Cavale Tonuzi’s staff of hair colorists
and stylists have developed a following over the course of their
18 years servicing Bay Ridgites at 78th Street and Third Avenue.
With Robert Cavale specializing in color and Violette Tonuzi
in styling, it seemed the duo had a winning combination.
Last year these two colleagues made the
bold decision to move into the space once occupied by the Kleinfeld’s
bridal shop at 8211 Third Ave. With partners Georgette Franzone
and Charbel Elias (who has been with Cavale Tonuzi since 1992),
they transformed the space with a sweeping 1950s modern aesthetic
awash in white from ceiling to floor.
The haircutting stations have streamlined
and stylized MG Bross furniture chosen by Cavale in Italy. Franzone
is particularly proud of the cafe and the soon-to-be on-duty
nutritionist and dermatologist.
Cavale emphasizes the accessibility of
their open hair color station – visible to the customer like
an open kitchen. He says the purpose is to make the client feel
more at ease with the color process, and feel more assured that
the colorist isn’t mixing mysterious potions in a back room.
(Cavale says they refer to their customers as "guests,"
and only "lawyers have clients.")
All of these innovations are reason enough
to experience Cavale Tonuzi, but what about that swirling staircase
reminiscent of the Guggenheim Museum? In February, those stairs
will lead you down to the opening of Cavale Tonuzi’s Tantra spa.
Its treatment rooms, which are a far cry from the chilling, clinical
environment of other spas, are wrought from rough-hewn, earth-toned
tiles.
As we step over cables and around workmen,
Franzone verbalizes the still missing pieces. The showers, she
explained, are designed to feel like a rain shower. At the far
end of the hall is a double-headed rainfall shower room for two
(with wet room capability if the guests opt to have their wrap
treatments in the room).
This room, with a working waterfall, has
been designed for the "Tantra Couple" treatment ($375
per couple), which includes champagne, an aroma wrap or hour-long
body massage, conditioning treatment, aromatherapy rain shower
(lit with dozens candles), and side-by-side manicure and pedicure.
The "journey" ends with a light meal served in the
tranquility room.
"It’s very, very different than anything
else in Brooklyn, or in the Metro area," says Franzone about
Tantra’s ancient Indian theme. "The philosophies are very
different. My partners and I have been to many spas in the city,
and we wanted an alternative to the typical salon spa."
The spa and the salon use Aveda products
(pronounced ah-vay-da, meaning "knowledge of nature"
in Sanskrit and derived from the Ayurvedic healing tradition
in India). The products’ ingredients are derived from plants
and flowers. Cavale Tonuzi features an Aveda Lifestyle store,
which carries the entire line of home and hair and body care
products.
The products I sampled – from the Tourmaline
Charged Hydrating Creme to the Purifying Gel Cleanser – were
all effective, kind to sensitive skin and subtly scented with
natural aromas. (According to the Aveda Web site, because the
aromas are made with plants, the products tend to be unisex.)
Tantra will also be offering facials, waxing,
manicures and pedicures, sunless tanning treatments, wraps, body
masks and more. The spa offers series discounts – an incentive
to keep the customer coming back, rather than having a facial
once a year.
As Franzone says, "If you feel good
and look good, who’s better than you?"
See Tantra in the Spa
Directory.
