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The very talented Joanne Morrison, a colorist and treatment specialist at Steam in Los Angeles was talking to me about the difference between East Coast and West Coast beauty and health trends. "Geography flavors a city and the East Coast seems to be more influenced by Europe and the West Coast more by Asia-where massage and aromatherapy come into play." I was indulging in the "Steam Treatment", where my scalp was brushed with two brushes, one bendable. Then I was given a choice of two aromatherapy oils, which Joanne massaged into my scalp. A shampoo followed, then steam and finally the "roller ball", a moving heat lamp that made me warm and happy.
Claudia at Agua Spa in the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Boulevard also used aromatherapy when I requested a massage that would both relax and invigorate me before a photo shoot. She understood exactly what I wastalking about, and incorporated frankincense into a treatment that included cranial-sacral work as well as shiatsu. Agua is a beautiful day spa, one I recommend highly.
Nora, the body therapist at the Hotel Bel-Air has worked on just about everyone from movie stars to Saudi princesses. She is a firm believer in lymphatic health, and gave me a lymphatic drainage massage. One must be well trained in this particular treatment. You will feel like you have had a work out when the massage is finished. Nora applied pressure in long strokes in all the key lymph areas. This is a great body "declogger", and Nora says, "Don't forget to dry brush every day!"
Improvement in non-invasive skin enhancers will soon be available in the United States. Restylane, the superior skin plumper and ThermaCool, a treatment that banishes crow's feet with radio waves are the new sensation. We have heard that among the top plastic surgeons in the southern California is Dr. Marc Mani in Los Angeles. Dr. Zein Obagi in Beverly Hills is a top dermatologist. It makes sense to me to have cosmetic or plastic surgery done in the city that caters to the movie stars. The stars need to do it for professional purposes, of course, and they need the best. So Los Angeles is the obvious choice for these treatments and procedures.
Blonde, blonde, blonde---it's definitely a look in Los Angeles. For the best blonde hair -read: most natural) in this area, we recommend Art Luna Salon in West Hollywood, Louis Licari in Beverly Hills and Steam in Los Angeles (ask for Joanne Morrison, and have her explain what blonde really is!)
Pilates and yoga are the exercises of choice, but if you are really serious about your workouts, Long Beach Dance Conditioning a few miles south of Los Angeles is considered by professionals to be the top of the top. Here in one center you have several exercise options with an accent on healing and fitness.
Finally, if you happen to be in my favorite city in Southern California, Santa Barbara, do not miss Camille on State Street. I had the Detoxifying Seaweed Total Body Mask, where essential oils in a mixture with seaweed essences reduce water retention throughout the entire body, while the algae detoxification mixture improves tone and circulation. A scalp massage was included in this treatment. I felt like a mermaid when the treatment was over! Just about every spa treatment you can think of is available here, and I was told that Camille is a great favorite with visiting top models.
For my money, (and I travel extensively and try health and beauty treatments worldwide), Southern California offers the best.
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Steam Salon
314 N. Harper
Los Angeles
323 8221170
Agua at the Mondrian
8840 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood
323 6508999
Nora at the
Hotel Bel-Air
701 Stone Canyon Rd
Los Angeles
310 472 1211
Dr. Marc Mani
1125 S. Beverly Drive, Suite 720
Los Angeles
310 203 0511
Dr. Zein Obagi
9033 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills
310 275 3030
Art Luna Salon
8930 Keith Avenue
West Hollywood
310 247 1383
Louis Licari
343 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills
310 247 0855
Long Beach Dance Conditioning
1116 East Wardlow Road
Long Beach
562 427 2203
Camille
1115 State Street
Santa Barbara
805 899 4883
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