Whether you're looking for a new shade of lipstick or you're looking to shake up those tresses, here are the best salons and stores in Miami this year.
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Now that you've got your eyebrows on fleek, it's time to sort out the rest of your beauty situation. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the updated Beauty 38, a highly subjective rundown of Miami's best beauty stores, salons, and more. Those who made the cut are at the top of their games in the beauty business.
We left out luxury spas this round (here's a good guide) and barber shops, however we did mix in some places to get a mean wax, nail service, or a natural tan. We kept some of our favorite salons around the city, and shook up our selection of stores from Bal Harbour to Kendall.
While we heavily research all of the stores, salons, and gyms featured on Racked Miami, we're always looking for fresh new businesses to feature. In fact, many of these map points were recommended by readers much unlike yourself, so shoot us an email to miami@racked.com and we'll definitely consider it for future coverage.
Avant Garde has been around for over 35 years, so you can be confident that your hair is in good hands. Although it's on the pricey side (a blow out starts at $45), getting pampered with any one of their services, from hair color to extensions, and skin care to waxing, will leave you loving the way you look.
Bleach is the kind of salon you go to when you're ready for a change- an asymmetrical, bleached blonde, blue-tipped change. It was chosen as the best salon of 2013 for Miami New Times' Best Of series. There's also a spa element, complete with manis, pedis, facials, and a makeup station.
Not sure how to style your hair for the night? Choose from a list of Blo's pre-set styles, from va va volume to sleek and smooth, all for $40. It's the perfect concept for the woman on-the-go. Plus, the stylists at Blo can give you extensions, head massages, deep conditioning treatments, and in-house services.
Cream may be small, but it's packed with big names. Stock up on Nars, Smashbox, Dr. Brandt Skincare, Frederic Fekkai and Bond No. 9 goods. The store has two professional makeup artists on location daily and you can also get your mani/pedi and eyebrows shaped here. The only drawback is Cream's early closing time, but if you can work around that then you're golden.
Although Dr. Brandt has passed, his legacy lives on at his Coral Gables office, where you can tighten up your skin with laser treatments, or simply brighten and clear it with a medical grade facial.
What can't you find at GBS? The answer, friends, is nothing. They've got popular brands like Moroccan Oil, Bliss and Butter London, as well as other, more obscure brands that aren't carried elsewhere. There's also a salon in the back, so you can get beautified with (or without) the products you just splurged on.
Gee Beauty is THE place to go for all your facial needs. Aside from carrying rare skin care and hair products (not even Sephora has some of the stuff that they have) the store does body waxing, tanning, brow shaping, brow tinting and more. Make sure to check out their Gee line of cosmetics. We're almost certain you'll become a fan too.
Gloss is Miami's only organic nail salon, with its own brand of products too. From nail lacquers to body scrubs, and polish removers to mist, you can be sure that Gloss is a toxin-free zone with great service and an uber chic feel.
Hair Healers specializes in conditioning treatments for your hair. Depending on your service, they perform a complimentary strand test before they get started, just to see how damaged your hair is and if they should go on with your request. Also, Cuban coffee is standard.
Inglot packs in some strong hues in its products, and definitely gives MAC a run for its money. Best of all, you can custom design your palettes, so you're not stuck with that random canary yellow shade that came with your eyeshadow kit. From nail polish to eye liner, and lipstick to blush, give Inglot a go next time you want a bold makeup look.
One word describes the scents at Jo Malone: clean. We're not talking that artificial "clean" smell. We're talking about the simplicity and complexity of their scents - amber and lavender, wild fig and cassis, lime, basil and mandarin. And if you like a scent that much, there's guaranteed to be a shampoo, conditioner, body wash and even candle to go with.
Forget the magazines. Junior & Hatter has a foosball table AND a classic Nintendo console for you to entertain yourself with as you wait for you highlights to settle. And those highlights? Make sure they're done by Ali Shea, who was chosen as one of Allure's best colorists in Miami, only after your hair has been cut by Mario Silvestri, who is also one of Allure's best picks. There's also a gent's grooming quarters, and you can also walk out with a fresh face after an oxygen facial with their esthetician, Caleb McGrew. Now let us get back to our intense game of Duck Hunt. [Photo: Mayleen Gonzalez for Racked]
Kiehl's has been perfecting skin since 1851, which is why it's one of the most trusted brands in the industry. Picking out the right products can be overwhelming, but luckily the store's reps are knowledgeable enough to help you find the right products for your skin.
Nails. Done Right. Done Fast. Great price. In the time it took you to read that, you'll be done with your mani and pedi at Kimmy's, and it will be good. Real good. So good, actually, that the salon needed two locations on the same block: one for it's younger, hipper clientele and the other for Kimmy's loyalists.
