Item of the Day: BeautyBooked

In this modern day and age, there are so many luxuries the Internet provides that we just take for granted. We can order food online to be delivered to our home in a matter of minutes, we can get opinions from hundreds of people before checking out a new shop, and we can get great deals on anything from shoes to kooky aerial yoga classes. The internet makes life a never ending buffet of adventure and helps you discover the places you want to go and gets you there. One area I need major help in is discovering my beauty paradise.

I’ve yet to find that one beauty salon that speaks right to my heart, so I like to get around and test out the best. And that’s why I’m so jazzed about BeautyBooked. BeautyBooked allows you to search the hottest beauty spots, discover new ones, and book appointments at the best salons. It’s like if Yelp met OpenTable and they had a big ole baby who was a beauty addict.

You can do everything online all with just a click of a mouse, so it’s super convenient and user friendly. When you select a salon you get to see the review by the experts at BB, alongside reviews of actual clients. There’s even a photo gallery with up-to-date snaps, so you don’t have to worry about stepping into a grody salon whose website features ancient photos of their once-upon-a-time luxurious establishment. Also, they let you know whether or not to bring cash for tipping – which is basically the bane of my existence. I don’t know anyone who likes sprinting around town to find an ATM with wet nails because they didn’t know tips were cash only. If the salon you’ve selected is the one of your dreams you can book services right then and there.

BeautyBooked also offers one of my most favorite things in the world: perks! Yes, indeed, I live for perks. First up, there’s BB Rewards where you get to earn points towards awesome products (like Essie and Kiehl’s), services, or gift cards. Then there’s BB Upgrades where a salon might add on an awesome mini-massage just because you made your appointment through BeautyBooked.

And, if you’re like me and leave everything until the very last minute and are constantly scrambling to find a salon that can take you in for a mani-pedi or an urgent eyebrow waxing, BB displays salons with same-day appointments right on their main page. Or, if you’re feeling really fancy, you can even book an at-home service!

So use BeautyBooked and avoid the irritation of phoning for an appointment only to get put on endless hold or snipped at that there are no appointments available for weeks by a snooty receptionist. And just maybe you’ll find your own little piece of beauty heaven.

Currently BeautyBooked is available in New York and Dallas and just launched in Los Angeles. They’ll be expanding nationally in the near future and their mobile app is just on the horizon.