It’s riposo in Italian, reposin French and the Swedes call it vila. But nothing says ‘rest’ like a muscle-relaxing, sleep-inducing massage.

This spring, give yourself much-needed R&R with a spa day full of pampering. If you’re already a spa regular, try out a new regimen, such as a hot stone massage or lemon facial. Whether it’s a cleansing scrub, a pedicure or a massage, giving your body a little TLC can be one of the best gifts you can give to yourself

Sensational Skin

A cleansing scrub here, a dash of exfoliation there. There are a variety of ways to pamper yourself, but a simple facial can be a relaxing way to make your face truly glow.

“A lot of people overlook the skin, although it’s the largest organ. It’s kind of hard to replace that,” says Utopia Chalet director, Kevin Lee. “Facials are always nice because you get your face cleansed and a light pressure massage.” And while you can get the same feel from the products Utopia Chalet sells, such as masques, moisturizers and cleansers, you may not get the same results: Utopia Chalet spa technicians offer specialty services, including a process called “face mapping” that pinpoints the areas of the face most in need of a little extra care. A 30-60 minute facial ranges in price from $40 for an on-the-go refresher, to $450, for six weeks of skin brightening treatments. Lee also recommends spa body treatments, such as the salt glow or herbal lemon wrap that can act like a facial for your body. “It’s a complete body exfoliation that removes the dull skin and gives you a fresh look,” he says. Manage those Muscles

Just hearing the word massage can be enough to ooh and aah you to the spa. Whether you’re experiencing a tense week or just need a little rest, there’s a soothing massage for every mangled muscle and sore spot of skin. Spa Royale offers a variety of massages, from the signature, or Swedish, massage — considered “the” spa massage with long soothing strokes — to deep tissue and mommy-to-be services. If more is better, then the four-handed massage is the way to go, with customers receiving the attention of two massage therapists for an hour. “My favorite is the combination massage-facial,” says Casey Slimak, Spa Royale’s quality control manager. “We keep you on the same heated table, and you just get so completely relaxed.” Cloud 9 co-owner Shannon Haas prefers her spa’s newest massage, the relaxation journey. With nearly two hours of massage, the customer receives special attention to the hands, feet and scalp, in addition to traditionally massaged areas. “If people are looking for the piece de resistance at our spa, it would be the relaxation journey massage.” Massage services at Cloud 9 start at $40 and last from 25 to 80 minutes. With massage as its most requested service, Spa Royale offers nine for under $100, including a 25-minute stressless express service for $40.

Packing It All In

A facial is great, a massage is so relaxing and fingernails are always craving a little TLC. With multiple packages offered around town, you can get the best of all three or more on the same day. Andrea Silvia, owner of Touch of Heaven Day Spa, says a package is the best way to pamper yourself. “You want to hit all the areas. We have spa packages that include facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, body treatments and lunch.” Silvia recommends coming with a friend to really have fun, and says the Treatment Pamper Sampler is the best way to try something new. Customers choose three out of eight different services, and receive half an hour of each, for less than $100. Team Tranquility

If we all need a little time for ourselves, why not enjoy that time together? Spas offer opportunities for friends, families, mothers and daughters, and even couples, to enjoy their spa time side-by-side. Cloud 9, for example, has 23 different treatment areas to accommodate groups as large as 24 people. Since opening in 2000, the spa has offered groups the opportunity to pamper as a party with a refreshment bar, private rooms and catering services. They’ve reserved Mondays just for group gatherings. Cloud 9’s services range from $30 for a basic manicure to $140 for the luxurious relaxation journey massage.

Feeling Your Best on a Budget

Everyone’s ready to be treated like royalty, but maybe not on a queen’s budget. Professional training schools in the area provide less expensive options for professional spa treatments. At the Florida School of Massage, for instance, customers can receive an hour-long massage from an advanced student, supervised by an instructor, for less than $30. The school also offers in-home therapeutic massages by licensed massage therapists.

