Holiday and New Year Beauty: Tips and Tricks from Portland's Spa and Salon Pros

It's hard to feel pretty this time of year. Bundled up against the cold, our faces are wrapped in scarves, hair buried under hats, and polished nails hidden inside mittens and boots. And don't get me started on what I look like when I've shed the gear—frizzy hair riddled with static, ruddy skin, chapped lips…ooph. It's enough to make a girl want to hibernate until April.

But, alas, this is probably the most social season of the year. Holiday parties, performances, dinners, family gatherings—not to mention New Year's Eve! You've decked the halls and trimmed the tree, now you've got to throw off the Snuggie and put your best face (and hair and skin and nails) forward. So I've gathered tips, tricks, and ideas from neighborhood spas, salons, and wellness centers—as well as a few well-known faces—to treat yourself and welcome 2010 feeling and looking absolutely radiant.

Your Body

In my very unscientific study of the local spa scene, massages were by far the most popular service with Portlanders. "You can't really beat massage for feeling nurtured and relaxed," explained Löyly Sauna owner Jessica Kelso. "People really need it these days, I guess." It's also an excellent foundation for overall health and beauty, ridding the body of toxins, stretching muscles, and elevating your mood. Indeed, Q6 model agent Jonny Schultz, who knows a thing or two about beautiful people, told me, "I love getting massage sandwiches [1/2-hour hot tub/sauna on either end of an hour massage] at Common Ground Wellness Center (Concordia) Keeps me relaxed and detoxed with beautiful skin!" Chef Lisa Schroeder (Mother's, Mama Mia) agreed: "I'm addicted to massage and get one regularly by Linda Kohl [who owns One on One Portland Pilates in Northwest District]."

  hot stone massage at Zenana Spa and Wellness Center

Ready to indulge yourself? To combat the chill in your bones, consider hot stone therapy at Zenana Spa and Wellness Center (Hosford-Abernethy), which specializes in pregnant and parenting families (and offers child care Tuesdays and Thursdays!). Owner Zenana Rose considers this massage ($75/$105), using heated basalt stones to warm muscles for deeper relaxation, one of the most nurturing things you can do for yourself at this time of year. Meanwhile, the hot stone massage ($75) is combined with full spectrum light therapy and an on-site sauna at Exodus Spa (Overlook) for a complete S.A.D. cure; the friendly neighborhood community feel is a bonus happiness boost.

The experts at Root Whole Body (Irvington) bring a holistic perspective to massage, calling it a "restorative place to recover from the demands this time of year." Massage here is not a one-time treat, but rather, is ideally incorporated into an ongoing wellness regimen that includes movement classes (yoga, pilates, Nia), chiropractic care, naturopathic medicine and acupuncture. To make 2010 your healthiest yet, think about becoming a monthly member to package their various services; right now, become a basic movement member (unlimited movement classes, $125/month) and receive a free facial or massage. Every visit includes tea and sauna time.

Massage is also on the menu at Löyly (Hosford-Abernethy), but the sauna is truly at the heart of the sleek and modern Scandanavian-style getaway, which offers a DIY-style spa experience. Access to the cedar sauna, wet steam room, and relaxation lounge is available for only $15 an hour ($5 for additional hours), which is an incredible relaxation value. "I find the sauna brings a healthy, relaxed glow that really shows that health is beauty," said owner Kelso. Single-use Dr. Hauschka holistic products like masks, scrubs, and foot soaks are available to use in the facilities. Kelso's picks: the rejuvenating mask ($9.50) and body salt scrub ($3.50) during her sauna. "I seem to always get carded, looking rosy and youthful I suppose!" I can't argue with that. And you'll probably find me there on New Year's Day with a friend, starting the year right by indulging in their special Reviver package, which includes 1/2-hour sauna/steam before and after a 1/2-hour massage, plus that rejuvenating mask and salt scrub ($129 for two).

Your Skin

As our largest organ, healthy skin is probably the most important factor in looking our best. Soft, silky, glowing skin on your face and body simply delights all the senses. Exodus owner Esmerelda Caldera says that the you'll get the most impact with their body polish ($60), which exfoliates with sea salt and moisturizes with almond oil, incorporating the benefits of massage (relaxation, increased circulation) and a tub soak to both look and feel amazing.

