4 Off-the-Menu Beauty Treatments Insiders Swear By

Just as some restaurants serve off-the-menu specials to the clued-in, a few of our favorite beauty establishments offer more than the standard facials, highlights, and haircuts—if you know what to ask for.

These days, it seems, many women are asking for a more gentle way to cover grays. At David Mallett’s salon on Rue Notre Dame des Victoires in Paris, if asked, colorists will paint each individual gray hair with dye rather than saturate the entire head. “It’s not necessary to do allover if the client already likes her color, and this way is much healthier for your overall hair; it is time-consuming, though,” says Mallett, whose client list includes Karl Lagerfeld and Marion Cotillard. Closer to home, Mai at Bumble and Bumble’s Meatpacking District location and Kari Hill at Mèche Salon in Los Angeles offer similar services.

For those going for a more dramatic dye job, Michael Angelo, founder of Wonderland Beauty Parlor in the Meatpacking District and a model favorite, will [cut:also]custom-mix formulas for brows so that they match a client’s new hue. “We do this for models often because they go through so many colors for work,” he says. Likewise, Jacob Schmidt at Chelsea’s Serge Normant at John Frieda salon fine-tunes arches to complement a freshly tinted mane, whether that means a subtle lightening or darkening. If it’s bleached brows you’re looking for, on the other hand, head to Ludlow Blunt in Williamsburg to realize a more radical take on a statement look.

Another semi-secret hair service comes courtesy of Kenna of Kennaland in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. After a cut or color, he and his team will craft bespoke extensions for clients wanting a bit more oomph. Though the process can take hours, the results are far more carefree than the typical woven-in variety. “We show you how and where to place them to make it easy for you do at home,” Kenna says. “They clip in quickly and all you need to do is wash them like you would your own hair.”

Your facialist might also have a few (if more extreme) tricks in the bag for special occasions. For instance, L.A.-based Sonya Dakar, who tends to Gwyneth Paltrow’s golden skin, occasionally deploys her zinc-and-iron peel to combat sun damage and enlarged pores. It’s an intense peel, Dakar cautions, and not on the menu because it’s only offered to VIP clients who need to transform skin in two to three days. And you’ll need to plan for some recovery time—oversize sunglasses and hat not included.

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