Or, visit The Salon Professional Academy of Gainesville to receive a variety of relaxing salon treatments. Clients can get a facial, manicure, pedicure, or makeover for less than $30 from students under the supervision of licensed professionals.

Want to pamper yourself in the comfort of your home? Many spas, including Spa Royale and Utopia Chalet, offer great products to give you a spa-like pick-me-up at home, including bath soaks, lotions and exfoliating products.

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The lowdown: Besides offering the usual array of cosmetic and skin care goodies in an adult ”candy-store environment,” ULTA Beauty and Salon also boasts a top-notch salon on the second story of its historic Miami Beach building.

”We offer great stylists and therapists which provide top notch services at an affordable price with Miami Beach as the backdrop,” said salon manager Tina Tsoukalas. “Everyone deserves to get pampered without worrying about the price tag.”

The hood: ULTA is located at the busy Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue intersection and next to more affordable women’s clothing stores such as Rainbow. Make sure to arrive early, and be ready to walk a few blocks after parking at a metered spot or in the 17th Street garage, the closest and cheapest way to leave your vehicle resting while you get pampered.

The vibe: Think laid-back and affordable no-frills girly fun. Do some light shopping and try out some products, or escape to the salon for a blowout or a facial while flipping through magazines with some hot coffee or cold water.

The highlights: The salon’s signature Real Control Signature Style treatment ($60) features a shampoo, an intense Redken renewal treatment, deep conditioner, blow-out and flat-ironing. The Dermalogica Skin Treatment ($50) features cleansing, exfoliation, masque and moisturizing treatment — topped with a light foot and shoulder massage. NovaLash extensions start at $250 for a full set.

Discount for Miami Herald readers: Mention this story when you come into ULTA with a friend and get 25 percent off any service from select designers and skin therapists. Need another deal? Come in for a free hair consultation and receive a $20 gift card to use at the salon. Certain restrictions apply. Offer valid through Saturday.

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Hilton Hotels Corporation announces that the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida, has joined the Waldorf Astoria, continuing the luxury brand’s expansion into key leisure markets worldwide.

Situated among lush palms and balmy sea breezes in Naples, Florida’s exclusive Southwest city, along the Gulf of Mexico’s Paradise Coast, the Naples Grande Beach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Collection is surrounded by 200 acres of Nature Preserve. Designed to coexist with its surrounding environment of clear water, unspoiled mangrove-lined beaches and lush green flora, the resort completed a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2007, unveiling an elaborate redesign indicative of the destination’s changing face and solidifying its status as one of Florida’s premier resorts.

Following in the footsteps of recent Florida additions to the portfolio the Casa Marina Resort & Beach Club, Waldorf Astoria Collection and The Reach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Collection, in Key West, Florida, the Naples Grande Beach Resort is the 11th hotel to join the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Collection, as the portfolio continues to expand into key indigenous destinations.

Featuring an 18-story tower with 395 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and 29 tower suites, the Naples Grande Beach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Collection combines comfortable elegance with the active lifestyle evocative of Naples’ stunning setting. The resort offers an array of outdoor activities to acclimatize guests to the dazzling Florida scenery – from its Tennis Center with Har-Tru courts offering professional services managed by Peter Burwash International, to the exclusive championship golf course at Naples Grande Golf Club and including beachfront sailing, windsurfing and aqua cycling along three miles of Gulf of Mexico white sugar-sand beach.

Inside the resort all refurbished guest rooms feature a luxurious take on Floridian style while exuding the casual, comfortable elegance which has become the resort’s signature. Custom designed furniture, hand-selected fabrics and luxurious touches such as silky window treatments, plush carpeting and sumptuous bedding enrich each guestroom and suite, while oversized closets, expansive bathrooms with five fixture arrangements and separate oversized tub/glass enclosed shower combinations provide the ultimate retreat.

