EG LASH & BROW
Vagaro.com/eglashandbrowdesign; @erseilag
As a child growing up in Albania, Erseila Gorani loved to watch her father, an artist, at work — inspiring her to try her own hand.
“When I was very young, my passion was drawing,” Gorani says. “I especially loved to draw lips and eyes — I was always attracted to the details, and perfecting them. I wanted to make them look realistic.”
That focus naturally transitioned into an interest in makeup, so upon arriving in Michigan, she attended cosmetology school. But doing hair and makeup still was not scratching her itch. She craved the element of detail.
The next step was focusing on permanent makeup — and her skills took off. “Permanent makeup is a form of drawing,” Gorani says. “I can visualize how to contour the eyebrows, create natural-looking lashes, shape the border of the lips. It requires precision and expertise, so it’s great to be able to create it permanently.”
Armed with her cosmetology license, close to 15 years working in a salon and continuing education, Gorani opened EG Lash & Brow just over a year ago in Birmingham. “Everything I do is permanent makeup,” she says, including eyelash extensions, eyebrow microblading and lip blush application. With a meticulous attention to detail, her goal is always to enhance natural features, whether restoring lost lip borders or crafting flawless permanent eyeliner.
GIVE & GET Gift a session of treatments, or schedule some pampering for yourself before a holiday soiree or office gathering. Offerings include: makeup application, eyelash extension sets or fills, brow lamination, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, Yumi Lashes lift and tint, microblading, powder/ombre brow tattoo, lip blush tattoo, brow pigment removal, waxing and threading and more.
SKIN HOUSE
Skin-house.com; @skinhousebham
Nestled in Downtown Birmingham’s historic 1916 Shain Townhouse, Skin House is a medical and wellness spa founded by Dr. Christina Barbat. The ivy-covered Arts & Crafts landmark, with its copper details and stained glass, houses an intimate space reminiscent of boutique hotels in New York or Milan.
Dr. Barbat, a family medicine physician, opened Skin House in 2020, before expanding into an adjoining townhouse. The spa offers cutting-edge treatments including Morpheus8, PRP therapy, cosmetic injections and holistic wellness services like lymphatic drainage and medical weight loss — knowledgeable technicians work with clients to curate bespoke treatments to cater to their needs.
“I treat every patient as family," Dr. Barbat says. "Our goal is facial harmony — helping clients achieve the best, most natural version of themselves from the inside out.”
GIVE & GET Biologique Recherche Custom Skin Treatment, customized to clients’ skin type and condition; Skin House Diamond Glow Facial, a dermabrasion device followed by cosmetic serums massaged into the skin; dermaplaning; microneedling; Morpheus8, using radio frequency to stimulate collagen; dermal fillers and neuromodulators; Platelet Rich Plasma hair restoration; lymphatic, Swedish and prenatal massages; IV therapy and more. Also available: a host of luxe products curated to enhance treatments and wellness.
BANYA
Banyaspace.com; @banya_detox
Andrea Weatherly and Minna Sharrak started Banya as a place where friends could gather together and focus on well-being. Birmingham’s first contrast therapy studio, Banya is a sanctuary where tradition meets modern wellness, dedicated to holistic wellness and longevity through infrared saunas, cold plunges and lymphatic body rollers.
“Every element is curated to promote relaxation, recovery and vitality,” Sharrak says. Banya (a Russian word referring to a traditional steambath) aims to heat the body from within, promoting relaxation, enhancing blood flow, boosting collagen production, accelerating muscle recovery and more.
GIVE & GET
- Lymphatic Drainage Body Roll Session stimulates the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins and reduce inflammation, encouraging a deep cellular detox.
- Signature Seaweed Wrap, including a full-body magnesium scrub followed by a heat-resistant wrap then a 20-minute sauna session.