ON THE WINGS OF THE DOVES Sonya and Christopher Dove work their hair magic at the color bar of their new salon, The Doves, on Santa Monica’s Main Street Tired of the whole Beverly Hills hair scene? Here’s the perfect antidote: a salon owned and operated by the talented creative directors of Wella, Sonya and Christopher Dove. The two Brits staked their claim on a developing part of Main Street, and no architectural detail went unnoticed as their shop was built from the ground up. The atmosphere: an eclectic mix of rich textured metals, strong colors and earthy woods that create an inviting environment. Sit yourself at the ultra-modern color bar for your hair color “prescription.” With their slogan Hair. Art. Team., you will be assured of expertise from the shampoo bowl to the roomy styling stations. “Our vision is to have a workspace and atmosphere where European influenced education is at the heart of our culture but at the same time we will be treating our team and clients just as we would family,” says Sonya, who along with Christopher, has 30 years experience in the hair care industry, starting in England before coming to the US as the creative directors of Elizabeth Arden Red Door salons. The Doves, 2000 Main St., Santa Monica 310. 399-7654

A KISS IS MORE THAN JUST A KISS She’s the stunning other half of Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, and now Keisha Nash-Whitaker has teamed with noted makeup artist AJ Crimson to create Kissable Couture, a shimmery lip gloss collection meant to evoke the sensuality and magic of a kiss. Named for men who presumably are very good kissers, the First Kiss Collection consists of seven shades including Dylan, a light peach shimmer, David, a sun-kissed bronze and Tyler, a deep purple shimmer. And of course, we must give a shout-out to Forest, a rich burgundy wine shimmer. Kissable Couture, $22 each at Fred Segal Apothia and Henri Bendel, www.kissablecouture.com

FUN IN THE SUN ON ROBERTSON This season more than ever, a tan—baked or faked—is a great accessory, and there is no greater tanning pleasure palace around than the new SunStyle on N. Robertson. This is tanning salon on steroids, in a good way, thanks to the vision of owner Ulrik Neumann, whose fashion photography lines the walls of the warehouse-like studio. The ultra-modern 7,000 square-foot facility sports the latest techno-tanning beds from Ergoline, complete with iPod docking stations. Plus, there’s great private parking in a pristine art-filled garage in the back that doubles as a hip new spot in which to throw events. 627 N. Robertson Blvd., W. Hollywood, 310.289-9200, www.sunstyle.la

BEAUTY SLEEP, SLEEK AND SMOOTH Slumber into sweet dreams with Branche Beauty’s satin bed dressing We’ve been traveling everywhere with a new silk pillowcase, billed to keep your hair in place while you sleep and to prevent those icky creases that come with high thread count territory when you wake up on cotton sheets. Guess what? Branché Beauty’s silk charmeuse pillowcase really works and, we’re told, is a bedtime favorite of leading ladies including Jade Pinkett Smith and Reese Witherspoon. Available in silver, ivory, blush, blue, sage, and gold, you can find them at Palmetto, Planet Blue, C.O. Bigelow, and the full list online. www.branchebeautysleep.com

YOU WON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES
It sounds illogical that slapping on a clear eyeliner at night can make lashes grow longer and thicker, but TAR has it on good authority that these potions actually work, with a little patience and a lot of persistence. The best: RevitaLash, which is making some long-lashed believers out of those who use it regularly for 3-4 weeks, when results kick in. Try it yourself, and save the time spent on often over-hyped lash extensions. And there’s a great backstory: ophthalmologist Michael Brinkenhoff originally developed the product for his wife Gayle, who was losing her eyelashes during chemotherapy for breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds of each tube sold ($150) goes to breast cancer research.
www.revitalash.com,  877.909-5274

FROM 818 TO 310: ARCONA ARRIVES IN SANTA MONICA
Long known to Vals as THE place for a results-driven facial, Arcona is now primping and priming Westside punims. Chanel Jenae and Kevin Anderson oversee the legacy of Arcona, who was ahead of her time as a pioneer of holistic skin care. The fab product line uses only all-natural ingredients with high concentrations of antioxidants, plant and extracts, sea vegetables, essential oils, vitamins and minerals and includes the popular Magic White Ice hydration serum and refreshing cranberry toner. Chanel or one of the salon’s estheticians will advise you on a five-product regimen best for your skin type. Trust them. 
The Arcona Studio, 425 Broadway, Santa Monica, 310.458-3800 