L'Occitane recently opened a luxurious two-story shop inside a historical Art Deco building on Lincoln Road. On the mezzanine level you'll find all of the great skincare products L'Occitane is known for. Plus, it's the only store in the U.S. with the Brésil Room, a section carrying a line of products inspired by Brazil. This store also has a spa treatment bathed in natural light from the adjacent courtyard so you can experience these products the right way.
Dull scissors? A rusty nail drill? Most stores can replace these, but few will fix them. La Tijera de Oro has been sharpening and repairing nail supplies since '79, for prices that are entirely too good to be true. They also sell Essie and OPI shades for $4.99, which automatically makes them winners in our book.
Essie and OPI for under $4.50? Honey, those aren't even the ones on sale. Aside from having the best nail polish prices in town, Lucky's owner, Mitch, is like the nail polish whisperer. He has the coveted talent of being able to identify colors by just seeing a picture.
Lush is one of the most natural brands in the market. When they can, they make their products into solid form in order to ditch the packaging, and when they do use packaging, they make sure it's recycled. Couple that with clever names for their soaps, toothpastes, body tints and other products, and you're looking at one awesome hygienic experience.
We've got two words for you: Elizabeth Canler. In the world of facialists, she's at the top of the who's who list, and is so good she was recognized by Allure for giving the best facials in 2012.
Aside from treating your hands and feet in mod egg-shaped chairs, Nail Bar offers waxing and eye lash extensions too. The follicle love is so strong here that Marie Claire named it one of the best nail art joints int the country.
When he's not styling for every single fashion magazine on the planet, Oribe Canales can be found at his hair salon about five days...a month. This leaves you in the hands of his myriad other stylists, and trust us, you won't be settling. These guys are the best in the biz. Oribe even has stylists dedicated solely to mixing and applying color, so if you're thinking of going for something tricky, like a balayage job, this is definitely the place to go.
You make your yearly voyage to Ricky's for Halloween every year, but have you ever gone when the store isn't shoulder deep in costumes? The chain carries loads of beauty goods, like anti-aging products and masks from reputable brands, and even its own makeup line. Yes, some of it is costumy (see: shimmer glimmer) but there's always more room in your makeup box for electric aqua eyeliner, right?
Rik Rak is the salon for the who's who of Miami. We mean, it's practically the official hair salon of Ocean Drive magazine, and there's a tab on the salon's website for its long list of star clientele. If you go, make sure you get your eyebrows done with Leticia Collazo, who's become a beautifying legend there in her own right.
Sabon is devoted to making you smell like a full bouquet of roses. Or a rustling field of lavender. Or a big hunk of musk. Whatever your olfactory senses desire, you'll be able to find oils, soaps, scrubs and skin care products that fit your needs. Just make sure you wash off the suds in its Jerusalem sink before you leave.
Hey, you! Yeah, you. We see you trying to sneak those lavender shaving creams and balms to the register. Yes, they may technically be for men, but we too know that the Art of Shaving's products are the creme de la creme when it comes to non-irritating shaves, even around your privatest of lady parts. We're on to you, smooth operator. Oh yes, we are. [Photo: Art of Shaving]
Nue Studio has a grungy, yet fresh feel to it. They recommend their Japanese keratin treatment, which is stronger than others and will leave your hair totally tame. Plus, there's a boutique in the front selling novelty goods and clothing so you can walk out looking as edgy as your new do.
This Aussie skincare brand now has two locations, South Beach and Wynwood, where you can swap the streetside hustle for a serene and clean escape from the masses. It's crammed with loads of anti-oxidant filled hair, face, and body products that come in minimal, scientific-looking packages. Besides Babalu, these are the only places in Miami where you'll find Aesop products, so drop in for a free hand wash.
Selected by CBS Local as one of the top places in Miami for DIY spa treatments, at American Apothecary of Kendall you'll find everything you need to create your own Shangri-La at home. Organic spa sets, essential oils, skincare products, soaps, and even pet care products can all be found, not to mention healing crystals, herbal teas, scented candles, and natural products for your home.
Half of Bloomingdale's first floor at Aventura Mall is practically dedicated to beauty. There are specific counters for Clarins, Jo Malone, La Mer, and more, not to mention makeup brands like Chanel, Nars, and Mac to name a few. It's a beauty and skincare lover's paradise, so drop by if you're looking to satisfy your beauty needs all in one place.
Brownes offers blowouts, glossing, balayage, shellac manis and pedis, all kinds of waxing, makeup applications, and skin care treatments like Skinceuticals facial and peels, micro buffing facials, and even treamtments for men and teens. Oh, and while most salons have a simple menu, Brownes has "The Tan Commandments," a list of packages that will give you that Miami glow, and maybe a little sparkle along the way. The in-store beauty boutique is awesome too, with brands like Nars, Bumble & Bumble, Molton Brown, and Diptyque.
