By ,
Published January 14, 2015
Alcohol and cigarettes are notoriously bad for the skin, not to mention their other health risks. But several new spas are luring clients with the freedom to enjoy both.
On a patio overlooking Manhattan's tony Madison Avenue (search), customers at the Julien Farel salon enjoy a catered lunch, a glass of wine or champagne and a cigarette, in addition to manicures and pedicures.
"Being pampered is a luxury," client Lauren Plasky, a marketing executive, told the New York Post's Danica Lo. "But being able to do so while having a cigarette is a true indulgence."
While the trend in spas has been to offer detoxifying facials, pore-cleansing treatments and relaxing massages, this new breed of spa is about decadence.
At the 8-month-old Studio One 2 One on New York's ritzy Upper East Side, patrons are permitted to light up a cigarette or knock back a few drinks in the spa's English garden.
"We have no problem popping open a bottle of champagne for our clients on Friday and Saturday nights," co-owner Mallory Rutledge told Lo. "People definitely linger. Women will stay long after their treatments and work or just relax in the garden."
And at the brand new Pashah, (search) located in the penthouse above the Emporio Armani store on Madison Avenue, a sip and a puff are as attainable as a tweeze and a wax.
Pashah's co-owner said for some women the atmosphere at the spa is better than other after-work alternatives.
"Actually, I think women prefer going to the salon over going to bars," co-owner Sam Arasteh told the Post. "We even tell our clients to stop by if they're shopping on Madison and they want a cigarette break or a glass of wine."
But not everyone is in favor of such decadence — especially because spas emphasize health and beauty.
"First of all, if you're going to get something done on your face and then you smoke it's 10 times worse for your skin, because your pores are already open," Cindy Barshop, owner of the Completely Bare chain of beauty salons, told Lo.
Barshop said the smoke-friendly salon is a cheap gimmick that actually does clients a disservice.
"I wouldn't allow smoking. It ruins your skin — it's the antithesis of what a spa should do," she said.
Other spas have had their bar-like efforts thwarted. In New York's Greenwich Village, Dashing Diva spa, open about a year, was forced to stop offering free cosmopolitans as part of their Thursday and Friday Girl Night Out parties.
"Now it's a virgin drink — I think because of the landlords. They don't allow us to offer alcohol," manager Jenna Lee told FOXNews.com.
Across the country in California, swanky spas often serve alcoholic beverages with manicures and pedicures — but they discourage smoking.
"We do have a café, we do have wine and champagne, but only in the manicure and pedicure section. Drinking and then getting a massage is not beneficial," Lucinda, a hostess at the trendy Kinara spa in West Hollywood, told FOXNews.com.
"Smoking is terrible for skin care but outside, what can you do?" she added.
The Four Seasons Hotel Spa in L.A. and the Peninsula Spa in Beverly Hills also have similar procedures.
Skin dehydration notwithstanding, most spas seem OK with serving the occasional glass of wine. And some customers appreciate that they are allowed to the smoke while they get pampered.
"It's just so relaxing," spa-patron Alyson Corbin told Lo. "Being able to go to the salon and smoke a cigarette and drink — it just makes me happy."
The New York Post contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/smoky-salons-offer-puff-with-the-buff