The Bite Magazine Issue 17

A s the French expression says: ‘C’est la bon vie’, this is the good life. And that’s what one feels when they treat themselves to the pampering offered at Marie-Lou and D Maison de Beauty. Tucked away and almost hidden between two busy restau- rants and boutiques along one of New York’s trendiest streets in SoHo lies the recently opened and already wildly popular Marie-Lou & D Maison de Beauty. Staying true to the aesthetic of the neighbourhood, this salon and spa is situated in a loft-like building with large picture windows, a wrought iron stoop that leads up to tall, raw wooden French doors and exposed brick walls. From the outside looking in, one can tell this is where beauty is created. Inspired by the hair and beauty salons found in Paris and across Europe, Marie- Lou & D Maison de Beauty features gorgeous French-influences and furnish- ings while staying in tune with SoHo’s urban appeal. New York-based French architect Aurélien Gallet worked closely with owner Dharmendra Manwani on every detail of the space. As a result the salon has a very inspiring set up, “A place that feels welcoming like your best friend’s house where you can find items which you would probably be picking up to decorate your own space,” states Alissa Levy, the salon’s general manager. Dharmendra Manwani happens to be a true renaissance man hailing from India with a degree in Engineering and Business rather than styling, and had consulted with Fortune 500 companies for years before being given the oppor- tunity to enter the salon industry. He was therefore able to bring a unique overall experience to his clients, a place that one wants to spend their time in, where they feel at home and comfortable and not at all rushed or looked down on as can be the case in many upscale spas. Here, you can literally let your hair down. “Our vision for Marie-Lou & D is simple: to create a new salon experience for the world’s ‘au courant’ clients, offering a full-service salon and day spa with hair, nail, day-spa and make-up services in an inviting setting, and simplifying the salon experience by narrowly curating beauty selections.” Manwani’s multifaceted background has thusly given him great insight in what to offer clients looking for the best of the best and expecting nothing less than perfection. When he began working in the salon world 10 years ago, he intro- duced and developed his Jean Claude Biguine French Salon and Spa brand and chain to India. From this, he personally witnessed the powerful effects of offering curated high quality services under one roof. As such, he was been able to tackle an untapped and price sensitive market in India, which rapidly made the brand one of top 100 brands in the country. Complete with this knowledge, and backed by a continuous verve to learn and improve, Manwani has been able to zero in on this gap across the world’s salon industry, which has been looking for a chic, contemporary house of beauty with European/Global experts. Marie-Lou & D was created to fulfill this need as a glorious result. So, in taking away from this desire to provide a full-service menu of treatments, the Marie-Lou & D salon caters to all the beauty needs of the modern fashionista, providing a renewed take on the salon experience.“The love child of high-street and high-end beauty lifestyles, our salons are nestled among the trendiest neigh- borhoods, taking great care to offer a curated selection of services, products and techniques from the globe’s most fashionable cities — so you can have all your beauty needs catered to under one stylish roof. We pride ourselves in connecting our stylish clientele with the best talent, ideas and products out there, curating an experience and language of beauty that can be found across the globe.We are also constantly expanding our community of beauty connoisseurs in the chicest areas of the world, to share and be inspired.” And that’s a good thing, as New York happens to be one of the most-beauty and fashion centered capitals in the world. It’s been said time and time again, looks matter. And nowhere is that more true than on the sidewalks turned cat- walks of the Big Apple. Everything from the shoes you wear to the handbag you carry, even your cell phone cover is up for external judgment on this crowded island. Ergo, if you think your hair, skin and nails don’t stand to be just as crit- icised, well my dear, that’s unfortunately just wishful thinking. Here, if your hair’s not blown out, then you’re all washed up. However, there’s much to be said in always having your situation situated. It is a chore no doubt, and an expensive one to maintain at that but when you’re coiffed and polished, life seems a little easier to take on. Marie-Lou & D knows this as this quote is actually written on one of the mirrors, “Because looking good goes a long way.” And it’s painfully easy to look good Dawn Hunt reveals the magical hands behind French-influenced Marie-Lou and D Maison de Beauty salon. bite hair Marie - Lou & D Maison de Beauty New York