Self Care in NoMad
Self Care is a funny thing. Too often it’s a once a year treat or something to be gifted; labeled “frivolous” on the monthly budget. But self care is an investment in one’s self. And with busy schedules and long nyc commutes, finding top-notch salons in a convenient location is a New York must-do. here are a few of my NoMad beauty recommendations:
The Clean Beauty Lab
210 5th Avenue Suite 112
The salon lies just across the street from picturesque Madison Square Park. Located on the 11th floor, The Clean Beauty Lab has a view that takes your breath away. I was met with huge smiles from the team as they took my coat, brought me water, and got me situated in the pale pink salon. I had the immense honor of being treated by Vinzar, co-founder and owner of the salon.
The Clean Beauty Lab is the pioneer behind the NYC clean beauty movement with its chemical free coloring and non-toxic options. Due to its commitment to clean beauty the 12-year-old salon has a cult-like following and is especially popular among pregnant women who are often extra careful when it comes to toxins. The support of the community eventually led the brand to launch its own line of clean beauty products, including a hair oil that I took home (available for purchase online) and can not recommend highly enough. The smell is calming and the smoothing powers are unreal.
I opted for the signature hair conditioning treatment hoping it would help my uncontrollable frizz and the unruly thickness of my bob. What I didn’t anticipate was the level of thoughtfulness that Vinzar would bring to the experience. He quickly assessed my current haircut, a bottom heavy bob with pushed back bangs that are slowly growing out. He took in my features — not as things to diminish or hide but as things to frame and showcase.
After an unexpected but welcomed shape-up/trim, he began the deep conditioning treatment with a wash and a sit under the blower dryer. Twenty minutes later, I was treated to one of the best blow outs of my life. A few days and a few washes later, my hair feels stronger, healthier, and has more shine. Book an appointment or shop their products at TheCleanBeautyLab.com.
Core Smiles
1182 Broadway, 4th floor
What would a brighter, healthier smile mean to you? Investing in your smile not only makes you look and feel better, it improves your confidence and self-esteem, too. This is what motivates Dr. Michael Gulizio and Dr. Steven Cordoves, founders of Core Smiles, each and every day. The duo – along with their highly-skilled and professional team – focus on bespoke dental experiences complete with expert care, clear communication and a focus on comfort.
The dental office offers a menu of services including dental checkups, veneers, TMJ treatments, teeth whitening, Invisalign and more. Unlike other dental offices that can feel sterile or dull, Core Smiles takes pride in their ability to make patients feel like friends and family. They are transparent, empathetic, and it’s clear they enjoy what they do. Their commitment to top-notch oral health begins the moment a patient walks through the door and continues with their use of the most advanced technology to diagnose cavities, periodontal disease, TMJ problems, bite-related disorders, and aesthetic concerns.
The state-of-the-art clinic offers luxury touches like flat screen TVs in each exam room, essential oil diffusers (upon request), cozy blankets, noise canceling headphones, digital impressions, and even visits with Enzo – the cutest service dog you’ve ever seen.
The NOMAD Magazine team had the pleasure of popping into the dental office just a few weeks ago for the Zoom Teeth Whitening procedure. The procedure is an advanced, in-office power whitening process that lifts superficial stains — like those left by coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco — with little to no sensitivity. Taking approximately 90 minutes, results are instant and typically last six months. We didn’t expect to see such a stark difference in appearance, but a quick glance in the mirror left us stunned. The added whiteness brightened the face — to say we were wildly pleased with the outcome is an understatement. This was our first professional teeth whitening but certainly not the last.
Core Smiles is an unmatched dental experience and with its convenient NoMad location on Broadway between 28th and 29th streets, it’s a no-brainer.
Invest in your smile today; appointments can be booked via their website www.coresmiles.com.
Sundays
51 E 25th Street
Sundays is a non-toxic nail salon paving the way in toxic-free polishes and sustainable salon services. The space is a calming oasis built on a palette of neutrals with a clean and classic decor. Known for its monthly memberships, Sundays attracts a lot of loyal repeat customers. And for $29 a month, it’s an affordable self-care splurge.
I opted for a mani/pedi and the experience was overall a 10/10 for me. To start, I had to try the famous waterless pedicure which skips the soak (saving time and water waste!) and focuses instead on trimming, filing, shaping, moisturizing and painting. The results were just as good — if not better — than more traditional pedicures.
Next up was the manicure. As my manicurist trimmed, filed, and pushed back my nail beds, I had the pleasure of pairing my manicure with one of the salon’s signature meditations. I was given a pair of headphones and dialed into the gratitude meditation. For the next 13 minutes, I was guided through deep breathing and helpful visualizations, which was truly a relaxing way to wait for my bright red nails to dry.
This was my first experience with non-toxic nail polish. The polishes are the salon’s proprietary formula and are vegan and cruelty-free. The polish, which was in development for a year, shined like a gel manicure and lasted nearly two weeks — a rare occurrence in the nail polish world.
The next time you’re looking for a home away from home, or a place to release tension from work, or maybe just a relaxing spot to prep for a big day, Sundays is the place.
Ever/Body
16 W 17th Street
The female-founded cosmetic dermatology company Ever/Body is taking New York by storm with its minimally invasive procedures for face and body. I popped into their location on 17th street just a short walk from NoMad. If you’ve been hearing a lot about their Clear + Brilliant Laser Facial it’s for good reason. The laser is known to help skin tone, fine lines, and more with its deep level of exfoliation.
Upon walking in, you are met with an aesthetically pleasing deep green studio and knowledgeable staff on hand to walk clients through the treatment process. I was escorted back to the clean and bright procedure room where we talked through my skin concerns and what I was hoping to see from today’s laser facial.
I was there mainly for an even skin tone and to get ahead of the fine lines that seem to be creeping in these days. We began with some photos to log my process, and then dove into the numbing process. The numbing cream was left on for about 15 minutes to help with any pain from the laser. The laser certainly wasn’t pain free but thanks to the numbing cream it was manageable. She worked over the face and neck in sections, rounding each section a total of three times. Then came the fun part, a cool down mask and an ice globes massage to bring down inflammation. After a total of just 45 minutes, I was headed on my way with what looked like a minimal sunburn. A day later the redness was already down and
one week later I saw a noticeable difference in texture and overall brightness.
The Clear + Brilliant laser costs $495 and is recommended once a month. For procedures with major results and little downtime, Every/Body is the place to go.