So you've got smooth skin, but it's a little, shall we say, blah. Pale is beautiful in my humble (and pretty fair-skinned) opinion, but for special occasions, especially in the depths of a dark, dreary weather, sometimes you want a little boost in the "healthy glow" department. Fake-n-bake lights are too scary to be worth it, and fake tanners smell awful, so I was excited to learn about the organic airbrush tanning available at Portland Spa and Boutique (Downtown). The formula is free of potentially toxic (and definitely stinky) parabens and preservatives, made instead with botanical extracts from walnut shells, which create a more natural golden brown color than the other natural options made from beets (who wants to look like a Muppet?!?). Without irritants, there is little worry of rashes or breakouts, so you can come in the day of an event and be tan about five hours later. They'll even be hosting special "Tan-Tastic" parties with extended hours and discounts next week. The results last about seven days.

Of course, you wouldn't want to mess up the effect with errant body hairs, would you? Visit Urban Waxx (Northwest) to get them taken care of in a zip. Owner Shannon Conley assures waxing virgins that the hard wax they use is the most gentle and least traumatizing to the skin, which means pain, redness, irritation, and ingrown hairs are minimal. Brazilian waxes ($70, $50 maintenance) are by far the most popular service (they did about 6,000 this year, up from approximately 4,500 last year), and the days before New Year's Eve are probably the busiest. "I guess everyone in Portland is getting lucky that night," Conley joked. Surprisingly, they also do a lot of leg waxing ($65 full) this time of year for those lucky folks heading to warmer locales.

But guys, don't go too crazy; as Q6's Schultz, who once shaved his chest and will never go there again, pointed out, "body hair is sexy!"

The feature that can make the most impact when properly groomed, though, are the eyebrows. "A great brow can completely change how you look," noted Conley, "and it's so much easier to put eye makeup on, especially the glittery stuff that's popular during the holidays." She recommends a fuller brow with a straighter, natural arch as opposed to a thin or heavily curved version, which can age people. And give yourself a day or two after waxing ($22) to let any potential redness fade (they sell products to help and provide after-care tips). Right now, Urban Waxx is in the holiday spirit, offering several discounts: 10% off through Citysearch (until 12/31), 20% off in the Portland Monthly Holiday Savings Guide, and 50% off first time clients via Yelp.

Because they spend so much time working on your visage, expert facialists are often also talented brow designers. I've heard raves—and can agree from personal experience—about Sheila McCoy at L'Mu Salon (Pearl) for over five years. She's truly an artist, finding the perfect shape to complement the contours of your face ($28 design, $22 maintenance). Of course, while you're under the care of her expert hands, you should also indulge in one of her very potent (read: fast results) yet gentle (read: you won't be red and raw) facials ($45/$85), which includes an in-depth analysis and personalized products from Dermalogica and PCA Skin. Especially popular with the over-40 crowd, Sheila seems to be able to work age-defying magic better than any plastic surgeon. Seriously.

Erin McGovern, a veteran of Portland Spa & Boutique and Spa Willamina (Storm Large's favorite spot for facials in Grant Park), opened Haven (Downtown), her one-person-at-a-time skin care studio in August. She focuses on early prevention with lots of hydration, clarification, and antioxidants, and even more importantly, education and personal attention to revamp your everyday skin care routine. If you've got specific concerns—chapped lips, puffy eyes—she'll spend extra time there to give you immediate results. And of course, she's a sought-after brow stylist as well, taking upwards of a half-hour to carefully sculpt their shape ($25 design, $20 maintenance). Every month she gets creative with her holistic, organic products: December's special is an hour-long super-hydrating Warm Cocoa Antioxidant Facial and plumping Honey-Rose Eye and Lip Treatment for $60. "With all the forced air and heat, people really need hydration right now," McGovern said. Look for something "fun and festive" for January, "maybe champagne or creme brulee."

Root Whole Body gets to, well, the root of deeper problems with their skin services. There are "skin nutrition" facials and enzyme peels with Eminence organics, but also more intensive LED light therapy and innovative facial acupuncture. The former uses different light frequencies (colors) to treat various concerns, from wrinkles to acne to cellulite and scars, on the cellular level. Acupuncture may sound scary, but the complete benefits (without a much scarier scalpel) are worth it—reduced fine lines and wrinkles, firmer skin tone, tighter pores, reduced puffiness and dark circles. And of course, it's completely natural.

