SIMPLY DIVINE
The internationally renowned Servilles group from Auckland, New Zealand (six hair salons, four concept barber shops and a state-of-the-art academy), is predicting beautiful, uncomplicated styles this season. Founder Paul Serville says of the cuts in their latest collection, Hair Divine, "It's all about the reveal. It's a cut within a cut—the wind blows, revealing the softer, shorter cut underneath, while the hair on top moves like a veil." Think of it as an updated version of the bob Victoria Beckham sported last year. —M.D.
 |
BELLISSIMA
Celebrity hairstylist GIOVANNI GIULIANO returned to his native Italy to design his i Capelli Pro line of tool cases. Made from 100-percent Italian leather and featuring detailed workmanship and handcrafted embellishments, the collection includes The Carryall, which boasts 23 interior pockets; The Roll-Up, which has 12 pockets and rolls up into a tote; and The Scissor Carry, a mini roll-up style case that holds six shears and is small enough to tuck into a purse. icapelliprocollection.com —A.P.
 |
Something Sweet
Sweet Grass Farms, an all-natural bath, body care and home line, will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from sales of its Hope, Courage, Faith Fragrance Sticks to the National Breast Cancer Foundation through October.sweetgrassonline.com —A.P.
 |
Geisha Girl
Beautiful and exotic in both looks and scents, aroma M Geisha eau de parfums blend ancient Eastern fragrance traditions with ultramodern ingredient combinations. The glass bottles are exquisitely wrapped in handcrafted yuzen paper, famous for its use in origami, which aroma M founder Maria McElroy travels to Kyoto, Japan, each year to choose. The bottles come housed in their own hand-sewn drawstring pouches made from richly textured kimono cloth known as chirimen and adorned with a colorful chrysanthemum design, which is the symbol of the geisha. Scents from aroma M also come in roll-on perfume oils. aromam.com —L.M.
 |
Make clients feel right at home with the Takara Belmont Sofa B chair. takarabelmont.com
 |
Tote That Bag
NUBEST SALON AND SPA in Manhasset, NY, just launched a green initiative that includes one-of-a-kind tote bags made of recycled billboards from the salon's old advertising campaigns. Since highway billboards and vinyl banners are made from PVC vinyl, which cannot be recycled, owner Michael Mazzei thought the nuTotes would be a great way to reduce waste—the banners would have otherwise been destined for the landfill. What's more, a portion of the sale of each nuTote will benefit Be Green endeavors. "An essential part of the Be Green initiative is to raise awareness and encourage people to start making changes in their own lives," says nuBest Creative Director, Ali Yarkhan. —M.D.
 A portion of the sale of every nuBest Salon and Spa nuTote will benefit Be Green endeavors. |
Perfect Scents
Create an aromatherapy experience inside the salon with the Yon-Ka Paris Candle Therapy collection. These 100-percent natural soybean wax and pure organic essential oil candles are available in three scents and are accompanied by a convenient matchbox. Choose from Ylang Ylang-Grapefruit-Thyme, Blue Chamomile-Neroli-Petitgrain or Rose-Lavender-Rosemary, or opt for the Candle Trilogy Collection, which contains 3-ounce sizes of each of the three scents. yonkausa.com —N.P.
 |
WHAT'S ON YOUR IPOD?
We asked David Benjamin, a stylist at Chris Chase Salon in New York City, what he's been listening to.
 |
"Don't Cry" by Guns N' Roses. "Slash is one of my favorite musicians. In this song, you can actually hear a guitar cry."
"Stay" by Sugarland. "The lyrics are so powerful in this song. It's all about finding power within yourself—power that you didn't even know you had."
SAM VILLA'S EDWARDIAN UPDOS
Allvus founder and Redken educator Sam Villa puts a fresh twist on the classic updo, using a mini-crimper to achieve texture and volume, then spraying individual sections with Redken Workforce 09 flexible volumizing spray. "Tie sections into knots and place where desired for a more Edwardian feel," he says. —M.D.
 |
Hold Everything
Designer Kalika Yap has come up with the perfect solution for clients who don't want to leave their expensive handbags on the floor while they have services: Luxe Link, a clever purse link that sits on the counter at each station. It's one of the little luxuries at Nelson J Salon and Spa in Beverly Hills, CA. luxelink.com —M.D.
 |
The Law of Attraction
Aphrodisiac, a new perfume from LUMAR OF BEVERLY HILLS, was created to help women increase confidence and desirability. The inspiration? An ancient bath oil recipe used by royalty. The seductive ingredients include rose petals, amber and white tuberose, whose carnal scent is a natural aphrodisiac. The silky formula also hydrates and restructures the skin. lumarofbeverlyhills.com —M.D.
 |
PUT A CRIMP IN IT
At Betsey Johnson's fall/winter '08 runway show, Redken stylist Ellen Lawlor worked a crimping iron to create lots of volume. To duplicate the look, try the Hot Tools Helix Convertible Flat Iron and Crimper Kit with interchangeable plates. hotus.com —M.D.
 |
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Ever wonder where PRAVANA got its name? Company founder Steve Goddard's daughter Faith, 11, came up with the name of the haircare brand by combining Prada and Nirvana. Later, when Goddard found out that pravana actually means "source of all things" in Sanskrit, he was sold. —M.D.
