If Pilo Arts Day Spa and Salon's roots are showing, it doesn't mind -- the Bay Ridge beauty emporium is proud of its 34 years of history.

Since opening in the same expansive Third Avenue location back in 1978, Pilo has become a Brooklyn beauty institution, nationally recognized for its high standards and wide range of salon and spa services.  Since 2007, Pilo has been ranked among the top five salons out of 12 thousand in New York State.  It was also selected as one of the top 200 Brooklyn businesses by Community Newspaper Group.  And since 1999, Pilo has been a member of Intercoiffure, the elite international styling organization, and many of its up-dos have been published in styling magazines.  In that same year, Pilo was selected as one of Salon Today's top 200 salons in North Amercia.

As Pilo Arts' CEO Jude LaBarca explains, Pilo is easily the largest salon and spa in Brooklyn.  It has roughly 18 thousand clients, mainly from Brooklyn and Staten Island.  These thousands of clients are serviced by Pilo's 26 stylists and colorists, many of whom graduated from Pilo's in-house styling academy.  The facility is constantly being upgraded to offer its clients more comfort and services -- Pilo recently spent $15,000 to build a specially-ventilated room for the popular Brazillian Blowout hair straightening technique.

Coloring and styling remain Pilo's core business and founders Elena Solitario and Paul Pastore still lead Pilo's 26 person team.  The salon offers more than 16 coloring techniques, from more straight forward one-step coloring to newer treatments like the multi-layered Pintura.  Pilo's two tiers of stylists -- Creative and Master -- perform anything from affordable kids' cuts to luxurious Japanese Straightening.  The stylists are also available for wedding services --  the salon has a full bridal boutique, run by an in-house consultant.  Brides and their parties can come in for style tryouts, and can hire Pilo for their day-of hair and make-up.

While the styling options run towards the opulent, Pilo also offers a "recession special" on $15 blow-outs.  There's also a holiday gift offer running through De. 31: each $100 gift certificate comes with two complimentary blow-outs.

Customers of the downstairs spa can choose from a range of pampering packages that combine facials, mani-pedis, massage, honey and almond body scrubs, seaweed body wraps, and air-brush makeovers.  The a la carte options include nine kinds of facials, several massage techniques, waxing and electrolysis treatments.