The 50 self-contained Bungalows, adjacent to the main resort have been completely refurbished by Bob Barry and feature design elements of relaxed gray, beige and green and Asian-inspired clean, simple lines for an exclusive, private space for guests’ relaxation. Elsewhere, the Naples Grande Beach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Collection offers three swimming pools and private cabanas with butler service, providing ultimate luxury and relaxation. For those guests seeking an extra level of luxury, the resort’s Golden Door Spa – the first of its kind on the U.S. east coast – features elements of traditional Japanese architecture, serene gardens, relaxation pool, individual mp3 players and a meditation labyrinth, providing an awe-inspiring yet calming environment to unwind and relax.

Ross Klein, Global Head Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, Hilton Hotels Corporation, said: “Following in the footsteps of our most recent Florida additions to the portfolio, we are delighted to welcome the Naples Grande Beach Resort to the Waldorf Astoria Collection. This resort provides the perfect balance of stunning local scenery, and indigenous local experiences and intuitive, luxurious comfort, and the renovations have given a fresh face to an already popular destination.”

The renovations also included the addition of a Strip House steak restaurant, a signature dining experience first introduced in Manhattan and featuring sumptuous silk furnishings and vintage Studio Manasse images. The Strip House offers an eclectic and design-rich fine dining space, designed by celebrated interior architect David Rockwell and featuring cuisine from acclaimed chef John Schenk. Also included in the renovations were a full redesign of the lobby and lounge space and updated meeting space – unveiling a banquet facility, the pool-facing Vista Ballroom which boasts floor to ceiling windows. With 2 further ballrooms, as well as an additional 27 meeting and breakout rooms, the Naples Grande Beach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Collection offers 80,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space, an accommodating base for all occasions, from bar mitzvahs to board meetings.

In addition to the Naples Grande Beach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Collection, the Waldorf Astoria Collection also operates ten other properties – seven in the United States, comprising the inspiration for the brand, the legendary Waldorf Astoria® in New York; Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona; Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui, Hawaii, La Quinta Resort & Club in Southern California, as well as the Casa Marina Resort & Beach Club, Waldorf Astoria Collection and The Reach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Collection, both in the Florida Keys. Internationally it operates the 46-suite Qasr Al Sharq or “Palace of the Orient” in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Rome Cavalieri, and most recently the Trianon Palace in Versailles which joined the collection in December 08.

The company is also developing Waldorf Astoria Collection hotels and residences in key cities around the world and this year expects to launch the Waldorf Astoria Orlando in Florida, Dakota Mountain Lodge in Park City (Utah) and the Bentley Waldorf Astoria Collection in London. The Palace Jerusalem, Israel, the Waldorf Astoria Sarasota in Florida and the proposed the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills in California are also scheduled to open in 2010.

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Coco’s Day Spa & Salon

The Colonnade,

Sawgrass Mills

12801 W. Sunrise Blvd.,

Sunrise

954-514-0911

Lowdown: If you come to The Colonnade, it’s probably not for a facial but for some sharply discounted Cole Haan shoes.

But as you meander around the shops — Valentino, Burberry, Neiman’s Last Call — you will pass by Coco’s Day Spa & Salon, open for a year.

And, at first blush, you will probably assume that the place is more salon than spa. You will be right. There are 16 hair stations, and room for eight concurrent manicures and four pedicures.

But on the opposite side of the wall is a hushed, long, orange-tinted hallway leading to five treatment rooms where you can get a hot stone massage, body polish or teen facial.

Treatment rooms tend to the generic, but do have ample space and CD players.

Spa director Moshe ”Coco” Bitton has two spas by the same name at Aventura Mall. Although this one bears his name as well, he is not the owner, he said. The adjoining boutique sells all manner of hair products, and some makeup and jewelry, too.

Most of Bitton’s clients are European tourists or American snowbirds. It’s not easy these days to sell a spa service to a cost-conscious public, he said.

”That’s really a luxury item,” said Bitton, originally from Tel Aviv. “People come because it makes you feel good for a very reasonable price.”

Sound-muffling materials were used to construct the spa side of the business, so the hair dryers shouldn’t disturb you while you’re winding down from retail therapy.

Said Bitton, “It’s very private over there.”