SKIN SAVER
Probiotics—beneficial bacteria that is the hot trend in healthy eating—is about to take the skincare world by storm. SK1N Probiotic Systems just debuted eight revolutionary formulas loaded with probiotics that restore, rejuvenate and renew skin, bringing it to life. The line includes Booster Serum, an anti-aging potion that neutralizes free radicals and improves and maintains the healthy appearance of skin; Masque, which detoxifies, exfoliates and renews skin's ability to repair itself; and Night Cream, which oxygenates, hydrates and firms skin while you sleep. sk1nprobiotics.com —K.D.
 |
Hair Repair 101
Stylists know what to do when they're double-booked or a client's at-home hack job needs evening out, but what do they do when they're faced with a head of hair that's in a desperate condition—and seemingly out of their hands? Savvy stylists turn to Joico K-PAK Hair Repair System. In just 17 minutes and four easy steps, this state-of-the-art professional salon treatment with exclusive K-PAK technology gives stylists the power to rebuild damaged hair; dramatically increase hair moisture, strength, smoothness and shine; repair and seal the hair cuticle to prevent haircolor from fading; infuse fine, limp hair with unbelievable body; and revive natural and permed curls. joico.com —M.D.
 |
Smooth Operator
Shiny, smooth tresses are back for fall and easy to attain with the new Diane Products paddle brush from Fromm International. The 10-inch square brush features a wood handle, dual nylon pins and reinforced boar bristles for gentle, easy brushing. Also new in the Diane line: the square massaging paddle brush, thermal flow brush and wig-styling brush. frommonline.com —L.A.
 |
HOLLYWOOD LAND
Tom Julian, president of the brand consultancy firm the Tom Julian Group, visits Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
 Tom Julian |
Los Angeles has endless neighborhoods that have earned a "must shop" reputation, but the city is also home to an under-the-radar community known as Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Situated within the beach havens of Venice and Santa Monica, it was named after developer Abbot Kinney, a noted conservationist who conceptualized the Venetian-style canals in the California community of Venice, which date back to 1905. In 2007, Abbot Kinney Boulevard was home to the Smart Car House, an experiential environment designed to attract eco-conscious, small-car shoppers who wanted to learn about the back-story of this Mercedes-Benz owned car company. Here are some of the street's best attractions:
Fashion and Accessories. Ride is the place to find surf and skate looks with an eco-edge, while the cottage-style Brick Lane is a showcase for labels from the United Kingdom, including Lulu Guinness and Ted Baker. The Stronghold offers vintage and collectible items, in addition to premium denim, and Dewey is a favorite destination for shoe lovers. Designer Pamela Barish has been creating custom couture from her two-story shop since 2004. Her clientele includes Cher, Anjelica Huston and Meg Ryan. Known for her intricate designs featuring colorful gemstones, Irene Neuwirth is a jewelry designer with her own celeb following, including Jennifer Aniston, Kate Beckinsale and Cate Blanchett, and New York City's Steven Alan offers modern classics and accessories for him and her at his third L.A. outpost.
 Vert Beauty Boutique |
Beauty. Euphoria, which has been in business for more than 15 years, is the neighborhood salon known for color, highlights, precision cuts, extensions and perfect brows, with PureOlogy products available for retail. Meanwhile, Vert, an eco-chic beauty boutique owned by makeup artist-turned-green-guru Renata Helfman, offers luxe beauty and wellness lines, including Josie Maran Cosmetics, CARE by Stella McCartney and Red Flower. Alexandra Wagner is the street's skincare services destination.
Specialty Shops. Art gallery meets bookstore at Equator Books, a favorite spot of David Duchovny's character Hank Moody on Showtime's Californication. The shop stocks rare finds, first-edition books and intellectual collectibles. Robin's Sculpture Garden is an outdoor gallery and garden showcasing Robin Murez's bronze, concrete and glass pieces. Tales & Toys is a kid-friendly destination, while The Modern Dog stocks products for pooches.
Restaurants. Two newer options on the street are Gjelina, a foodie favorite from chef Travis Lett, and El Vino, a wine bar and bistro.
For more shops and details visit abbotkinneyonline.com.