Isabella Laser & Electrolysis

Profile

At some point in their lives, many women (and more than a few men) get fed up with bleaching, shaving, waxing, and threading their facial and body hair—which is when they start wondering about permanent depilatories. Enter this well-reputed specialty shop comprised of two licensed technicians, two techniques, and two modest treatment cubicles. Owner Isabella Ciccinelli, a quietly glamorous native of Rome, has been confidently perfecting New York mugs and bods since 1980. These days, she uses both the trendier Cutera laser machine along with the more classic electrolysis method; techniques that work by cauterizing the hair follicle. (Both come with pros, cons, and a slight, temporary discomfort.) Once on board, zapper and zappee can pass the treatment time amid pleasant gossip about the supermodel clients whose effusively signed magazine covers adorn the walls. — Karen Tina Harrison

With its surprisingly comprehensive supply of Guinot and other luxurious products, this uptown spa is an unassuming source of bridal pampering. Try the famously gentle bikini wax, or the Body & Soul wrap, which is engineered to minimize bloating.