Arsi Tavitian at Rita Hazan Salon
720 Fifth Ave., nr. 56th St., eleventh fl. 212-586-4343
Lay on Arsi Tavitian’s table and you know immediately that the Romanian-born beautician means business; she’s wearing magnifying goggles. Tavitian is clinical in her approach, and her tiny space (tucked inside Hazan’s busy salon) is immaculate, but she has very decided ideas about what makes a good wax (Iman has been a client for nearly twenty years). She might try to coax you into a Brazilian as she works (“Your boyfriend will love it!”). Once she’s taken care of the bulk of the waxing, she’ll lean in for a closer look (okay, it’s a little uncomfortable), then remove any stray hairs with a tweezer or a bit more wax. Her bikini waxes take a few minutes longer than most, but you’ll never find a miscellaneous hair, and you won’t have to go back for weeks.