In the summer months, everything slows down around New Orleans – the number of festivals, the calendar obligations, kids’ activities, even the pace at which we walk. When we’re busy we hardly make time for ourselves, and the slow summer months make the perfect time to prioritize a little self-pampering. There are a number of ways to rejuvenate the mind and body while looking and feeling better. Below, local professionals involved in health and wellness or aesthetics have chimed in with their recommendations on looking and feeling good this month.
There is something special about the way fresh, flowy hair makes you feel, and blowouts are great for those days when you either need or want someone to give your hairdo a boost. And while you can achieve a literal “boost” or a do that helps tame a naturally wild look, blowouts give you a lot of options for styles as well as treatments that can help improve your hair’s health.
With two locations, BLEU, a Blowdry Bar offers up-dos and styles, makeup application, keratin express treatments, wedding party services and eyelash and hair extensions. Owner Emily LaBorde recommends a number of products and treatments that can be either purchased in-salon or added to your blowout to achieve better hair health in summer.
According to LaBorde, BLEU’s Keratin Express Treatment tames unruly, frizzy hair into shiny, smooth, easy-to-manage tresses. “The one-hour service locks in color, repairs damage and will cut your blow-dry time in half,” she says.
LaBorde primarily uses the Living Proof hair care line. She believes its lightweight nature, combined with being free of silicone, parabens and oils, makes it ideal for all hair types.
“We are currently obsessed with its PhD line, also known as Perfect hair Day,” says LaBorde.
She recommends the PhD Night Cap Overnight Perfector to achieve one week of shiny, manageable and vibrant hair “literally overnight.” The Perfector can be added to a blowout or purchased and applied at home. According to LaBorde, time-released conditioners such as this provide the ultimate beauty sleep for your hair.
With a similar quick-beauty approach, Poppy & Ivy is a new “face bar” that opened in March on Magazine Street to offer a range of accessible facial services in addition to brow services, lash extensions and organic spray tans.
“The Fundamental Facial is our most universally friendly facial and great for a quick skin rev-up,” say Owners Colleen Hammer and Lauren Tidwell. It involves two cleanses, a steamy exfoliation with an ultrasonic spatula, a facial massage, a brightening and firming treatment mask, moisturizer and eye cream.
For people with sensitive or reactive skin, Hammer and Tidwell recommend the Cool and Calm Facial, which takes a gentler approach and includes a number of soothing and moisturizing elements.
The Happy Hippy Facial is another popular menu item; this all-organic facial is rich in antioxidants, living enzymes and phyto-nutrients that restore the skin.
“It involves a cleanse, skin analysis, deep cleanse with steam and exfoliation, massage and a raw/organic treatment mask chosen based on your individual needs, followed by a nourishing treatment oil and soothing gel,” says Hammer.
Facials are also a popular service at About Face of New Orleans, which offers services from makeup applications, bridal makeup, facial treatments and lash extensions, to microblading, Botox and Juvederm. The skincare and cosmetic boutique offers a customizable facial service called the About Your Face Treatment, which focuses on both relaxation and improved skin.
“After consulting with the client on their concerns and needs, the service is customized to meet those needs and allow the client to feel better, not only about themselves but about their skin as well,” says Esthetician Jaime Shultz. According to Shultz, the Glo Therapeutic skincare line used at About Face of New Orleans offers solutions for all skin types.
For achieving quick results for summertime, Shultz recommends chemical peels. About Face of New Orleans offers four different types for various client concerns.
From hair stylists and estheticians to massage therapists and physicians, you can choose from a variety of professional to achieve the self-pampering results you seek. At Aesthetic Surgical Associates Dr. Stephen E. Metzinger and his staff specialize in minimally invasive aesthetic procedures of the face, nose, breast and body, which include both surgical and non-invasive procedures. Examples of single-visit procedures offered are Hydrafacial, Ultherapy, microneedling, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, light chemical peels, neuromodulators (Botox) and fillers.
“We believe skin care and nutrition are paramount, so we carry multiple skin care lines and vitamins including ISDIN, SkinBetter Science, Obagi, Neocutis and EltaMD. Our Vitamin and mineral line is Life Extensions,” says Metzinger a triple-board certified plastic surgeon. Along with nutrition, Metzinger’s approach to skin care includes gentle cleaning, sunscreen and retinols. He also believes in pampering yourself through a healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, hydration, exercise and targeted supplementation when needed.
Another medical practice that can assist with aesthetics goals is Khoobehi & Associates, which specializes in surgical and non-surgical skin and body contouring treatments.