Neighborhood: Sawgrass Mills is a sprawling, dizzying retail complex. A road circles the stores, but it’s easy to get confused as the stores are often too far away to discern their names.

Coco’s is between Rainforest Cafe and St. John Knits.

If you aren’t very familiar with Sawgrass Mills, call before you go and ask for directions directly from manager Monique Joshua.

Vibe: Sequestered and calm — once you leave the salon side. There’s no lounge, but a couch being shipped from Italy will be placed at the end of the hallway.

Highlights:Dermalogica products are used for all facials, and there’s a range of massage modalities. A Reflexology Pedicure sounds divine ($65 and up). The Oxygen Therapy Facial is said to improve fine lines and dryness ($100 for 50 minutes). And Bitton swears by the HotRock Massage ($100 for 50 minutes). In a Bamboo Massage, bamboo sticks are rolled over the body, and a hand massage is also incorporated ($115 for 50 minutes).

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Spa Scene | B.F.F. Spa Night at Willow Stream

The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club

Lowdown: It was less than a year ago that Turberry opened its spa to non-hotel guests, so you can easily book a regular Shiatsu massage, $139 for 60 minutes.

But you might have more fun collecting your best friends for B.F.F. Spa Night, held on the last Wednesday of every month.

In this case, B.F.F. stands for backrubs, facial and foot scrubs. Entry is $45, which includes all the services you can undergo during the 7-9 p.m. window, appetizers, wine and other beverages, and a parting gift. Valet parking is free with validation and tax and tips are included.

Understandable, the event — with its limit of 60 attendees — has sold out since it began three months ago.

”I wanted to do something I’d want to bring my friends to,” said Rachel Pinzur, who directs public relations for the hotel and conceived the idea.
At the last B.F.F. event, there were also tarot readings, lessons in poker, makeup application, crab-cucumber bites and mango proscuitto.
One happy attendee, Rosary Falero, said she’d sampled, well, “everything.”
”I’m going for seconds,” she said.

Neighborhood: In the Aventura hub, Turnberry is around the corner from the mall. Valet service is efficient.

Vibe: Powder blue walls, soft music and stronger lighting than most hotel spas.

Highlights: Guests sitting in the regal pedicure chairs who were having their feet and hands simultaneously scrubbed didn’t look unhappy. There was a good 15 minute wait at this station, but plenty of others had no wait at all. In all, there were six massage chairs, four facialists and four nail specialists, though manicures and pedicures are not among the offerings.

You can also buy a B.F.F. package that includes a relaxation massage (30 minutes), deep cleansing facial (60 minutes), pedicure with a foot scrub (45 minutes) and glass of champagne. This also entitles you to use resort’s fitness center, steam rooms and relaxation lounges. Total cost is $199, tax and tips extra.

 

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Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa Aventura FL

On the grounds of a picturesque yacht club, this 75-room spa, founded by late nutrition guru Nathan Pritikin, is the place to go if you have a health concern to address such as lowering high cholesterol, turning around prediabetes, reducing cancer risk, or getting to a healthy weight loss. Most guests come here to achieve a healthy weight and ward off diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. After checking in, you’ll get a battery of medical tests, a strict low-fat, low-processed-carb diet, and a moderate exercise plan. Our judges give high points to Pritikin’s solid staff credentials and proven results in reducing guests’ health risks; physician Bauman scores the spa a perfect 10 for its medical offerings. There’s a complete panoply of advanced body- and skin-care services, from massages to collagen injections, that keep you from feeling like you’re at a boot camp.
Don’t miss: Jet Lag Relief, an aromatherapy massage and stretch service.

Cost: $3,975 and up per week, per person, double occupancy.

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ME Day Spa Adds New Products, Free Blow Dry

Product lovers, unite. Me Day Spa announces the addition of its new luxury spa product lines to the salon’s already extensive product repertoire. What better place to get your product fix than the hottest South Beach day spa? Plastic Surgeon and spa entrepreneur, Dr. Paul Wigoda is pleased to offer these new product lines and specials to complement Me Day Spa’s services.

