Poquoson, VA Beauty and Salons

The extensively trained and certified technicians at Bahama Mama's Tanning have been helping guests to look their bronzed best for more than 14 years. Based on individual needs, the crew steers patrons towards a sunless VersaSpa experience or a variety of high-quality UV equipment, including traditional horizontal beds or vertical booths. The Ergoline Ambition 250 bed, for example, combines UV lamps and high-pressure facial bulbs with a cooling rotary foot fan. To enhance tans, staffers recommend products such as lotion made by Australian Gold, Jersey Shore's JWoww, and King Midas.

Instructor and master esthetician Simran Kaur and her team at Savarnas Beauty look at the human form as a raw jewel, which they polish, shape, and adorn to create the dazzling sparkle that enhances natural beauty. They specialize in the traditional ancient arts of threading and Mehndi—the art of applying henna tattoos—to help her clients cultivate glowing, sculpted, artfully decorated beauty. By twisting 100%-cotton string, the stylists deftly capture unwanted hairs to precisely depilate faces and shape brows without the use of skin-irritating waxes or chemicals. They can also create complex, stunning designs on skin with natural henna dye, which sinks its pigments into skin to create decorative swirls and precise directions to the nearest ATM that lasts for two to three weeks. Savarna also stocks it's own advanced skincare line, which incorporates naturally derived botanicals to add a youthful radiance to skin. But perhaps its Savarnas Beauty's locations that make beautification easiest of all: the studios sit in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Norfolk.

SmileLabs of Virginia's teeth-whitening experts empower visitors to go toe-to-toe against enamel discoloration with an arsenal of peroxide-based whitening gels, which have little to no effect on tooth sensitivity. During SmileLabs' signature, in-office treatments, patrons sit comfortably in a specially designed chair before wielding an easy-to-use brush applicator to coat their own gumstones in whitening gel. An LED lamp attached to the chair then shines cold blue light at food-destroyers to accelerate the gel's tooth-blanching ingredients. After the half-hour session, clients prepare to flash grins bright enough to temporarily blind an angry, rapidly approaching linebacker.

You wouldn't want to compete against Dr. Sergio Vendetti in an anatomy-themed trivia night. That's because the Italian native has earned both medical and dental degrees, is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and a fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons. In his spare moments, he also finds time to lecture on surgical topics at academic and medical conferences, and mentor the next generation of healers as an assistant professor at the Medical College of Virginia.

Instead of shaming uppity quizmasters, Dr. Vendetti uses his vast knowledge of the human form at Virginia Surgical Arts, a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical center, where he performs procedures ranging from wisdom-tooth extractions to face and brow lifts. His attention to detail and patient-centered philosophy earned him the gold award for Best Oral Surgeon in the Virginian-Pilot’s 2012 Best of Hampton Roads competition.

His office earned the same contest's silver award for Best Skin Care Facility in Virginia Beach, due in no small part to its highly trained team and welcoming ambiance. A certified surgical technologist and anesthesiologist assist with surgeries, and a licensed master aesthetician performs medical-grade treatments such as laser skin resurfacing and photofacials. Guests sense the spa-like vibe as soon as they enter the lobby, where they’re greeted by hardwood floors, antique-style armchairs, and a plush sofa. Before treatments, they can watch favorite shows on the flat-screen television or analyze the framed map of Italy's boot to decide whether the blue lines are rivers or large spider veins.

Though eyelashes are quite small, learning to apply them can be quite a big undertaking. Each aesthetician at SOHO Lashes has endured numerous hours of training through Xtreme Lashes, learning how to darken and lengthen eye fringe in a manner that is comfortable, natural looking, and safe for the eyelashes. Available in various lengths and colors, the synthetic strands are applied one by one using a lightweight, waterproof adhesive that doesn't touch the skin. And since the false lashes are bonded to the real ones, they fall out in accordance with the natural growth cycle. Depending on the desired fullness, application can take anywhere from one to two and a half hours to complete; though afterward, clients can look forward to saving time each morning since they won't need to apply mascara or perk up limp lashes with a daily pep talk.

In addition to applying lash extensions, the aestheticians enhance features with more traditional cosmetics and remove unwanted hairs with waxing services. Groups of gals can come in for bridal makeovers or to get ready for other big events, such as school dances where everyone just stands around awkwardly.

Inside Dazzling White's office, potted plants and flowers bask in the glow of freshly sparkling grins. The office’s dental specialists brighten smiles with FDA-approved teeth-whitening treatments. The glow of an Osram blue LED lamp seeps from treatment rooms, the unit’s eight total lights and 24 watts of power activating whitening gels and scary stories about mysterious lighthouse operators.