“Our experienced aestheticians perform a variety of skin rejuvenating services that renew and improve both the appearance and overall health of the skin, such as microdermabrasion, SkinPen and ThermiSmooth,” says Dr. Jules Walters, board-certified plastic surgeon. According to Dr. Walters, microdermabrasion uses a diamond-tipped wand to polish and exfoliate the skin, while SkinPen utilizes micro-needling therapy to reduce the appearance of fine lines with little to no downtime. Alternately, ThermiSmooth uses radiofrequency energy to reverse the signs of aging by increasing your natural collagen production.
Dr. Walters recommends fillers and injectable treatments for quick results in softening lines and adding volume.
“We are excited to offer Juvederm’s newest member of the filler family: Vollure. This is a great new filler used in the nasolabial folds and around the mouth to soften lines and lasts up to 18 months,” says Dr. Walters.
At Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sean Weiss specializes in plastic surgery of the face and non-surgical treatments for facial rejuvenation and aesthetic enhancement.
“When people are wanting to look and feel their best, the eyes are a great place to focus. The area around the eyes is often the first place we show fatigue, illness or aging,” says Dr. Weiss. “The total eye treatment can take years off the appearance of tired and baggy eyes, and it’s great for quick summertime results.”
Dr. Weiss recommends treatment options that range from prescription strength skin care to injecting filling agents and even surgical procedures that can help people achieve a relaxed, renewed and more healthy appearance.
“We offer customized treatment plans that can instantly create a refreshed look using a combination of filler injections, Botox, microneedling, laser therapy, chemical peels and topical skin preparations,” says Weiss.
While self-pampering at the doctor’s office is a growing trend, the traditional day spa is still a go-to for relaxation and rejuvenation, and New Orleanians have been visiting Belladonna for such pleasures since 1989. Belladonna provides a full selection of day spa services such as massage, facial treatments, nail services and waxing. Their retail shop contains a variety of spa products including makeup and skincare, summer essentials and gifts.
“We have great body ritual and rejuvenation services that will get your body feeling renewed and refreshed for the summer months,” says Spa Director Melissa Benitez. “Come in for the detoxifying seaweed body wrap to remove built-up toxins, or schedule a mud body wrap to hydrate and firm the skin while soothing the muscles,” she says.
Belladonna is excited to introduce western cupping to its massage packages. According to Benitez, cupping enhances circulation, relieves pain and pulls out lingering toxins from tissues. The service can be added to a deep tissue or relaxation massage. Some of the benefits of massage include decreasing blood pressure and pain, improving range of motion and increasing temporary mental acuity.
Located on the Northshore, The Spa at Stone Creek features an extensive service menu with customized massages and facials, nail services, organic spray tan applications and more.
“Guests can enjoy a single service or spend an entire day with us and receive a full day enjoying all of our amenities, including time in our gorgeous relaxation area, any of our excellent group fitness classes and our salt water treated pools, hot tub and steam room,” says Spa Director Katie Santangelo.
In addition to their relaxation services, The Spa at Stone Creek’s organic spray tan service is popular for summer. According to Santangelo, the spray is made of all-natural ingredients, and the color of the airbrush application is customizable based on what kind of look the client wants to achieve.
For the fingers and toes, the Spa at Stone Creek recently launched a new manicure and pedicure service that features their Passion Fruit Agave product line from Spa Ritual, a vegan nail and body care line that Santangelo calls “incredible.”
However you choose to rejuvenate, make sure you take advantage of the slow months while they last. Grab a mimosa and take a deep breath – this summer you’re going to feel great!
About Face of New Orleans 701 Metairie Road, Suite 1B 106, Metairie, 304-1556, AboutFaceNola.com • Aesthetic Surgical Associates 3223 Eighth St., Suite 200, 226-8200, AestheticSurgical.com, RhinoplastyNola.com • Belladonna 2900 Magazine St., 891-4393, BelladonnaDaySpa.com • BLEU, a Blowdry Bar 5228 Magazine St., 325-5625; 701 Metairie Road, Metairie, 309-5999; BLEUaBlowdryBar.com • Facial Plastic Surgery 2201 Veterans Blvd., Suite 408, Metairie, 814-FACE (3223), SeanWeissMD.com • Khoobehi & Associates 4500 Magazine St., Suite 1, 517-7504; 3901 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 517-7804, Khoobehi.com • Poppy & Ivy Face Bar 5715 Magazine St., 509-6470, PoppyandIvy.com • The Spa at Stone Creek 1201 Ochsner Blvd., Covington, (985) 801-7120, StoneCreekClubandSpa.com
Note: St. Charles Avenue magazine doesn’t advocate plastic surgery except under certain conditions. Please consult your doctor before undertaking any medical procedure.
