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Miami is a beautiful city, and we're not just talking about the scenery here. We're no strangers to the beautifying process; most of us probably have our weekly nail appointments booked for the year with the same lady we've been going to since we were 15, have probably already bounced ideas back and forth with our hair stylist on how drastic we want to go with that balayage effect and have probably visited the local beauty counter so many times the employees have the goods set aside because they know we're coming.
Whether you're in desperate need of a new beauty fix, or simply want to expand your repertoire of recommendations, we've scoured Miami for the most notable beauty stores, hair and nail salons, waxing centers and other places to get dolled up, from an organic nail bar to the best asymmetrical cut in town, and from an eyebrow threading ninja to our city's nail polish whisperer.
Can't find your go-to salon, store or beauty pro on the list? Drop us a line in the comments, or email us at miami@racked.com to bring it to our attention for the next round.
Anastasia is the brow specialist to the stars in Hollywood and luckily you can feel her magical sculpting abilities in Miami too, even if it is just through a stencil. The beauticians at Nordstrom know what they're doing, and once they're done with you, you'll leave feeling even better than if Anastasia plucked and pulled your brows herself. [Photo: Aventura Mall]
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.[Photo: Google]
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. Stay tuned though; Bleach will soon be adding a spa, complete with manis and pedis, facials and a makeup station. [Photo: Bleach Hair Addiction]
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 also do extensions, head massages, deep conditioning treatments, and in-house services. [Photo: Blo Blow Dry Bar]
Concepto is THE place to go when you need your eyebrows threaded, although the hair salon offers many other services. If you go, ask for Gina. She's like a ninja on your brows, making sure they're shaped to perfection in under 15 minutes and all for the meager price of $20. [Photo: Concepto]
Cosi Chic is a salon, a blow bar and a spa all in one. They just rolled out a special: for every three blow dries (at $35 each), you'll get the fourth one free! Luckily enough, the owner is deciding to keep this special indefinitely. Sign us up, stat.
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. [Photo: Cream]
While the rest of the world experiences the Dr. Brandt experience through a bottle, we can undergo his state of the art treatments and procedures with the doctor himself. At his Coral Gables office you can tighten up your skin with laser treatments, or simply brighten and clear it with a medical grade facial.
Forever Tan will give you the healthiest tan on this side of the equator. They use 100% organic ingredients in their tanning formula, which is then applied by a technician who tailors the service to your body. You can even touch up your service the next day for $10. There's no excuse to be pasty this summer, people, so long as your staying away from the beds. [Photo: Forever Tan]
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. [Photo: Gee Beauty]
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. [Photo: Gloss Nail Bar]
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. [Photo: Hair Healers]
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. [Photo: Aventura Mall]
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. [Photo: Aventura Mall]
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. Now let us get back to our intense game of Duck Hunt, will you? [Photo: Junior & Hatter]
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. [Photo: yelp]
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. [Photo: Kimmy's Nails]
L'Occitaine takes its cue from nature to make sure that its skin care, fragrances, bath and body products, makeup, men’s products, hair care and soaps are as natural as possible. Stock up on your favorites from France here. [Photo: L'Occitane en Provence]
La Bella Mafia has a full staff of beauticians who can doll up your face and strands within the comfort of your own home. Although they all have solid resumes, ask for Katie. Her experience supersedes her and the amount of awards she's won could stack up a whole shelf. Just read her reviews on The Knot, where only the toughest critics go to weigh in.[Photo: La Bella Mafia]
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. [Photo: La Tijera de Oro]
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 with just the sight of a picture. Try out his skills. We dare you. [Photo: Lucky Nail Supply]
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. [Photo: Aventura Mall]
There are two of each Mac, Lancome and Estee Lauder counters, an Impulse section that adds every brand that Macy's was missing and an entire counter dedicated to perfumes. Although it's is as loud and crowded as a nightclub, Macy's takes the cake for having an epic beauty floor. Just make sure you look both ways before you cross the main walkway. No one wants to be a retail casualty. [Photo: via]
If you can catch her in between fashion show gigs and photo shoots (she recently wrapped up a job for Lacoste's look book), then you'll be lucky to have Aileen dust an inch of bronzer on your cheeks. She's known for her bold makeup artistry, but she's well adept at toning it down. Book her at least two weeks in advance and she'll squeeze you in between all the socialites and TV personalities she beautifies on the reg. [Photo: Makeup by Aileen]
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. [Photo: Miami Skin Boutique]
Miller's Studio is home to Dee Adames, winner of Bravo's Shear Genius. Tuesdays and Thursdays are the best days to book an appointment, as new customers get a 2-for-1 hair cut service!
UPDATE: Millers no longer offers their 2-for-1 hair service. They do, however, have a referral program. [Photo: Miller's Studio]
Aside from treating your hands and feet in mod egg-shaped chairs, Nail Bar offers waxing and eye lash extensions too. If you go, ask for Erika Conde, who can glam you up from your toes to your brows. The follicle love is so strong here that Marie Claire named it one of the best nail art joints int the country. [Photo: Nail Bar]
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. [Photo: Oribe Salon]
Portfolio ain't cheap, but it's worth every penny. You can't go wrong with any stylist at Portfolio, but if you must choose one, choose Yamil. He's like the Van Gogh of color and once he's done with you, you'll wonder why you ever went anywhere else in the first place. [Photo: Portfolio]
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? [Photo: Yelp]
You can spend an entire day at Rik Rak, and never get hungry. Seriously. Apart from having excellent hair service, the salon boasts a cafe as well as a fully stocked wine and beer bar. Why yes, we'll have a mimosa to go with our manicure and spicy tuna sandwich, thank you very much. [Photo: Rik Rak Salon]
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 their Jerusalem sink before you leave. [Photo: Sabon]
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]
Have a favorite scent from your trip to Paris back on '09? The Boys probably has it. The store specializes in carrying rare perfumes, scented soaps, and bath products from Europe. Tres magnifique![Photo: The Boys Cosmetics]
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. [Photo:Nue Studio]
Is your sensitive skin keeping you from being hairless and free? At WonderSkin, they only use a herbal wax made with aloe vera, so your skin is soothed the minute the hardening green stuff is slapped on to you. The prices? Reasonable. Timing? Impeccable. Don't let that hairy bod hinder you from beaching it much longer. Book something stat. [Photo: WonderSkin]
There was an outpour of cries on Yelp upon Taylor Trace's departure from Van Michael, but they were soon silenced by the arrival of Alex Mason and his artistry with hair color. The salon uses only Aveda products and, wait for it, it's open on Sundays! [Photo: Van Michael Miami]
Anastasia is the brow specialist to the stars in Hollywood and luckily you can feel her magical sculpting abilities in Miami too, even if it is just through a stencil. The beauticians at Nordstrom know what they're doing, and once they're done with you, you'll leave feeling even better than if Anastasia plucked and pulled your brows herself. [Photo: Aventura Mall]
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.[Photo: Google]
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. Stay tuned though; Bleach will soon be adding a spa, complete with manis and pedis, facials and a makeup station. [Photo: Bleach Hair Addiction]
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