From left, Blo Blow Dry Bar creates hairstyles that last, Spavia’s facials are refreshing and Sugaring NYC gets points for its results but not its customer service.
For some (me), it’s impossible to achieve a great hairstyle at home. The stylist at Blo Blow Dry Bar on the Upper East Side of Manhattan earned my gratitude for making my hair look amazing for the day, though the price tag of $55 felt a little steep. Worth it, perhaps, for the perfect selfie. My stylist kept me informed through the process, from washing, to drying, to styling, and asked a ton of questions I wasn’t ready for. Could she use certain products? How well does my hair hold a curl? (A 3 out of 10.) What look, specifically, did I want? Loose curls were interpreted as “beach waves,” and she offered a photo showing a look she’d created previously to make sure we were on the same page. Leaving the salon, one of more than 140 in the United States and Canada, I felt ready to take on the Big Apple with a fabulous new style and confidence to match (maybe another selling point for the brand?). The curls lasted until the end of the day, despite walking all over the city in 80-plus-degree heat—something I could never achieve at home.
The upshot: Blo provided a fabulous experience and results that lasted all day, but for the price will probably be reserved for special occasions. —E.W.
Go get a facial for work? Yes, please. At day spa franchise Spavia, customers come early for the full experience. Provided with a comfy robe and sandals, a dim room with snacks, tea, water and lavender-scented warm neck pillows awaited. A faux fireplace burned purple-blue as it was time to recline and relax. Spavia, with about 50 locations spread across 24 states, is all about creating a tailored experience. Conversation level, music and preferred scents were all taken into account, and the facial itself was incredibly pleasant. The esthetician asked about my skincare routine and adjusted for my evil epidermis. Questions were answered without a sales pitch, something more brands should work on so the service doesn’t turn into an infomercial. Like others in the facial and massage segment, Spavia offers memberships at different levels, and services include body treatments and eyelash extensions. Afterward, not only did my face feel lovely, my upper body was relaxed after the partial massage.
The upshot: For $109, Spavia provides a comfortable experience with luxurious touches often missing from some of the larger chains. This suburban Minneapolis location in particular earned a repeat customer. —M.G.
I showed up to Sugaring NYC in Midtown Manhattan hairier than I’d prefer—and ready for that to change. The increasingly popular sugaring service, which is prompting the launch of a host of new franchises, is a hair removal technique that uses a paste of sugar, lemon and water applied to the skin instead of traditional hot wax. My 5 p.m. appointment time came and went, and I was eventually called back to a very pink room for some underarm hair removal action ($25 plus tip). Unsure what to expect pain-wise, I was glad to discover there was just a quick sting. The experience at this franchise, though, left something to be desired. The late start and bad customer service meant there was no reason to linger. You really don’t know what uncomfortable is until a woman is singing along to a hip-hop song playing over the speakers while barely a foot away from your face. The price tag was definitely worth the results, however, with smooth pits for about 10 days—something a razor could never accomplish.
The upshot: Sugaring NYC was just OK, but a visit to another sugaring brand is definitely on the horizon, especially if I’m going on vacation and want to leave the razor at home. —E.W.