Boca Raton, FL Spa and Massage

In addition to helping clients to unwind with massages facials, and synergy sauna sessions, the de-stress specialists at Shiraz Spa offer comfort to patients in the post-op stages of cosmetic surgery with a catalog of healing treatments. They also burnish bodies with permanent hair-removal sessions performed with state-of-the-art electrolysis and intense pulsed light (IPL) equipment.

When you think of a spa, it’s likely that you think of a tranquil refuge women escape to for hours of pampering. Why Not Men’s Spa is on a mission to towel whip that stereotype into submission with an indulgent spa menu for nature’s Y-chromosome carriers.

The men’s spa’s staff still hopes to pamper its clients just as much as a traditional spa, though. Heated treatment rooms envelop bodies in a warm hug as soothing music gently plays in the background and candlelight softly lights a cozy padded table. Here, a skilled aesthetician deeply cleanses pores or paints faces in 24-karat gold to improve skin’s luminosity or C-3PO impressions. During massages, therapists draw on firm tui na pressure and reflexology techniques to ease chronic pain. Specialty ear-candling treatments are also available, as are waxing treatments and mani-pedis.

In the late 1920s, the Great Depression was rendering most Americans professionally and financially paralyzed. But in a small California kitchen, Merle Norman was putting a plan in motion to formulate her own skincare products and share them with family and friends. She truly believed in her formulas, knowing that by getting them on as many faces as possible, she would develop a following of customers. She was right—within a few years she and her nephew were opening their first studio in Santa Monica, and they eventually unveiled a series of independently operated stores that enabled women to take ownership during a time of gender-based limitations such as men-only restrooms.

Today, in approximately 2,000 stores across three countries, the three basic principles of Merle's original vision still apply. Each studio is independently owned and fosters an in-depth knowledge of the company's own line of makeup and skincare products. Just as Merle shared her creations with close friends and sallow mannequins more than 80 years ago, today's aestheticians embody the business's "try before you buy" philosophy. A menu of complimentary studio services—from foundation checks to express facials—allows patrons to sample the lauded brand before committing to the purchase of products or full spa treatments.

Daring floral prints, leopard spots, and stripes pattern the upholstery in the waiting room at Merle Norman Luxe Spa & Salon. The eclectic decor flows throughout the salon, hinting at its broad range of hair and body treatments. The salon's hair designers cut and color men's and women's locks, as well as match heads to designer wigs in a private room. At manicure stations, nail techs coat fingertips in lacquers squeezed from the color wheel by scientists at OPI. In the spa area, skin specialists treat clients with the exclusive Merle Norman Cosmetics line on a try-before-you-buy basis. The line's cosmetics are manufactured in the United States and are guaranteed to be not tested on animals.

In the late 1920s, the Great Depression was rendering most Americans professionally and financially paralyzed. But in a small California kitchen, Merle Nethercutt Norman was putting a plan in motion to formulate her own skincare products and share them with family and friends. She truly believed in her formulas, knowing that by getting them on as many faces as possible, she would develop a following of customers. She was right—within a few years she and her nephew were opening their first studio in Santa Monica, and they eventually unveiled a series of independently operated stores that enabled women to take ownership during a time of gender-based limitations such as men-only restrooms.

Today, in approximately 2,000 stores across three countries, the three basic principles of Merle's original vision still apply. Each studio is independently owned and fosters an in-depth knowledge of the company's own line of makeup and skincare products. Just as Merle shared her creations with close friends and sallow mannequins more than 80 years ago, today's aestheticians embody the business's "try before you buy" philosophy. A menu of complimentary studio services—from foundation checks to express facials—allows patrons to sample the lauded brand before committing to the purchase of products or full spa treatments.

With a beauty line more than 80 years in the making, the skin specialists at Merle Norman Cosmetics and More amplify nails, faces, and entire bodies through their trained techniques and educational tips. To help cosmetics customers to select the most flattering products for their coloring and skin type, the staff promotes a try-before-you-buy policy, along with lavishing clients with skin analyses, hydrating facials, and makeup lessons at no charge. A slate of specialty facials, manicures, and waxing services further prepare physiques for nights on the town or mornings as a mannequin stand-in. The salon also hosts girls’ nights, which let bands of three or more bask in complimentary paraffin treatments, mini facials, and makeovers while taking advantage of exclusive product discounts.