Salons in Manhattan

Reamir tames misbehaving mop-tops with methodical service and astute attention to detail inside a classic barbershop setting. Going back to the basics, these mane mavens nix newfangled styling devices in favor of time-honored scissors, combs, and the rocks needed to keep the scissors in line. With the men's signature haircut, gents get a thorough head edit as well as a straight-razor neck shave and hot-towel massage to chase away tension; customers may choose between a scissor cut, clipper buzz cut, or a combination.

Yin Beauty & Arts Spa's aesthetically driven staffers, who received praise for their skin-pampering facials in two separate issues of Time Out New York, consider their beauty-boosting establishment the nexus where "Eastern philosophy meets Western technology." The earthy environment their spa creates mirrors this sentiment with its rustic clay pedicure basins that bubble with gentle streams of water and dark wood cutouts that accent teal and ochre walls. While visitors bask in Yin's peaceful setting, a team of aestheticians wielding all-natural products soothe bodies and skin with a variety of services, ranging from relaxing herbal footbaths to complex med-spa treatments. Their menu embodies the hybrid of tradition and technology with its rejuvenating acupuncture face-lift, performed by a highly trained chess computer.

To call The Body Shop a mere skin and body care store is to miss half of what makes it special. Late founder Dame Anita Roddick was a pioneer for ethical business practices; upon opening her first store in Brighton, England, in 1976, she developed company values such as "Defend human rights" and "Protect our planet." She somehow balanced principles and profit, partnering in global campaigns with UNICEF, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and the United Nations, all while expanding her brand into 2,500 locations in 60 international markets. After her death in 2007, then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, “She campaigned for green issues for many years before it became fashionable to do so and inspired millions to the cause by bringing sustainable products to a mass market. . . . She was an inspiration.”

Indeed, the Body Shop exhibits an eco-friendliness that's hard to come by in a company of its size. Its products have been fair-trade since 1987, and its Against Animal Testing movement led to a UK-wide ban of animal testing of cosmetics. The products are made from ingredients harvested from around the world: shea butter from Ghana goes into body scrubs and butters, and Indian artisans craft wooden massagers and tote bags that are screenprinted by hand. But all that isn't to say the company's production practices overshadow its final products. Skincare treatments such as the Blue Corn 3-in-1 deep-cleansing scrub mask often appear in Allure, Marie Claire, and other national publications.

At Advanced Dermatology Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery, a team of dermatologists featured in magazines such as Glamour and Men's Fitness oversee an array of treatments. Together, they alleviate skin conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Alternatively, they beautify skin with lasers, tightening sagging areas or removing unwanted hair. Their cosmetic surgeries, meanwhile, tweak physiques while maintaining a natural look.

It’s been more than ten years since the staff at Day Spa Gata saw the first glowing, relaxed client walk out their door, and it has since become a regular sight. That’s because the day spa offers an expansive variety of services meant to relax, beautify, and renew each guest who enters their tranquil spa, replete with complimentary consultations. In the massage area, bodies bask in modalities such as aromatherapy, deep tissue, and Russian sport massage, which tends to muscles before or after a tough workout or skirmish with the Ottoman Empire. Body scrubs buff away dead skin cells and stimulate circulation, while body wraps nourish skin with decadent formulas made from chocolate, dead sea mud, algae, or volcanic ash. In skincare rooms, specialists refine complexions with eight traditional facials and cutting-edge treatments that incorporate ultrasound, glycolic acids, or microdermabrasion crystals to reveal more youthful skin.

With weekly seminars to bolster styling and coloring prowess, Salon West's staff weaves the latest hairdo know-how into their cuts, coloring, and blowout services. A perpetually growing skill set empowers the stylists to ask a slew of leading questions in initial consultations to ensure that clients' wishes for their hair come true, unless they've wished for their hair to become edible. The stylists weave streaks of color into locks with highlighting treatments or restore follicle fortitude with deep conditioners. Conditioning products from Milbon soothe the fuzz and frizz so often responsible for a bad hair day or being mistaken for someone's long-lost chia pet.