Me Day Spa Boutique

Adding this array of professional and natural beauty products allows us to further our commitment to be the best salon on Miami Beach

South Beach Day Spa New Products Include:

Kerastase hair care retail products and in salon treatments: including strengthening, leave in, color treated, and curly hair products

Eminence skin care: featuring the new body care and tropical lines
Alison Raffaelle cosmetics: naturally inspired beauty products

Obagi medical products: prescription strength, salon quality skincare

Prevage MD: anti-aging skincare that corrects environmental damage

Trapp Candles: premium exotic fragrances for the mind and body

Marcia Teixeira Brazilian Chocolate Hair Relaxer: A natural de-frizzing treatment – desert for your hair

As part of this new product introduction, Me Day Spa in Miami Beach is offering salon specials.

Specials change monthly, including:
Free manicure with purchase of a spa pedicure
Free blow-dry with purchase of $50.00 in Kerastase products

“Adding this array of professional and natural beauty products allows us to further our commitment to be the best salon on Miami Beach,” said Salon Manager, Sonia Fardales. “We strive to provide our customers with the best possible experience — and that includes offering a full range of luxury, custom products.”
For more information on Me Day Spa’s product lines and services.

About Me Day Spa:
Me Day Spa offers complete day spa services including hair styling, extensions, color, cuts, manicures, pedicures, and skin care including professional makeup, facials, glycolic treatments, pineapple peels, microdermabrasion as well as massage and medical spa services including laser hair removal, spider vein treatments, botox, fillers, and plastic surgery consultations with Dr. Paul Wigoda. The spa features several lines of organic skin care products and a boutique filled with scented scented candles and other self-indulging products.

About Dr. Paul Wigoda:
Dr. Paul Wigoda practices plastic surgery in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area. He is a board certified plastic surgeon and is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Florida Medical Association, and the Broward County Medical Association. Recently voted the Best Cosmetics Surgeon in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Wigoda specializes in breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, juvederm, radiesse, restylane, botox treatments, laser hair removal, spider vein treatments, and the “laser facial” wrinkle treatment.

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SPA GETAWAYS IN-DEPTH

Prepare to be pampered Celeb sightings, as well

 

Miami and Miami Beach probably have the highest concentration of luxury resort spas in the world, and the grand and glamorous openings are gaining momentum.

 

Independent boutique hotels and major hotel chains such as Fairmont, Mandarin Oriental and Ritz-Carlton have created sublime, serene spa getaways to pamper the seemingly endless stream of snowbirds and celebrities who flock to South Florida Spas. Speilberg, Scorsese and Seinfeld all party here, and more than 11 million other fun-lovers come every year for the sun and sand, fabulous food, avant-garde fashion and hot nightclubs.

 

However, all that brilliant sunshine and frenetic nightlife take a toll. Dozens of spas, new and established, are waiting to dish out wellness. If there is one common thread linking spas in and around Miami, it is luxury. Prepare to be pampered royally.

 

A pioneer in the spa industry, the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort, opened the first major wellness centre in Florida more than 20 years ago. The 265-hectare resort, which has been host to celebs such as Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake, is marking its 45th anniversary and recently completed a $100-million renovation.

 

The Spa at Doral is a separate, 48-room retreat in the style of an Italian villa, with more than 100 creative treatments, fitness facilities, indoor track, and heated indoor, outdoor and lap pools. The award-winning wellness program includes one-on-one nutrition consultations, a gourmet spa dining room, cooking demonstrations and recipes, and almost 50 unusual exercise classes, ranging from yoga for golf to Latin dance.

 

Doral also is world-renowned for its five championship golf courses, including the notorious Blue Monster, site of a PGA tournament for the past 40 years.

 

Doral Golf Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort with nearly 700 guest rooms, is located west of Miami International Airport. The Spa at Doral is a comprehensive wellness centre, with 48 guest rooms and 52 spa treatment rooms. Details: www.doralresort.com, 800-713-6725.

