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In 1995, London-trained hair guru and makeover maven Paul Labrecque conquered New York with a spa-salon in the super-exclusive Reebok Sports Club/NY. A stone’s throw from Lincoln Center and ABC’s headquarters, grande dames of the ballet and queens of day-time drama retreat here for facials and body work that would leave even the most tense studio exec drooling. The only downside to the space, tucked discreetly inside the health club, is reemerging from its dim lighting and muted browns to the brightness of the gym. In 2002, Labrecque expanded across the park into a space attached to the Chatham. At 7,000 square feet, it’s more spacious than the Reebok locale, and much mellower. Upstairs, clients sip lattes from the espresso bar while getting Labrecque’s famed hair extensions or cuts and color from a wondrously nice staff. Down the hall is the men-only gentlemen’s salon, complete with old-school barber chairs and indulgent straightedge razor shaves. Downstairs, Labrecque’s re-launched product line is sold alongside luxury skin, hair care, and home lines like La Mer and Tocca. A sliding glass door opens onto a hall of treatment rooms where, in addition to the usual facials and massages, you can experience more intense offerings like endermologie, acupuncture, Rolfing, and colon hydrotherapy. — Kathryn Williams

This airy salon and spa, masterminded by a London-trained stylist who originally landed a coveted slot in the Reebok Sports Club/NY before expanding across the street, is a safe bet for any style. With a spa party, the staff will pamper the bride—and up to nineteen of her girlfriends—by tending to hair, makeup, and nails. They also do on-location work. Prices upon request.

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Best of New York Awards

• Best Straight-Razor Shave (2007)
• Best Salon for Redheads (2004)
• Best Tummy Tightener (2004)
• Best Fake Tan (2003)

Featured In

• Beauty Before the Workday Begins (8/7/06)
• The Gurus (1/19/04)