Your Nails

Natural is the name of the game all over Portland, and thankfully, more and more in the mani-pedi department. I mean, you really can't hit the town without gleaming nails (Lisa Schroeder, who makes it a monthly habit, and Storm Large agree, though Storm's pedicure will be hidden in her "holiday boot of choice," Doc Martens), but who wants to breathe in all those chemicals? Portland Spa and Boutique eschews the formaldehyde for manicures and pedicures that use citrus, and foot therapies that feature espresso and green tea—all done in their dedicated nail services room. Meanwhile, Zenana Spa has brought back their seasonal favorite, the Peppermint Pedicure, which includes an Eminence Chocolate Truffle Body Wrap of legs and feet (while you sip cocoa) followed by a peppermint massage and chosen Zoya polish. The best part: Bring your little princess along for her own kiddie pedicure (ages 2-10), with technicians skilled in working with children's short attention spans and ticklish tootsies.

Your Hair

From the tips of your toes to the top of your head…now it's time to think about your hair. And again, you can respect the health and beauty of the planet while enhancing your own—at green (Kerns), a new salon that aims to be a sustainable, no-impact business, using Davines organic products, energy-efficient and reclaimed building materials and furniture, even recycled paper and soy-based ink. They even donate all hair clippings to a San Francisco company that makes mats to clean up oil spills. Eco-style fanatics, I hear you swooning! On top of it all, green is home to five talented stylists who incorporate new trends into classic cuts personally suited to each client. Owner Patti Green has noticed a lot of people adding color to their locks, which makes sense—"people want to feel brighter in our rainy climate," she said.

  Hot towel shave at Y-Chrome Barbering

Yes, but dudes probably just want to keep it simple. Y-Chrome Barbering (Downtown) brings back classic barber shop services—haircuts, straight razor shaves, and shoeshines—and adds modern amenities like a big-screen TV, pool table, and beer. The idea grew out of the popular HairM, the full service salon and spa that caters to men. Owner Celeste Trapp saw the need for a quicker and faster option that still offered more style than SuperCuts. Ladies, if your man needs to get ready to don a suit for a night out on the town, send him over for a tune up.

And if you are ready to fearlessly ring in the new decade, I suggest heading to Burnside Proper (Buckman), where the highly creative stylists are always trying something new. Of course, it's about fun, not fright, so they work with you to consider your personal style and needs before getting permission to make big changes (or gently ease you into it). If you don't want anything permanent, you're in luck—for the drama of the season, owner Galen Amussen recommends simply experimenting with styling and accessories, incorporating wild waves and texture into a look of "easy glamour." Hairpieces with oversize bows, sequins, wide ribbons, netting, and feathers (well, not all at once!) are sold at the salon, making it even easier to let the stylists work their magic. Amussen just recommends doing a deep conditioning treatment at night and putting hair up in a bun, pin curls, or braids to create plenty of texture to work with the next day.

It's a style self-proclaimed "casual girl" Stephanie Stricklen would agree with; when she's not charming the city from the KGW newsroom, she wants to make getting ready for a party "as easy and quick as possible"—not surprising coming from a new mama who would rather spend time with baby Elle than construct an elaborate undo. So she usually throws up her hair with a costume jewelry hair clip or even a hat, adding a pair of big earrings to "make it look fancy and then I call it good."

Trixie's Beauty Bar

Nothing too dramatic, but if she should ever follow through on her secret desire to go brunette (c'mon Steph!), she should head to Trixie's Beauty Bar (Portsmouth), where owner Tracy Menasco has seen a lot of changes this year, chalking it up to the overall climate of uncertainty. Thankfully, women of North Portland can depend on Trixie's, which has been called an "urban Steel Magnolias," to handle all their beauty needs, including waxing, facials, and natural nails (as soon as they find a new nail tech—anyone? anyone?). Menasco especially gets excited about their makeup services, which brings us, finally, to....

Your Face

"Makeup is so much fun, and it's not something that people always know how to do," Menasco said. "After getting their hair and makeup done, people leave here and they look amazing. You can see it in their eyes, they're just so sparkly and happy and feel good about themselves." Trixie's offers a makeup application and lesson, or an entire makeup bag overhaul, where you'll be forced to throw out that ancient mascara (think What Not to Wear for cosmetics) and restock with fresh products suited just for you.

