Elke Von Freudenberg Salon

Profile

German-born, L.A.-raised Elke Von Freudenberg’s loftlike, by-appointment-only salon, nine stories above bustling Broadway, is a white-walled, hardwood-floored refuge for expert brow-shaping, painless hair removal, facials, and waxing. Upon landing in one of the four stations’ reclining chairs, women and men can turn their hair-related concerns over to the beauty industry vet and her two-person staff. Elke, a longtime editorial, commercial, and Oscar makeup artist, specializes in creating non-formulaic, balanced, and full eyebrows that flatter the face, while fixing bad, paint-by-number brow shapes. Clients can choose from tweezers, wax, or a combination of both (though Elke prefers to only work with tweezers and small scissors). Other treatments offered at the salon, which opened in 2010, include makeup application (including bridal), aromatherapy facials, lash perms, and a hydrating, eye-area-brightening eye contour treatment. Elke’s own Model Brow collection of shadows, pencils and Vitamin-E-laden brow scrub (an all-natural, certified vegan sugar exfoliator with coconut oil and rosemary that encourages growth), is also available. Cookies and coffee top off the peaceful experience. — Anne Bauso