Conversations with strangers usually don't lead to newfound good looks, unless those strangers are the amiable sextet helming Vanity Lounge Beauty Boutique. Amid lavender-hued walls and potted orchids, the stylists involve each client thoroughly in the beautification process, discussing individual aesthetic wishes at length before delving into any procedure or genie-bottle rubdown. As the professional prettifiers work, they instruct clients on how to re-create new looks at home, sharing wisdom gained in training from Goldwell and Sebastian.

Walking past the kaleidoscopic ranks of bottles from brands such as Sebastian, Crew, and Number 4 lining the walls, patrons reach a range of boutique accessories such as jewelry, clutches, and hair doodads. Excited chatter drifts back and forth between the stylists and guests planning private beauty parties, which include refreshments and hair dryers trained to drown out dull stories.