When it comes to getting bridal beautiful, beauty bars are the new something blue. These magical places where the liquor is replaced by lacquer and the spirits are swapped out for shampoos, often focus on a single niche service and are designed for the modern woman who wants to book an expert in various primping services. Rather than relying on a single salon for everything from tresses to toes, you’ll most likely need to bar hop — an activity familiar to most New Orleanians — to achieve the look you want for the big day. Here, the city’s hottest beauty bars to get you pre-garter gorgeous.
The Braid Bar at Carpe Diem
Book For: Braid guru Beth Washington (@hairbybethnola), who does pop-up braid bars around the city, is available in-studio for dry hair, no prep required fishtails, French, Dutch, waterfall and halo bridal braids and updos.
Bar Tab: Basic braiding starts at $20.
Top Shelf: Ask for a five-strand braid.
209 Harrison Ave., 723-5919, carpediemboutiquesalon.com
Buff Beauty Bar
Book For: The “Beauty Buffs” at this chic and modern space offer waxing, makeup and nail services, including gel manicures and complimentary mimosas.
Bar Tab: A gel manicure and a blowout are each priced at $35.
Top Shelf: XTREME lash extensions, blowouts and agave smoothing hair treatments.
720 Carondelet St., 522-2833, buffbeautybar.com
Wink Eyelash Bar and Makeup Studio
Book For: Natashia Paul and her team specialize in airbrush makeup artistry and bridal hair design.
Bar Tab: Airbrush foundation makeup starts at $50.
Top Shelf: Mink strip lashes and Silk V lash extensions, a hybrid between individual lashes and clusters.
911 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 459-9465, thedailywink.com
Make Me Up
Book For: This full-service makeup boutique (with cosmetics galore) and recently revamped skincare studio offers application, airbrush makeup, lash extensions and brow appointments.
Bar Tab: Makeup services start at $55.
Top Shelf: Bridal party organic spray tanning.
3426 Magazine St., 891-9688, makemeupnola.com
Bleu, A Blow Dry Bar
Book For: The spot synonymous with “something bleu,” come by for a makeup application, extensions, bridal portraits and get giddy over cocktail-themed blowouts like the sleek and straight “neat” or the messy waves “shaken.”
Bar Tab: Blowouts start at $35.
Top Shelf: Deep conditioning “hair shots” of Moroccan Oil and hair extensions.
701 Metairie Rd., Metairie, 309-5999, bleuablowdrybar.com
Blanc Beauty Bar
Book For: So sleek and chic you’ll want to marry it, the bar offers a complete array of nail services ranging from full sets and nail design to quickie manis and pedis, brow, lip and chin waxing.
Bar Tab: Slow beauty signature mani is $30; pedi is $55.
Top Shelf: Reserve the space for a party of eight and receive a complimentary bottle of bubbly and a fruit platter.
4526 Magazine St., 510-4221, blancbeautybar.com
Hi-Brow Beauty Bar
Book For: Esthetician and brow guru Lauren Prats and her brow beauticians are pros at shaping, tweezing and brow trimming, as well as body and face waxing.
Bar Tab: Brow waxes start at $30.
Top Shelf: The Ultimate Option, a semi-permanent technique that attaches one single extension to each of your individual natural eyelashes.
126 Sierra Ct., Metairie, 325-2222, hibrownola.com
Blo Blow Dry Bar
Book For: Settle into the hot pink and white decked out hotspot and sip champagne while the pro “bloers” give you a wash and a do from the menu of seven signature looks.
Bar Tab: Basic blowout is $40.
Top Shelf: Clip in extensions or fancy braid work.
5530 Magazine St., 570-6101, blomedry.com
Rocket Science Salon and Beauty Bar
Book For: The funky Marigny location offers bridal makeup and hair services and ‘dos, along with complimentary bang trims, nails, lashes and waxing.
Bar Tab: Bridal hair starts at $76.
Top Shelf: Brazilian Keratin treatments and bio peel facials.
604 Elysian Fields, 218-8982, rocketsciencenola.com
Kendra Scott Color Bar
Come In To: Create the jewelry of your dreams by customizing designs for you and your bridal party with the help of the in-house computerized color bar.
Bar Tab: Prices vary depending on items, style and jewel choice. Bridal parties with five or more guests will receive a 15 percent discount on their purchase from the Color Bar.
Top Shelf: Book out the glamorous studio for you and your party to sip, sweet and customize your jewels.
5717 Magazine St., 613-4227, kendrascott.com
The Magnum Mindset
Skin Science: If you’re looking for a little more visual tweaking than makeup contouring can provide, this medical skincare spa can provide services like Ultherapy, a non-invasive and needleless neck, chin or brow lift services that has essentially no downtime, and body treatments such as BioSlimming Body Wraps and non-surgical CoolSculpting. 3213 17th St., Metairie, 309-7048, skinsciencellc.com
BodyBrite: In addition to wedding party makeup applications, this darling spot with the aqua and white accents provides oxygen treatments, teeth whitening, skin rejuvenation services. 4241 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 475-5510, bodybriteusa.com
How to Avoid a Hangover
Tips Before the Big Day
Be mindful of travel fees associated with at-home services. On location versus in studio pricing can vary.
Inquire about bridal party minimums — some bars have a number expectation with private bridal bookings.
Book ahead — expecting to be scheduled with minimal notice puts you at risk of not being accommodated. Further, book a trial for an updo and makeup service so you can hone in on the perfect look you want before the big day.
Discuss gratuities in advance so your party isn’t surprised by unexpected fees.