Beauty products at Camellia Pure Beauty

Makeup is the main course at Camellia Pure Beauty (Cully), which specializes in selling entirely natural and non-toxic cosmetics, skin care, and bath and body products. I especially love the full array of locally-made Alima mineral cosmetics. Owner Emily Headen specializes in helping women perfect their makeup so they look radiant, not made up, and with her degree in painting, has an artist's eye for the colors that will best highlight your features. If there's one thing she wants to see more of this time of year, it's pumped up lip color. Yes, it's scary for Chapstick-only girls like myself, but don't we all dream of being a crimson-lipped vixen? Let Headen pick your best color from Primitive Lip Color, which she says lasts an incredibly long time without feeling like shellac. Perfect for all the drinking you'll be doing.

eyelash extensions at L'Mu Salon

And imagine one less thing to worry about every time you have to get gussied up—mascara. Not only will the eyelash extensions available at L'Mu give you a longer fringe than any tube of Great Lash, but they last for two months, eliminating any worries about smudges, flakes, or eye irritation. The pharmaceutical grade, non-toxic extensions are applied one at a time to your own lashes, not glued to your eyelid, creating a comfortable and entirely natural look that will have batting your eyes at everything that moves. Add Sheila's expertise from years as an entertainment makeup artist–she recommends lighter colors and highlighting the inner eye corner—and you'll be the belle of the ball.

Getting pretty in your neighborhood...

Northwest

L'Mu Salon - Pearl
810 NW 12th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503.224.8171
www.lmusalon.com
Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, by appointment
Services: Facials, make-up, brow design, waxing, Botox and dermal fillers

Urban Waxx - Northwest District
1036 NW 18th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503.219.9299
www.urbanwaxx.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Services: Waxing, waxing, and more waxing

Southwest

Haven: A Skin Care Studio - Downtown
511 SW 10th Avenue, Ste. 1108
Portland, OR 97205
503.201.5208
www.havenscstudio.com
Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Services: Facials, brow design, waxing, lash and brow tinting

Portland Spa and Boutique - Downtown
0315 SW Montgomery Street, Ste. 390
Portland, OR 97201
503.222.0105
www.portlandspa.net
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Services: Massages, facials, brow design, waxing, lash and brow tinting, lash extensions, makeup, pedicures, manicures, foot treatments, body wraps and scrubs, organic airbrush tanning, cellulite laser treatments, microdermabrasion, laser skin rejuvenation, natural medical

Y-Chrome Barbering - Downtown
609 SW Washington Street
Portland, OR 97205
503.467.4667
www.y-chromebarbering.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
Services: Haircuts, straight razor shaves, shoeshines

Southeast

Burnside Proper - Buckman
715 SE Grand Avenue
Portland, OR 97214
503.234.2807
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, hours vary by stylist
Services: Haircuts, color, styling, waxing, lash and brow tinting, makeup

Löyly Sauna - Hosford-Abernathy
2713 SE 21st Avenue
Portland, OR 97202
503.236.6850
www.loyly.net
Hours (women only): Tuesday, 2 p.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday & Friday, 12 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Hours (co-ed): Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (men only); Sunday & Wednesday, 2 p.m.-9 p.m.; Monday, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Services: Massages, sauna and steam, DIY masks and scrubs, cleansing teas

Zenana Spa and Wellness Center - Hosford-Abernathy
2024 SE Clinton Street
Portland, OR 97202
503.238.6262
www.zenana-spa.com
Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Services: Massages (including pre-natal & house calls), facials, waxing, makeup, pedicures, manicures, body scrubs, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, lactation services, hypnotherapy and hypnobirthing, doula services

Northeast

Camellia Pure Beauty - Cully
4759 NE Fremont Street
Portland, OR 97213
503.287.4645
www.camelliapurebeauty.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. (closed at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, reopening Jan. 6th)
Services: Makeup color consults

Root Whole Body - Irvington
2526 NE 15th Avenue
Portland, OR 97212
503.288.7668
www.rootwholebody.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Services: Massages, facials, enzyme peels, LED light therapy, facial acupuncture, chiropractic care, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, yoga, pilates, Nia classes

green. salon - Kerns
935 NE Couch Street
Portland, OR 97232
503.946.8335
www.greenhairpdx.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, hours vary by stylist
Services: Haircuts, color, styling, waxing, brow and lash tinting

North

Exodus Spa & Salon - Overlook
4211 N Interstate Avenue
Portland, OR 97217
503.288.3110
www.exodusspa.com
Hours: Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
Services: Massages, sauna, facials, waxing, manicures, pedicures, Aqua Chi detox foot bath, cellulite treatment, body polish,
haircuts, color, styling

Trixie's Beauty Bar - Portsmouth
4821 N Lombard Avenue
Portland, OR 97203
503.285.2899
www.trixiesbeautybar.com
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. & Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Services: Haircuts, color, styling, facials, makeup, manicures, pedicures