Walk into the hospitable foyer of the PureForm Salon/Studio for the first time and you want to pause and give your head a shake.

There's a certain indefinable something about this charming space, so skillfully decorated in rich, warm colours. No doubt about it, this is a place with an atmosphere all its own.

Soon you'll be wondering whether you've been transported through the space/time continuum and plunked down in some super-sophisticated Manhattan salon.

And by the time you leave, you'll be so thoroughly pleased by the results, you'll be tempted to believe it.

Enjoy the warm, rich decor of PureForm, reminiscent of the best of Manhattan style.

Because the PureForm Salon/Studio represents a new direction in Canadian style, fashion and esthetics. It's something Calgary had never experienced prior to the 2005 opening of this marvellously modern one-stop shop at 326 11th Avenue S.W.

A salon that promises both to pamper and to please, PureForm's range of salon, esthetic and photographic services delivers a premium experience to a broad base of satisfied clients that is growing every day.

"We provide hair, makeup, esthetics and professional photography," explains Libertee Muzyka, a gifted and vastly experienced fashion/portrait photographer who shares ownership of PureForm with partners Angela Wiebe and Daniel Lara.

"As a team, we came to believe that our growing city was just about ready to embrace a new concept within the beauty industry, loosely based on the model of the ultra-glamorous salons that have sprung up across New York City."

Situated in the heart of Calgary's burgeoning designer district, PureForm Salon/Studio is nestled among the galleries and boutiques of one of Calgary's most exciting neighbourhoods, readily accessible for its downtown clientele.

To present a full and rounded picture of PureForm's complete suite of products and services, it might be best to start from the beginning. That would be the salon, home to a dozen qualified practitioners who are continually working to stay one step ahead of the trends.

Each is in charge of a spacious styling station, where clients enjoy the most accomplished cutting, colouring and chemical straightening treatments in the city. Among other key products are great lengths hair extensions, currently popular among the glitterati in Hollywood, London and New York.

"The great thing about our place is the educational component. Our stylists are creative individuals who routinely upgrade their skills. We run classes and invite specialists into the salon to teach so all our stylists can gain from the experience," Muzyka says.

At PureForm, premier, elite and master stylists have learned their craft in Europe, Asia, New York and Montreal. Not that every customer who walks through the door is looking for a complete makeover. Far from it. Quick clean-ups are also a specialty and PureForm customers are always welcome to drop in over lunch for a quick, but always professional, cut.

"We try to cater to everybody, from busy moms to the dynamic professional women who have become so prominent in the city," explains Muzyka. Naturally, males are welcome as well and the many men who have become regulars will testify that there's no better place for an attractive and pleasing cut.

Each service includes a full scalp massage to start you off, followed by a mini-facial, your hair service and, as a final flourish, a little touch-up for the ladies' make-up.

Esthetics is another house specialty. It's a simple matter for a busy customer to pop in over lunch and get a manicure and pedicure for maintenance purposes. You'll get it fast and it'll be done right.

Customers with a bit more time on their hands may wish to take their time and enjoy a leisurely treatment at the hands of the best pros in the business. PureForm esthetician Shanley Bonnett has been nominated for a Calgary White Hat award, testifying to both her technical and customer-service skills.

Which brings us back to Muzyka and her top-shelf photographic attributes, perfected during stints with some of Manhattan's best-known fashion magazines.

Many clients stop by for the complete package, getting their hair done and their makeup professionally applied, followed by a portrait, taken while they're looking their absolute best.

While corporate photos are a specialty, Muzyka also excels at family and infant portraiture.

For that special someone, intimate photographs are also an option.

To get the complete lowdown on PureForm, you might want to study www.pureformsalon.com. Better yet, place a call to 403.266.7335, book a time and experience all the pleasure first hand. PureForm Salon/Studio has made a commitment to satisfaction. And the pleasure's all yours.