Therapy Beauty Bar297 Thayer St. Providence331.4777
Perched at the top of Thayer Street, Therapy Beauty Bar may seem an obvious - even lazy - choice for top wax. Its large windows and glittering disco ball make no secret of the spa's presence. Still, none of Providence's Zen-like budget salons or flashy hotel spas can match the cheery atmosphere and expert treatment at Beauty Bar.
Visiting a spa for the first time can be scary. Dim lighting leads you to question the locale's cleanliness. Brusque treatment at the reception makes you dread the pain that might ensue. Spending tens of dollars and one of the most uncomfortable hours of your life for unsatisfactory results can be incredibly frustrating. No one actually likes waxing.
But Beauty Bar's sunny interior and friendly faces not only immediately ease apprehensions they almost fool you into enjoying yourself. It's hard to dramatize your upcoming beauty treatment while you wait in a leather chaise-lounge beneath the disco ball, surrounded by colorful lipsticks and eye shadows.
Wax aesthetician extraordinaire Anna Sirinino not only knows what she's doing, she keeps you talking throughout. By the time the notoriously painful process is over, you've told her about your workload, love life and obnoxious roommate without a single yelp of discomfort.
Although co-founders Corey Colello and Maria Romero might not have meant to offer "therapy" so seriously when naming their joint venture, Therapy Beauty Bar certainly exceeds expectations for a personal maintenance venue.
At $30 for a half-leg wax and $15 for brows, the services are standard for Providence - not exactly cut-rate. You might find a cheaper option, but beware the physical price you could pay for products that fall short of Beauty Bar's soy-based wax.
At this urban oasis that rivals those of larger metropolitan areas, a few extra bucks for impeccable waxing is money well spent.
