Bargain bikini waxes for the finally arrived summer 2009
0 It’s scary; I know. I have friends who take shots of whiskey before waxing and load up on Advil. The anxiety that builds while you wait for the pull of the strip, and all along you’re picturing Miranda’s unkempt bush in the SATC movie repeating “That will not be me,” in your mind. And at up to $75 a pop, is the wax really worth it? Well, it truly depends on your pain threshold and tolerance of varying salon hygiene. After spending my spring at four different wax specialists, here is my assessment.
J. Sisters The Tory Burch toting Gossip Girl wannabes might actually be more painful than the wax. J Sisters, born of seven Brazilian sisters whose names all start with J, is, or was, the place for a painless Brazilian. And yes, it’s pretty painless. I don’t know if they sprinkle cocaine in the wax, or what, but it’s as close to painless as I found. Unfortunately, I’m too lazy to trek up to 57th street for my flower. If you go, call well in advance and be ready to shovel out $75 bones plus tip.
J. Sisters 35 West 57th Street, 3rd Floor 212.750.2485
Haven I’ve been going to Haven for five years and the price has increasingly raised and the service stayed steady. The tricky thing here is the wax. They have “honey” wax – $41 for Brazilian – or “gourmet” wax – $57 for Brazilian. Hm, now that is confusing. The staff claims the gourmet is less painful and causes less ingrown hairs. I really can’t remember to accurately assess. I mean, it all hurts. I would go for the honey first and note your reaction then try the gourmet the next time if need be. The best part of Haven is the staff who are the friendliest I’ve met in NYC. They take time to talk you through each pull of strip. They offer extensive advice on taking care of your flower.
Haven 150 Mercer Street 212.343.3515
Dyanna Nail & Body Spa You get what you pay for, right? Well, sort of. Sure the atmosphere at Dyanna Nail & Body Spa is no J. Sisters, but it’s across from Tens and full of strippers, who require pristine waxes. And at Dyanna, you can get a great wax. For $40 for a Brazilian, it is affordable and comfortable enough. The space is small though and the rooms feel less private than Haven and J. Sisters. The staff aren’t as kind or concerned about your pain, but it is quick, efficient and cheap. If you are looking for an affordable wax and can tolerate a cramped environment for 15 minutes, this is your place.
Dyanna Nail & Body Spa 40 East 21st Street 212.995.2355 or visit their Midtown location at 150 East 39th Street 212.213.0011
I also visited two not noteworthy waxes. One was Randee Elaine in the West Village. After I left this wax I was sure I contracted crabs or herepes or worse. DO NOT go there no matter how cheap they claim their Brazilian is. You’ll make up for it in medical fees. The other was a Chinatown shack who failed to remove all the hair. Gross. Basically, skipping a few days worth of lattes is totally worth beach confidence…and your health.
Posted by Emma Dinzebach at 12:00 AM
bargain news |
Murray Hill's peaceful, bargain massage
0 When a friend told me about Green Tea Spa, I thought “Is that an organic food store?” A little googling and citysearch led me to their website, where I discovered that Green Tea was not only a really popular name for a massage spas nationwide (who knew?), but also Murray Hill’s answer to the cheap Chinatown massages…but nicer.
Green Tea Spa is named after green tea, which they provide after every service. The green tea is said to speed post massage blood circulation while circulating toxins and uric acid in the joints, which will later elimate through sweat or urine. Basically, it cleanses you and gets out all your nastiness. Who couldn’t use that? Green Tea Spa provides back, foot and full body massages for men and women as well as foot reflexology, accupuncture and spa facials. The full body massages are their forte and for the mere price of $48, a true New York City bargain.
Unlike the cheap massages of Chinatown, they don’t bring you into a dark room with questionably sketchy sheets. The rooms are nice and smell like aromatherapy, and the staff are kind and soothing. The regular full body massage is the perfect amount of pressure on back, arms and legs and leaves you feeling peaceful and relaxed days after. Just specify your aches and pains and the therapists will customize your massage with a combo of Swedish, Shiatsu and Deep Tissue. (Word of caution, Deep Tissue really gets in there. It’s not for pain-phobes!) Make sure you note sports injuries/pains, headaches, sinus issues, etc. There masseuses specialize in tailoring each massage to your needs.
For $35 you can also get a hot stone facial. My friend splurged and indulged in one raving about how it helped her headaches and sinus issues. I’m not going to lie, I was jealous. Next time.
Green Tea Spa 240 East 28th Street between 2nd and 3rd 212.683.4048 Open daily 10:30-10 p.m.
