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The Loving Touch
Real Best Of Detroit 2010

Best New Salon: Black the Salon
Not even a year old, Black the Salon is racking in plenty of customers who have nothing less than amazing things to say of the stylists.

Their motto: “everyone looks good in black” is proving to be true, and with their sensible pricing — which is oft-times hard to come by in the trendier salons — Black is most definitely the new hotness.

Founder and owner Jeph Wright may not look like the typical hair artist with his beard and dreaded hair, but his devotion to customer service and constantly-evolving technique keep his customers coming back to, not only him, but his entire team of stylists. In addition, his personal style shows his clients that, no matter where you are, you should always be true to yourself. Keeping that sentiment in mind, the salon itself, located on West 4th in downtown Royal Oak, boasts a chic and smart design with chrome and black everywhere and a nearly empty interior to keep the focus on the clients and the level of work the artists want to achieve.

To Black the Salon, every person is a star — and everyone deserves the same level of attention, which is a perfect reason for you to give this rising star a go ‘round.

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Best Overall Salon: 6 Salon
6 Salon’s effervescent glow has the power to illuminate the dullest of days. As its white hot radiance spills out into the streets, it grabs passersby and gently beckons them to come inside; to be pampered and to have a salon experience unlike any other. Narrowly designed with just 12 chairs, the experienced stylists at 6 Salon work to fulfill their clients every need — and they know how much there is to fill. With locations in Birmingham and Royal Oak, 6 Salon is a complete salon, meaning that not only do they offer the usual salon experience with hair, eyebrow maintenance and extensions, but they specialize in Shinbi, the Japanese technique of straightening the hair for a lengthened period of time, as well as Liscio defrizzing, which alleviates up to 70 percent of frizz in curly hair for up to three months. How cool does that sound? While the salon offers myriad services, it may be the hours that keep 6 on everyone’s radar. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 is open until 9 p.m. so the night owl crowd can pop in for a cut. Even though those hours are spectacular, 6 is open Thursday nights until midnight and offers their clients wine with a DJ spinning cool tunes. Try getting that at your run-of-the-mill salon!

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Best New Spa: Deyo Spa
Barbara Deyo’s newest venture, Deyo Spa in Birmingham, is just a few months old and is already receiving rave reviews. Offering airbrush tanning, massages and makeup applications, Deyo Spa can make anyone feel like a million bucks. A veteran in the business, Deyo has styled celebrities like Roselyn Sanchez and Ethan Hawke — yes, even the dudes love her — and she's bringing her specialty treatments back to metro-Detroit for the third time. “I’ve been in the business for over 22 years, in Birmingham for 14 years and in a variety of different environments,” Deyo says. “This finally represents all of me — from the moment when you walk in. It’s a beautiful space — warm, inviting, not intimidating. It really does represent my personality.” Let Deyo Spa rejuvenate your soul and refresh your body for the warmer months to come. If you’re looking for beauty tips from your desktop, don’t miss her beauty column “Facetime With Barbara” on myfoxdetroit.com.

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Best Beauty Shop: Todd’s Room — Birmingham
Todd Skog, owner and magici— er, makeup artist really hits the nail on the head when it comes to beauty and body care. Women and men alike need a little R & R from time to time and the beauty experts at Todd’s Room are just the people to go to. Offering an array of services from eyebrow arching, manicures, pedicures and makeup applications to the best products, Todd’s is the place for those in need of practical pampering.

Best Stylist: Joey Maalouf
The youngest of the Maalouf brothers, Joey showed impressive skill as a stylist at an early age. Now part-owner of Maalouf Salon in Birmingham, Joey is able to showcase all his talents he perfected in New York on his own turf. In a short period of time, this young lad has laid his magical fingers on many a celebrity, including Gabrielle Union, Molly Sims and even Martha Stewart. His vigor and attention to detail keep his regulars coming back and keep the celebrity recommendations rolling in. Splitting his time between the Birmingham salon, New York and L.A., Joey prides himself on making women feel and look beautiful. Don’t you wish all men catered women in this way?