 

The Mandarin Oriental, in downtown Miami, is a serene escape in a busy city, serving the business elite and international VIPs. The Mandarin’s cool quotient is sky-high, attracting such celebrity clients as Mick Jagger, Penelope Cruz and the Dalai Lama. It’s posh enough to have a personal shopping escort and private elevators to its exclusive suites. The hotel’s Azul Restaurant’s Latin-French-Asian cuisine has earned Florida’s only five-star Mobil award.

 

The three-level spa is enclosed by panoramic glass walls overlooking Miami Bay. The Asian-influenced decor uses bamboo, rice paper and linen. Special spa treatments include Thai massage or couple’s massage. The hotel recently opened the Oasis Beach Club for swimming and outdoor treatments next to the ocean. The Gentlemen’s Retreat works on flexibility and strength with a deep-tissue massage, a purifying facial and a foot treatment. The Mandarin also has day service with limousine pickup for travellers with long layovers at Miami Airport.

 

Mandarin Oriental, in Miami’s business district, near South Beach, is a five-star hotel with 327 deluxe rooms and suites and 17 spa treatment rooms. Details: www.mandarinoriental.com, 305-913-8288.

 

High-profile hotel-spas with 2007 or 2008 opening dates include Canyon Ranch Living – Miami Beach , a branch of North American’s best-known spa in Arizona; Gansevoort South , the first branch of the hip landmark hotel in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District; Mondrian South Beach , owned by Morgans Hotel Group, which owns Morgans and The Royalton in Manhattan; and Nicky O South Beach  by Nicky Hilton.

 

The reopening of the vintage oceanfront Eden Roc Renaissance Resort & Spa will be a landmark step in the revitalization of Miami Beach’s iconic hotel strip, Ocean Drive. Be assured of princely luxury. This section of Ocean Drive also is known as Millionaires’ Row and encompasses another iconic hotel and spa, The Fountainbleau.

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Red Salon and Spa pampers clients seven days a week

Cape Coral location open since 2003

The hair color treatment took several hours.

When it was over, the result was yellow, not so much blonde, but something more akin to a clown coif. Customer Rose Ballesteros was horrified.

“They bleached it three times,” Ballesteros said. “It was terrible.”

Ballesteros was desperate, but it was a Sunday and most salons were closed. She finally found one that was open and walked into Red Salon and Spa. Stylist Lisa Nigolian was one of the stylists working that afternoon and fit Ballesteros into her schedule.

“She totally transformed me,” Ballesteros said. “I left looking like a model.”

For Nigolian, correcting the problem took little more than a sympathetic ear and a little color correction.

“I put color over the whole thing,” she said. “I did it in a one-step process.”

She cut Ballesteros’ hair in a flattering cut and by the time Ballesteros walked out, her hair was a natural-looking honey, highlighted with caramel tones.

“It made my week when I heard she called back and that she liked it,” Nigolian said. “She wasn’t exactly happy when she came in here. I was glad that I could make a difference for her.”

Nigolian has only worked at Red for the past three months but has 11 years of styling experience. She said she suspects the mistake on Ballesteros’ hair had to do with someone who wasn’t confident or didn’t understand the products he or she was using.

“I listen to clients,” Nigolian said. “It’s just like any other relationship. I learn about their lifestyle and put two and two together.”

Red owner Kathleen Cantu said she wasn’t surprised to hear about Ballesteros’ experience.

“We work hard, hard, hard,” she said.

Cantu said she believes that being open seven days a week and taking walk-in customers has helped her business.

“We’re open seven days a week because rent doesn’t go up if you’re open two extra days,” she said.

Cantu started Red in 1996 in Fort Myers. She moved from the original location to its current location at Reflections Lakes in 2001. She opened the Cape Coral location in 2003. The business has been “growing steadily” since then. Cantu hires experienced staff but is willing to take a chance on recent salon school graduates.

“I like to say we grow people for a living and cut hair for fun,” she said.

Cantu’s philosophy has paid off, at least as far as Ballesteros is concerned.

“It’s definitely a place any woman would want to go get pampered,” she said. “They even gave me a glass of wine.”

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