Step into this tiny, Philippe Stark-designed salon; step out with million dollar locks shaped perfectly into the style of your dreams. Haircuts start at $90, but it's a small price to pay when you consider how much of a difference a cut makes.
Update: A previous version of this map labelled the salon as Frank & Leo. The name has been changed to IGK Hair.
With ten years of experience under her belt, Lucy Rodriguez knows how to shape em. She studies your bone structure and natural hair growth to give you that perfectly symmetrical arch to compliment your face, and also sells magical lash and brow oil so you can grow yours out faster at home. At $35 a pop with lip included, it's no wonder Miami's top fashion bloggers have her on speed dial. You can now find her at Dash of Lash, a salon that specializes in lash extensions.
Curly hair ain't no joke, which is why Salon Vaso has made the cut of best places to get your curly hair cut. Lucky Magazine has said of owner Vaso Spirou's skills, "Known especially for her dexterity in highlighting and cutting naturally curly hair, Vaso can surely tame even the wildest mane."
It's been said people look ten pounds lighter when they get a spray tan. If that's the case, Marina from Spray Nation Tan will paint off 15 pounds with each artfully painted stroke of organic bronzer she sprays onto your bod. If you can, tan on Tuesdays where a one-on-one consultation is $40. But if you're in a rush later at a later point in the week, there's the Rapid Tan, which dries in up to three hours!
Studio Chroma is all about color, whether you want your strands to fade into a bold purple or you want a delicately bleached blonde. Plus, it's fairly inexpensive and the dyes they use are free of ammonia so you don't have to worry about damaged hair as much. They even have a special color package for males. Iced tips, anyone?
Want a few streaks of bold color that aren't permanent? True Hair Miami has its own line of virgin human hair extensions from bold red to neon green that will get your edge on even if it won't last forever. You can also get your hair cut and dyed here; owner Ellie Menocal and her associates are always on point.
Can't bare the thought of stepping outside in translucent skin? Valet Tans' Falen Whipple will bronze you within the comfort of your own home or hotel room. She literally paints the color onto you using an organic spray that doesn't smell or streak. She's worked on models, celebrities and music artists, from Ellie Goulding to Kate Upton, and can practically meet you anywhere in town, from South Beach to Kendall.
If you think your eyebrows are beyond repair, then you haven't gone to Wow Brows yet. Sisters Dari and Gail count former title-holding pageant girls, Miami fashion bloggers, and the overall who's who of Miami as their clients, and offer services from simple, stencil-free shaping to eyebrow tinting and permanent makeup. They also have a bevy of products from their own "Brows Gone Wow" line to keep your brows in check between appointments.
Avant Garde has been around for over 35 years, so you can be confident that your hair is in good hands. Although it's on the pricey side (a blow out starts at $45), getting pampered with any one of their services, from hair color to extensions, and skin care to waxing, will leave you loving the way you look.
Bleach is the kind of salon you go to when you're ready for a change- an asymmetrical, bleached blonde, blue-tipped change. It was chosen as the best salon of 2013 for Miami New Times' Best Of series. There's also a spa element, complete with manis, pedis, facials, and a makeup station.
Not sure how to style your hair for the night? Choose from a list of Blo's pre-set styles, from va va volume to sleek and smooth, all for $40. It's the perfect concept for the woman on-the-go. Plus, the stylists at Blo can give you extensions, head massages, deep conditioning treatments, and in-house services.
Cream may be small, but it's packed with big names. Stock up on Nars, Smashbox, Dr. Brandt Skincare, Frederic Fekkai and Bond No. 9 goods. The store has two professional makeup artists on location daily and you can also get your mani/pedi and eyebrows shaped here. The only drawback is Cream's early closing time, but if you can work around that then you're golden.
Although Dr. Brandt has passed, his legacy lives on at his Coral Gables office, where you can tighten up your skin with laser treatments, or simply brighten and clear it with a medical grade facial.
What can't you find at GBS? The answer, friends, is nothing. They've got popular brands like Moroccan Oil, Bliss and Butter London, as well as other, more obscure brands that aren't carried elsewhere. There's also a salon in the back, so you can get beautified with (or without) the products you just splurged on.
Gee Beauty is THE place to go for all your facial needs. Aside from carrying rare skin care and hair products (not even Sephora has some of the stuff that they have) the store does body waxing, tanning, brow shaping, brow tinting and more. Make sure to check out their Gee line of cosmetics. We're almost certain you'll become a fan too.
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