The Oscars are calling
Mark Cant
HAIR
Mèche
Say goodbye to the Californian beach look: now it’s all about ’70s glamour in the shape of a shaggy, chopped-up look with long fringes and big blowdries. That’s the prediction from the key stylists at Mèche – the one salon you need to know in the heart of Beverly Hills. Occupying the same address as ’80s society salon Menage a Trois, it was set up by expert cutter (and London native) Neil Weisberg mand his business partner, Tracey Cunningham. ‘Events season is very busy for us,’ says Neil. ‘If we have a celebrity client such as Jennifer Lopez, who only has her colour done at home, of course we’ll go to her.’ Otherwise, fans flock to get an appointment at this busy, industrial-chic salon, loved for its skilled, unfussy approach. Famous clients include Gywneth Paltrow, who relies on Mèche for her immaculate blonde locks.
EYEBROWS
Helena Tamargo
Helena Tamargo, the beautician responsible for refining the shape of Selena Gomez’s sleek eyebrows, is one of Tinseltown’s best-kept secrets, despite her 15 years in the industry. The current LA brow style, she says, is more of a slim, arched ’90s-style shape, reflecting millennial fashion, which is having a moment. ‘Your eyebrows are the most important thing on your face,’ she says, ‘and my signature is to find your perfect brow.’ The aim, she continues, is to ‘shape your face and accentuate what you have’. Tamargo’s expertise lies in what she calls ‘brow rehab’, whereby she allows brows to reach their full potential. (A common problem, she explains, is when people over-pluck, resulting in the hair growing back against the grain.) ‘Balance is everything,’ Tamargo insists. And, thanks to her years of experience, her understanding of follicles is nothing short of forensic.
00 1 818 274 2244
FACIALS
La Prairie Spa, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
Kim Kardashian doesn’t just patronise Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills for its rooftop restaurant and views, but for its 5,000-square foot La Prairie Spa. And here, says its director, Amanda Raich, clients want ‘flawless and immediate results’ – probably because they’re going on to a gala, where swelling or redness would be anathema. One of the spa’s most popular treatments is its anti-aging Perfecting Radiance Facial: after steaming and a double-cleanse with balm and a purifying cream cleanser, a firming mask is applied, followed by La Prairie’s Pure Gold serum and face cream. It’s very expensive – and very LA.
waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com
Shani Darden
‘LA is a place where everyone is gorgeous and glam but also very competitive,’ says Shani Darden, facialist and anointed ‘skin fixer’. ‘People here are disciplined, be it getting their green juice and going to Pilates or regularly seeing experts.’ Trained by top plastic surgeons and dermatologists, she counts Jennifer Aniston and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley among her devotees. What do LA women want? Less Botox and fillers than before, she says, now that facials are so advanced. ‘The tech available, such as LED light, has been a game-changer.’
LEGS
Remedy Place
Serious star power: Remedy Place
Madeline Tolle/Remedy Place
It’s the West Hollywood wellness club that the stars flock to, Kendall Jenner and Rita Ora are fans. The treatments on offer are enticing, book in for acupuncture, an ice bath or an IV vitamin drip, but ahead of the Oscars one in particular is in demand: The Lymphatic Compression. Don’t be alarmed as you are zipped into what feels like a spacesuit on your lower half. During the treatment, the pressure is firmly but slowly increased and decreased on your legs, but all you have to do is lie there, and let it flush away the toxins and decrease any extra fluid retention. Red-carpet ready in no time.
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Legology
It’s a vital part of Hollywood stars’ red-carpet prep. Therapist Alejandro arrives at your home with a luxurious massage bed and, using a style similar to a gentle Swedish massage, he encourages the flow of the lymphatic fluid which can build up after a long flight; it’s a full-body treatment, but with a focus on the lower half – to ease bloating – and sculpting the legs to look their very best. Which must be why Kristen Stewart and Rebel Wilson both booked Legology ahead of last year’s Oscars.
MASSAGE
Tomoko Japanese Spa
Massages at this Japanese-inspired retreat include an ancient Asian treatment to banish negative energy, as well as the Zenshin treatment – a soothing, full-body massage using old Eastern techniques – and the popular Japanese Experience for two, with sushi served up post-massage. As soon as you step in, you’ll be transported a million miles from the frenetic beating heart of Beverly Hills at this cocoon of calm. Just ask Hollywood nobility Sharon Stone.
NAILS
The Nail Lounge
Locals descend on this discreet spot to keep up with the latest fashion in LA, where chrome-hued nails are currently trending. The Nail Lounge is just a stone’s throw from Rodeo Drive and flush with Beverly Hills’ finest – you might end up having your toes polished next to Hailey Bieber on one of the 10 coveted mani-pedi chairs, as you choose a shade from the beautifully curated shelves of 600 OPI and Essie products. There’s also Louis Vuitton polish in the chicest little bottles imaginable.
00 1 310 888 2898
TANNING
Sugared + Bronzed
‘I would never go to an event without a tan,’ says one Sugared + Bronzed devotee, who goes to the Beverly Hills salon for a weekly top-up. Sometimes it can be a squeeze: certain dates in the Hollywood calendar – Grammy week, the Oscars and the Coachella festival, for instance – are what the team describe as ‘peak season’, with in-the-know clients booking their tan a month in advance. (In case you’re interested, the most requested shades are No 2 and No 3, which make you look as if you’ve come straight from the beach). Therapist Mika will complete a perfectly sculpted full-body tan – known as the FlexExpress – in just 20 minutes. Paris Hilton is a regular.
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SKIN AESTHETICS
Dr Raj Kanodia
In a city that demands perfection, a nose job is not a big deal. But who you go to is – and Dr Raj Kanodia is the nasal king. (Khloe Kardashian and Cameron Diaz have both reportedly benefited from his rhinoplasties.) ‘The nose is the centre of the face, so it needs to be finessed before you perfect the surrounding features,’ he says. Highly skilled at Botox and fillers, he also transforms lips, eyes and chins – and, having treated Hollywood’s best-maintained stars over the decades, he’s now seeing their offspring.
Dr Sheila Nazarian
‘The rise of Zoom has made the neck and eyes priorities among the LA set,’ says Dr Sheila Nazarian. ‘The women I see do all the right things – eating healthily, doing Pilates – but they say, “None of it will fix this one thing about my face or body.”’ Dr Nazarian is known as The Model Surgeon and has her own Netflix show, Skin Decision – so it’s little wonder that she attracts a youthful mix of actors and influencers: ‘My job is to present patients with the full picture. I’m not going to give them youthful eyes and leave their necks old.’
WHERE TO STAY
Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills
Take a dip: Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills
Courtesy of Four Seasons
There’s always a buzz at the glamorous and enduring Four Seasons Hotel during awards season, and it’s no secret that Gwyneth Paltrow has been known to check in. Located on Doheny Drive, the top floor suites have famously commanding sunset views over LA. Spend a day relaxing by palm fringed pool and if pre-Oscar nerves are setting in, head for a guided meditation narrated by Deepak Chopra in the Wellness Room or a relaxing Knesko facial in the spa. For a post Oscar’s debrief, book a garden table for breakfast at the delicious Culina restaurant and order the LA omelette: egg white, kale and avocado and who knows, you might just spot Robert de Niro. This is after all, LA.
A version of this feature was originally published in the March 2023 issue of Tatler.
