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The Semi-Permanent Makeover

Superlative services for those unafraid of commitment.


Illustrations by Janice Wu  
  • Mascara

  • Courtney Akai Lash Boutique

    501 Fifth Ave., nr. 42nd St., Ste. 1211; 212-867-8469

    In a private, pink-washed studio, Akai paints on LashDip, a mascara composed of black pigment, acetone, and stearic acid that’s made to last six weeks and won’t smear or flake. Best of all, it doesn’t have to be removed at night ($250).


  • Nail Polish

  • Marie Nails

    166 Elizabeth St., nr. Kenmare St.; 646-912-9655

    The import from Los Angeles’s Koreatown opened its second location in February to better serve the masses clamoring for three-week-lasting Calgel manicures in solid colors, glitter gradations, or topped with art ($35 and up).


  • Eyelashes

  • JJ Eyelashes

    41 Wooster St., nr. Broome St.; 212-966-1160

    This spare Soho salon, which opened in December, is perpetually filled with women getting customized, insanely natural-looking lash extensions that last for a month (from $150), while enjoying complimentary foot massages.


  • Lipstick and Eyeliner

  • Browhaus

    56 Spring St., nr. Lafayette St.; 212-431-1124

    The Singapore-trained staff uses vegetable-based dye (applied with a tattoo gunlike gadget) to line your upper lids in black ($450) or stain your pout with one of three red shades ($925). The artwork takes two hours, but lasts three years.


  • Hair Extensions

  • Jared Riccardi at Patrick Melville Salon

    45 Rockefeller Plaza, nr. 50th St., third fl.; 212-218-8650

    Getting hair extensions used to be a four-hour ordeal, but Invisi-Tab locks go on in an hour and stay in place, via keratin tape pressed around a few natural strands, for three months ($2,200, for a full head of unprocessed hair).

From the 2012 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine