Beauty & Spas in Schenectady

In a house on tree-lined historic Union Street, board-certified vein specialist Dr. Fort eliminates unwanted spider and varicose veins by using an array of noninvasive techniques, such as traditional and foam sclerotherapy, laser therapy, and minimally invasive surgical solutions. Esthetic Laser Centre's medical esthetician, Amy Perka, focuses attention on faces, using different types of lasers to reduce hyperpigmentation and tone complexions, along with chemical peels and dermaplaning. The lasers are also used to banish unwanted hair.

Black-and-white checked floors and matching salon chairs beckon clients inside Executive Cuts, where experienced stylists and barbers cut and coif hair with professional Redken products. Along with stylish cuts and color services, the artful stylists eradicate frizz with natural, chemical-free keratin that leaves hair smoother than a baby’s bottom incisor. Though they generally require Groupon clients to book appointments, the salon team typically welcomes walk-ins throughout the week.

Kelly Rae leads the trio of staff members at her namesake salon, inspiring the whole crew with her advanced Paul Mitchell color training and cutting skills. Accompanied by fellow stylist Lesley Darling, both transform their clients' coifs with highlights, keratin smoothing treatments, and formal hairstyles. Nail tech Tina Mone, who's been beautifying hands for more than 10 years, applies chip-resistant Shellac and Gelish polishes as well as soothes palms with aromatherapy massages that relieve tension after high-fiving competitions. The salon also sells hand-painted wine and martini glasses, helping clients to continue to treat themselves once at home.

The seasoned staff at Runi Ltd have been prettifying physiques with custom services for more than 40 years, putting into practice expert training they've gained both at home and abroad. Resident aestheticians whip up custom combinations of pharmacy-grade skincare products that help cleanse visages and remove damage caused by studying the sun through a magnifying glass. They work alongside stylists who build trendsetting styles from each client's wish list. Staffers further cultivate relaxation and beauty through massages, manicures, and waxing services.

Since 2004, Gina Camaj's hairstyling skills have landed her hair and makeup gigs at weddings, photo shoots, and television programs. At Gina Camaj Salon and Spa, she and her team of fellow stylists use a full line of Paul Mitchell products for haircare appointments that range from trims and highlights to keratin treatments and eyelash extensions. While Gina oversees salon operations, the salon's co-owner, Karli Richardson, supervises the facility's spa. There, licensed aestheticians and massage therapists administer beautifying and relaxing treatments such as body scrubs, myofascial massages, and weight-loss mud wraps, which slim physiques more effectively than daily alligator-wrestling contests.

Alayne Curtiss's career spans more than two decades, during which she has fixed up famous faces for television appearances, seen her work featured in Glamour and Women’s Day magazine, and trained under to roofs of Lancome, Clinique, and Bobbi Brown. So when she returned to her hometown of Ballston Spa, some might’ve expected her workload to lighten. But she instead took on her greatest feat to date by opening her own beauty boutique, Make Me Fabulous. Along with a staff of experienced make-up artists, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, Alayne performs an extensive list of beauty services, including makeup applications, waxing, skincare, hair coloring, tanning, and mani-pedis. The mobile team can also tote their makeup artistry and cases of Bare Minerals products on location to commercial shoots and weddings from Pittsburgh to Vermont. To make sure beauty isn't just superficial, Make Me Fabulous employs certified personal trainer Dave Curtiss to help clients maintain physiques, which can also help them to fit into some skinny jeans or between the slats of a picket fence that surrounds a chocolate garden.

Alayne and her staff also serve a higher calling by donating funds to various cancer charities in honor of a former co-worker who lost her own battle with the disease in 2006. They also volunteer their services to raffles that benefit local schools, animal shelters, and other non-profit projects.