HAIR APPARENT
Celebrity hairdressers are a dime a dozen, but when you find one as cool, grounded and talented as Steve Lococo, you’ve hit the jackpot. In business for 20 years with partner Albert Borelli (and now with Kim Vo), Lococo works his hair magic by doing it all: coloring, cutting and styling. He’s also created a line of Borelli products and the newly-launchedTahitian Noni hair care line. “Using great products makes people feel they are doing something good for themselves,” says Lococo, who oversees more than 30 stylists, aestheticians, and manicurists in a three-salon “cottage industry” within a two-mile radius (Borrelli Beverly Hills, on Burton Way and B2V/Borrelli Vo, two side-by-side cottages on North Doheny.) 
 No more bad hair days:

Steve Lococo
Doheny Dr. salon 
B2V/Borelli Vo, 648 N. Doheny Dr., WeHo, 310.777-7648

THE MATERIAL FACE
Michelle Peck has been doing Madonna’s face for years. No, it’s not what you think. The LA-based aesthetician goes on the road with Madge to give her skin hyperbaric oxygen treatments with professional equipment (combined with serum) made by Intraceuticals. Word is Mrs. Richie has one in every one of her homes. The Intraceuticals Infusion™ uses hyperbaric pressure to let oxygen and serum reach deeper layers of skin, rejuvenating from the inside out. 
Select salons in NY and CA, www.intraceuticals.com 

TEN DAYS IN THE GYM: OSCAR MADNESS BEGINS
This won’t be like Ten Days in the Hills, the new must-read Jane Smiley novel, due to a lack of literary yet graphic sex. This is for those who are just starting now to whip themselves into shape for Oscar weekend. OMG, it is just around the corner! Equinox Fitness trainer and aerobics instructor Erin Lanahan says the key is your core. She recommends working out (at the many convenient Equinox locations in LA & NY, of course, and she’s mainly at WeHo) five days a week, twice a day if you can, doing cardio for 30-60 minutes in the morning on an empty stomach, and then in the afternoon, doing 30-60 minutes of a circuit incorporating strength, core and cardio training. And here’s her trick for looking great in photos for the big nights ahead: she says to keep halving your intake of water and other fluids starting a week before, so that the day before an event, you are drinking about 1/8th of your norm. The really radical amongst you can get down to just sucking on ice cubes the day before, but don’t tell anybody.
Dr. Eric Braverman, of Path Medical in New York (www.pathmedical.com) and author of Younger You, recommends cutting down your salt and sugar, sleeping longer, and eating a “rainbow” diet of five different-colored vegetables and fruits a day, and also increasing seasonings and spices like tumeric and sage. He says sleep in as much as possible the week before, get a massage, and take natural supplements like DHEA and B and D vitamins for the inevitable stress caused by [what to wear to] such high-profile events. 
 

SWEET SPOT: WARREN-TRICOMI
If you haven’t yet discovered Warren-Tricomi’s LA salon, awards season is the perfect time. It’s been less than a year since Edward Tricomi and Joel Warren set up shop on Melrose, their fifth outpost. They come in once a month from the East Coast, while partner and esteemed colorist Kaz Amor runs the shop. Aside from private and semi-private rooms, the salon features a Redken Color Lab that walks clients through a series of questions with their colorist to help determine what shades might be appropriate for them.  Then, the hair color product is selected and mixed right at the lab for the client to see.
Warren-Tricomi, 8327 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles 323.651-4545

Treatment room at LeSpa at Sofitel Los Angeles

BON RELAXATION
Remember when the Sofitel across from the BevCen was Ma Maison and stodgy/French, as opposed to its current hip/modern French? With last summer’s opening of Simon LA and Rande Gerber’s Stone Rose, those images were banished forever from the corner of La Cienega and Beverly.
Now it’s the spa’s turn for a complete makeover, and it’s gorge. Officially named LeSpa at Sofitel, it JUST opened its doors. Pampering aestheticians love using the Decléor  and Carita products for face and body, both lines from Paris. Book Julia Palmer for a mean mani/pedi that will last twice as long as you’re used to. She’s recovered from the days when she used to paint J. Lo’s digits on music video shoots at all hours, but if you’re lucky, she might tell you some war stories. 
Spa Director Maureen Schumacher runs a sleek ship. The relaxation lounge is luxuriously tranquil, a place to kick back, have a heated-rock foot soak and drink some soothing tea before indulging in an intense hydrating facial or an aromatherapy massage. And why no other spa has ever thought of comfy black robes, I’ll never know.
LeSpa at Sofitel Los Angeles, 8555  Beverly Bl., LA, 310.228-6777, 8a—9p daily.