Posted by Emma Dinzebach at 12:00 AM
bargain news , Spa Treatments |
1 In my all but futile attempt to save $12,000 I’ve had to give up some luxuries and scour the internet for deals. My latest mission: how to get a fabulous frock for just a few bucks? I know the traditional New York City discount haircuts, which include The Aveda Institute‘s $20 dos cut by semi-seasoned students and Bumble & Bumble‘s slightly edgier Monday night cuts, but decided there are some things a girl grows out of and cheapy haircuts is one of them. Plus, once I tried the whole $20 haircut and ended up sitting for three hours while the poor student slowly snipped away strand by strand.
I browsed a bit on Craigslist’s “free” tab and saw some dollarless offers, but each required sitting for a certain type of cut – bob, perm, with curly hair, with cowlick, without color, etc. I just wanted my long layerish cut shaped up minus the style restrictions. Free things don’t always come easy my friends, so if you aim to score something awesome without opening your pocketbook, some patience will be in order. And in Recessionville, USA, you better start looking a few weeks before you need the actual cut and act quickly if you see anything that might suit you. In the follow up emails you can evaluate the legitimacy, inquire into their experience and the salon and measure your instincts. But in the initial email just say your name, number and when you are available. They have a lot of responses and won’t reply if you ask a barrage of questions off the bat.
One Saturday morning, I saw an ad from a hairdresser asking for a long-haired model for promotional purposes. From my understanding, the salon was hurting for business and decided offering free cuts would increase marketing via word of mouth. It turns out the Oscar Bond Salon I visited around the turn of the millennium changed face to a Sam Brocato Salon where I was to meet the hairdresser.
I walked in and was greeted like any paying customer. They offered water, lemonade, coffee, tea and wine! (I had the wine, duh.) Then she lathered and massaged my noggin, questioned my hair’s aspirations during a very thorough consultation and began cutting. I was in and out in an hour, which was perfect since I went at lunch. It was wonderful and honstesly one of the better haircut and styling experiences I’ve had. It turns out, she has worked in that salon for six years.The following week, I had a friend who owns a nearby salon ask if I’d sit as a hair model for one of his employees just for a blow out. I was short on time that day, but reluctantly agreed. Well, when it comes to your locks, trust your gut. I ended up being there for two hours, one and a half of which was spent actually drying my fine mid-length hair. I for sure smelled it burning at one point. Needless to say, a free blow dry is probably something to pass on. If the person doesn’t even know how to blow dry hair, you don’t want to go to them.
However, if you see an ad for a hair model by a woman named Yasue Ida at Sam Brocato Salon, jump on that. She’ll rock your locks.
Posted by Emma Dinzebach at 11:30 PM
bargain news , BEAUTY |
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When the temperature heats up, skin kicks into overdrive, spewing out more technical problems than a 1989 Audi. A perfectly temperate complexion may suddenly transform into a hot mess of oil spills, dry patches and irritation, leaving one to wonder if she needs to call her dermatologist or a mechanic for a fix. While summer is welcome with open arms, problem skin is not. A good face mask is like one-stop shopping for the skin, offering temporary relief from the throes of humidity and, with continued year-round use, the promise of more even skin tone, a subtle glow, and well-behaved pores. I tested a few for the sake of The Vogue City readers’ inquiring minds (and even included a homemade favorite that costs pennies – literally) and budgets.
Clay masks reign supreme in sopping up T-zone oil, and are goof-proof: apply, let it dry, and wipe clean. I like Best Bath Store’s Dead Sea mud mask for $19.95. Its rich formula is chock full of minerals, nutrients and has a grainy, thick texture that feels glorious when swiped on the cheeks, chin and nose. I use it about once a week, usually when I’m busy stalking, er, browsing, Facebook and sipping a cup of green tea. Do-it-yourself relaxation, indeed.
If your forehead is dryer than the Sahara and your chin might spontaneously combust from dead flakes, I recommend the Body Shop’s 3-in-1 Honey & Oat scrub mask for $16.50. While my genetics have me destined for a lifetime of blotting paper and hand-held fans, I have friends with dry, sensitive skin who swear by this eco-friendly power product. The option to apply twice a week is there – if your skin is sensitive, start with a once-a-week application and work your way up. Kind of like the starter boyfriend you have mixed feelings about: easy does it.
Now, if your skin is neither here nor there and is lost in the transit of being labeled (and what’s in a label, really?), look no further than your pantry for a cure. Honey, that delicious sticky sap that sends my aforementioned tea into a tailspin, can be applied as is to dry skin for a tasty – and cheap – mask. Honey is naturally moisturizing, but also zaps oil and provides a hit of natural antioxidants to calm even the sassiest skin. Just be careful to wash, not lick, it off after about 10 minutes or so.
Masks: summertime skin saviors or time sapping treatments better left for the birds?
-Karyn Polewaczyk
Posted by karynpol at 12:00 AM
bargain news , BEAUTY , Spa Treatments |
