Cleo Spa and Salon

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All the beauty basics are done exceedingly well here at prices that compete with those of hole-in-the-wall nail salons. The only things missing are the choking acetone fumes and the dollar-store décor. The chainlet was born of the idea that beauty shouldn't break the bank or your spirit. In upper-crust Gramercy, Cleo's interior shines white—it's pristine enough for any speck of dirt to feel the glare of spotlight but it feels glossy, not clinical. The comprehensive menu is capable of head-to-toe pampering: tresses are smoothed, backs massaged, bikinis lines denuded, and toes polished. The cocoa seed wax used is good for sensitive skin (and smells like dessert), and fine linen strips ensure less tugging and pulling. There are extras like long-lasting manicures that bake a mild shellac onto nails using UV rays. The downtown location is open until midnight and on most days is able to accommodate busy city-dweller schedules. At the uptown flagship, the look is slightly faded and un-fresh. Nevertheless, stylists give glamorous blowouts worthy of a night on the town. — Edna Ishayik

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