Best Spa: Margot
One of the most important relationships a woman can have in her life is with her spa. We all have our quirks — how we like our feet massaged during a pedicure, and the temperature of our masseur’s hands are just a couple of the vital details we look for in a spa. Margot in Birmingham pays attention to all these things and strives for supreme comfort when it comes to their customers. Offering massages, facials peels and body wraps, among other things, Margot’s sells many of its spa products over the counter and passes on helpful spa care tips for use at home.

Best Hair Removal: PHR Centers
Sometimes, no matter how often you shave your bikini line, the hair just won’t go away. And what about your significant other who has more unwanted hair on his back than he does on his head? These little annoyances in life don’t have to be so anymore, thanks to the folks at the Permanent Hair Removal Center. Using a laser, the specialists gently take away the hair that we always thought we were doomed with forever. And with summer (and, of course, swimsuit season) fast approaching — there's no time like the present for a visit to your neighborhood PHR Center. And hey, wouldn’t you just like to have silky smooth legs the whole year long anyway?

Best Tanning Salon: Beach Bum
Michigan winters can leave the skin looking whiter than the snow on the ground. Many of us choose to take vacations and we certainly don’t want the sun-kissed locals eyeing our pastiness in disgust — enter Beach Bum tanning. Even if it’s your first time, the “lifeguards” at Beach Bum will help you along and make your tanning experience feel like a midday nap on the beach. With CD players in every room, four different levels of tanning and complimentary deodorant after each sweat-fest, Beach Bum makes sure you’re taken care of every step of the way.

Best Independent Gym: Beverly Hills Club
If you’re looking for that ultra-exclusive vibe in a gym experience, look no further than the Beverly Hills Club. Voted in the top 100 health clubs in the country, Beverly Hills offers an extensive list of amenities including indoor tennis, pool and plenty of classes to keep any workout-aholic entertained. The club also has a great kids program, birthday party packages and child care for those parents to who have to fit in that half-hour of cardio before heading home for the night.

Best Gym Chain: LA Fitness
In a year-and-a-half, LA Fitness has managed to take over the metro-Detroit area with its state-of-the-art equipment and fitness spa-like atmosphere. Boasting racquetball and basketball courts, a spinning room, pool, dry saunas, Jacuzzi tub and classes aplenty, LA Fitness has had no troubles racking in the members. That said, their marketing skills and the placement of an LA Fitness recruitment center in Royal Oak certainly didn’t hurt matters. If the large-scale gym isn’t your thing, don’t let that be a reason for not stopping in and taking a peek at this amazing facility — it just might change your mind.

Best Place To Practice Yoga: Yoga Shelter
Eric Paskel and Steve Feldman, founders of the Yoga Shelter, understand that yoga is more than just some sort of trendy way to get fit. In understanding that yoga involves a deep inner strength and spirituality, they have designed the Yoga Shelter to operate as a community. Offering a free one-week unlimited trial for newcomers to enjoy the facility and get to know the members is motivation enough for anyone to want to become part of this tranquil commune. With four locations in West Bloomfield, Royal Oak, Birmingham and Grosse Pointe, there’s a Yoga Shelter close to anyone in the             metro-Detroit area.

Best cosmetic enhancer: Dr. Gray
In the body conscious society we live in today, it’s important to make sure that your body isn’t being subjected to some fly by night plastic surgeon. Metro Detroit-ers are lucky enough to have one of the countries leading plastic surgeons, Dr. Michael Gray, reside within driving distance, making consultations and surgeries less stressful. Thorough and careful, yet confidant, people come from all over to be in the care of Dr. Gray, whether it be for a tummy tuck, face lift of breast augmentation. If you’re in the market for some bodywork, look no further than your own backyard.



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