Yes, Houston, summer is indeed coming, but thankfully we can combat our annual trudge into humidity with healthy and gorgeous nails, hair, and skin. Fortunately, two new beauty spots are here to help, and a Dior pro shares his eye for hot looks.
Paloma Nail Salon
Houston is the land of a thousand nail salons, but when it comes to a luxurious and nontoxic nail experience without the high price tag, well, that is newsworthy. Paloma Nail Salon has expanded its good-for-you approach to manicures, pedicures and now, facials, at its newest location in Heights Mercantile.
Paloma founder Maryam Naderi first established her nail salon concept in spring 2017 at BLVD Place, introducing the concept of a clean, nontoxic nail experience, stocked with good-for-you products. Paloma is completely free of harmful chemicals: formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, and camphor — all of which are commonly used in traditional nail salons in the U.S., but are banned in Europe and Australia.
The new 1,410-square-foot space offers seven pedicure stations, six manicure stations, and a new facial room. Adding affordable, clean facials to the menu was logical next step in Naderi’s vision of pure beauty treatments without the fuss.
“We thought it was a natural extension of what we do. There’s just one facial room, you don’t put on a robe, there’s no lounge room, but we have a lot of people who get a mani/pedi and then a facial, and then they are gone,” Naderi said. “They love the way their face looks, they are relaxed and look great.”
Facials are exclusive to the Heights Mercantile location and start at $50. Guests can also add on an extra like the Hydrating Eye Treatment for $15, which hydrates the delicate skin around the eye. And, just in time for summer, Naderi is launching a wax service using jasmine oil for pre-wax treatment and organic aloe, cucumber extract, and rose hip serum.
Paloma’s nail service menu start at $20 for a literal quick-fix mani (we’ve all been there, right?) and both locations offers CND Shellac manicures, which is a 7 free formula that cures with an LED light (not UV) for those who love the look and endurance of shellac. Nail polish options include Chanel, Lauren B, which is exclusive to Paloma in Houston, Deborah Lippmann, CND Vinylux, and my person favorite, SpaRitual, which is halal and 10 free.
The new salon is located at 714 Yale St. on the second floor next to Define.
DryBar Sugar Land
Once upon a time, blowouts were considered something a girl did just for special occasions, but now, blowouts are all about saving time, sanity, and putting your best tresses forward. DryBar founder Alli Webb understands that need, and has expanded her sunny empire to Sugar Land with the opening of her ninth Texas location.
DryBar in First Colony features 10 styling chairs and the full menu of signature blowouts including the Straight Up, The Manhattan, The Cosmo, The Mai Tai, The Cosmo, and Southern Comfort, plus braiding options from the braid bar.
The 1,460-square-foot space is kitted out with marble bars with built-in phone docking stations, flat screen televisions, custom Italian chairs, and tufted fabric walls. Blowouts are $45 and appointments can be booked online, through the Drybar iPhone app or by calling 877-379-2279.
Dior
Years ago, Oprah interviewed Cindy Crawford on her daytime show, and the supermodel revealed how one should never slide the mascara wand in and out of the tube because it allows oxygen to slide inside and dry out the mascara.
It’s a valuable life lesson that has stuck with me and perhaps the scientists at Dior as well. Their new DiorShow Pump’ N’ Volume mascara is a squeezable tube that loads up mascara on the brush evenly, allowing for clump-free application. It’s recommended to squeeze the tube a maximum of three times, or else mascara overload will ensue.
It’s one of the new products Dior is introducing for spring that combines science, beauty and a bit of common sense. Dior makeup artist Kevianno Guerrero stopped at Saks Fifth Avenue to talk surviving Houston’s summer without makeup sliding off your face and maintaining a look that’s fresh without being too heavy. He also introduced me to Dior’s Backstage Pros, a multi-use collection employed by Dior’s makeup artists at fashion shows.
In addition to starting with a clean base, including toner to balance the skin’s PH, Guerrero is an avid fan of Diorskin Forever & Ever Wear Primer. It’s a building block that can stand up to the elements for 24 hours.
“It’s water soluble and lightweight,” Guerrero says. “It’s really a one drop wonder. It primes whole face wherever makeup lays, it lays smooth and creates silky finish. It respects moisture levels on the face.”
Diorskin Forever Undercover complements the primer as an all-day wear foundation that’s water-based, weightless and looks good on any skin type.
“There’s no oil in it, so it’s a foundation that feels more like skin on skin,” Guerrero says.
The lightening speed of backstage changes led Dior to create a line of products that does double duties for models and mortals alike. The Dior Cheek & Lip Glow adds a subtle rosy glow, while the Dior Lip Glow is worn as a lip primer, a gloss or as a buildable lip color.
“These are products that work in multiple ways and fast,” says Guerrero. “And, we can’t deny the fact that we are the cult classic for mascara. Our innovation keeps brush clean and keeps oxygen out.”
Mascara fanatics will likely fall even deeper for Dior, with the new DiorsShow Pump'N'Volume.
Forty new vendors join the Nutcracker Market this year, offering fresh finds alongside fan favorites.Photo by Melissa Taylor
