South Orange, NJ Beauty and Salons

Since 1998, Bellalaser, Inc.’s certified technicians have cared for clients with a menu of noninvasive laser services for the skin and body. Using a laser armed with an integrated cooling system, licensed operators can help reduce or eliminate unwanted hair so patients can stop other hair-removal routines such as waxing or wearing a name tag while shirtless. Techs will also harness the power of the FDA-approved VelaShape laser system to reduce cellulite and shrink waist circumferences. Skin specialists use lasers to tighten and rejuvenate wrinkly skin, while aestheticians treat faces with a variety of non-laser procedures, including microdermabrasion, facials, and collagen masks. Bellalaser also carries a signature line of skincare products including sunblock, exfoliating body shampoo, and skin-tightening contouring gel.

In a space deemed "inviting, comforting, and relaxing" by a pleased client, Escape Medical Spa unfurls a bevy of soothing services amid terracotta walls; plush, earth-toned couches; and ornate mirrors. The spa offers a claw-foot tub ensconced in a private spa room, where visitors can immerse themselves after a salt scrub or Mediterranean mud wrap. Popular services include facials, which whisk away the day's dirt and rejuvenate skin, and anti-aging treatments that instill a youthful glow previously only attained by playing 10 consecutive games of Red Rover.

Alora Ambiance Spa owner Patricia Rivas has worked as a licensed aesthetician and skincare specialist for nearly a decade. Along the way, she's picked up advanced certifications in treatments such as cellulite-smoothing ionithermie and IPL laser hair removal, teamed up with Dr. Thomaso Skorupski, and assembled a staff of talented hairstylists, nail artists, and waxing specialists spread throughout two studios. There, staffers dole out specialty services, including eyelash perms and extensions, exfoliating salt-glow treatments, and facials that infuse faces with more oxygen and nutrients than a granola-filled balloon. Beyond stocking the shelves with aesthetic aids from such brands as Paul Mitchell, Matrix, and Pravana, Rivas is also the creator of the Ayurveda by Alora skincare line, which includes soap- and- sulfate-free cleansers, as well as body creams infused with white tea and vitamins C and E.

eShave founder Danielle Malka first made inroads into the shaving business when she created a successful program to educate barbers in the UK. As the barbers' trade tips trickled down to consumers, her renown grew, and in 1996, she founded eShave to enhance the shaving experience through elegant razors, kits, and shaving creams devoid of the porcupine quills often found in competitors' products. Danielle still designs eShave's hand-sculpted, aesthetically unique razors, badger brushes, and shave stands, many of which have been featured in dozens of local and national health and lifestyle magazines.

At eShave's retail outlets, trained trimmers specialize in transforming masculine mugs from bushy to groomed with their signature barber services. Using the company's own products, its signature shaves begin with a relaxing hot-towel preparation and facial oil massage to open up the pores, followed by a hot lather to moisten and prepare skin for a close, comfortable shave or clever escape from pursuers. After coolly slicing bristles with a straight razor, a barber neatly wipes away all remaining evidence of his work and provides an aftershave moisturizer to prevent irritation and soothe nude jaws.

The dentists at MySmile Dental, who have up to three decades of experience help maintain the oral health of patients of all ages. The professionals delve into both general and cosmetic dentistry, and they harness modern technology such as clear Invisalign braces and Zoom! teeth-whitening treatments to leave grins that are charming even when directed at empty gas cans presented by the district attorney. While youngsters hoot and frolic in a supervised play area, the team fights signs of aging with Botox and Restylane dermal filler.

La Salon and Spa's modern, family-friendly facility opens its doors daily to welcome people seeking beauty and stress relief. Whether cutting, coloring, perming, or conditioning, the stylists create hairdos that perfectly complement their hosts. Choosing from a generous selection of facials, the spa's aestheticians make quick work of acne and fine lines, and massage therapists use deep-tissue, hot-stone, and Swedish techniques to soothe muscles sore from trying to twist hot air balloons into poodles. Waxing and nail treatments round out La Salon and Spa's long list of services.