa share a passion for preserving and protecting skin, but their similarities don’t end there. Both certified professionals graduated from Paul Mitchell The School’s skincare academy, and now they work side-by-side at a spa dedicated to rejuvenating skin with custom treatments and advanced implements.

Men and women alike stand to benefit from Holly and Kristin’s menu of services, which includes medical facials, exfoliating chemical peels, and gentle waxing treatments. Free of artificial fragrances and dyes, the spa’s repertoire of skincare products assists them through treatments and forms the basis for many of the at-home skincare regimens they prescribe. With more than 10 years of experience in the medical-skincare industry, Holly and Kristin draw on their collected wisdom to treat skin conditions such as acne, hyperpigmentation, sensitivity, and tattoos of caterpillars that have yet to morph into butterflies.

After a day at most salons, you might look better for a few weeks; after an hour at Permanent Beauty, you might look better for several years. That's because the center specializes in permanent-makeup applications, during which skin artists apply long-lasting, mineral-based pigment to eyes, lips, and brows. The pigments are designed to fade gradually over time so clients can change makeup styles and shades as they age, change their hair color, or disintegrate into their component Transformers. Ever conscious of sanitation, the technicians use brand-new materials and equipment on each client. The end result is that clients achieve the dramatic glances, full lips, and expressive brows they’ve always desired but couldn’t obtain without betraying Mr. Potato Head’s trust.