We couldn’t help notice the trail of 4-year-olds clad in their perfect party clothes as they congregated on Ventura Boulevard one Saturday.  We wondered if it was an audition for a new Disney Channel pilot?  Or, perhaps, try-outs for a Junior Beauty Pageant? But alas , it was the latest in a trend of pint-sized parties. 
The Painted Nail, Sherman Oaks’s premiere nail salon offers spa packages for all ages in their Karaoke-filled Nail Party Lounge.  The price for the privilege  is $20 per child.  Pint-sized mani/pedi parties offer a fashion-forward trip down a cute runway stage – complete with props, glitter tattoos and even a photo both to capture those precious moments. 
But for the older crowd, there is a package that includes martinis and manicures, fueled by customized cupcakes and innovative nail prints. If you want to take it up a little…The Painted Nail Lounge can help you get your groove on  — pole dancing lessons or even a review of male dancers can be arranged by request.   Talk about a full-service salon!
The Painted Nail
13325 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks  
818-783-2022.

Great makeup cases are tough to find.  We just want something  where you can (neatly) store everything from makeup to overnight creams to meds.  We’ve found a couple good ones.  
A company called Mini Kittour makes a hard covered makeup case complete with travel bottles, a small magnifying mirror, a pill case, a memo pad, a mini sharpie and a passport cover.  It is a bit pricey at around $200, but it holds everything and nothing gets smashed in your carry-on luggage. 
A Hollywood favorite is Stephanie Johnson.  The ML Traveler retails for around $80.  The pretty prints are shaped liked an old-fashioned makeup bag.  It comes with two snap-out mesh pouches, removable toiletry pouch and mirror.
Then there’s the Royce Leather Cosmetic Travel Case which is available online at Walmart for $72.  The bottom of the bag has a zippered pocket and the main compartment includes three travel size bottles.  It comes in a number of colors.  We like the blue since it reminds us of the Hermes blue jean.  Love that color!

The other day we found this fantastic beauty store/make-up studio in West Hollywood.  Makeup Mandy is one of those places that’s easy to drive by and miss, but don’t since it’s well worth the stop.  Clients include Avril Lavigne, Leighton Meester and Adrien Brody (no comment).
“It’s a one-stop shop,” says Juli Deveau who manages the place. “You can get everything you need from a spray tan to a pumpkin peel to lash extensions.” While they are known for doing fantastic lash extensions, it’s the products they carry that are truly amazing.  It’s like walking into a great boutique where the buyer has found great lines from around the world (that you won’t find in most US stores).   There’s the Rilastil mascara that’s huge in Italy, the Rodial Glamtox Night Cream and The All-Nighter Hair Powder.
Makeup Mandy
310-858-1970

By Melanie McCracken
I’ve always been obsessed with smooth soft skin.  In my quest I’ve slathered, heated, rummaged in the fridge for home remedies, sat in questionable mud and wrapped my body in saran wrap. When I heard there were Korean women near downtown Los Angeles who would buff my body to its most velvety state I jumped on the opportunity and was off to Wi Spa, a co-ed traditional “Jjim Jil Bang” (translated as a “steam/sweat room”) that offers a truly unique experience, even for the most daring Angelino.  
This three floor complex is split up into one male, and one female “wet spa” floors, which offers the steaming hot Jacuzzis and pore clearing steam saunas, and a co-ed floor which has an array of dry sauna rooms, lounging area for napping and a cafe.  
The buff treatment, at a mere $40, is the reason for coming here though.  When you enter the women’s floor you leave behind more than your cares and worries – you’ll notice right away that every single woman is completely nude and you’re expected to strip down as well.  Come with an open mind and abandon your body complexes, after 5 minutes you’ll be blissfully stewing in a bubbling Jacuzzi waiting for your buff appointment to start.  
Take my advice and go on a day where you can spare a couple of hours.  After being scoured, bathed and rinsed by the “Ddeh Dakneen Ajumma” (the women clad in black bras and underwear who will scrub off (2-lbs of your dead skin) you’ll want to linger in this huge complex, soaking up the rest and relaxation that will last you all week.  
Here’s the other thing, they’re open 24 hours/7 days a week.
Wi Spa     
2700 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90057
213-487-2700
Melanie works on the show Weeds.

Have you ever heard the saying, “The higher the hair, the closer to 
God?”   Well back in the day, women sat under conical dryers for hours on end, 
and teased their hair silly.  Today with a little help from our friends 
at Conair, our hair looks better than ever – in just a fraction of 
the time.  That’s because their inexpensive Instant Heat Jumbo and 
Super Jumbo Hot Rollers have streamlined our routine.  No more 
laborious blow-drys, and far less heat damage to our hair!  It’s just 
an easy roll and clip.  Your 15-minute investment can even last you a 
good three days (with a little hair spray).  People will want to 
know who did your hair!  And for the gal-on-the-go, Conair makes a pint-sized travel version 
– a must for you frequent fliers!