Cathedral City, CA Spa and Massage

The laid-back, fun-loving mentality of SoCal surf culture pervades Spa Samudra & Hair Lounge. Kids and pets walk freely throughout the premises as shoppers peruse the organic skincare line, made from wholesome, all-natural ingredients. Spa Samudra, however, seamlessly balances this surfer charm with the staples of a traditional day spa. Its organic skincare products, for example, are used in classic facials, which include steam cleans, exfoliation, and optional extractions. The aesthetic team also brightens faces with peels and soothes feet with detox footbaths. In addition, the 11 hairstylists at the up-and-coming hair salon pamper strands with an array of haircuts, color, and smoothing Brazilian Blowouts.

After a family trip to Hawaii inspired Spa Escape’s signature Marine Mud detoxifying mask, the spa’s owners worked to build a menu of services that similarly combined relaxation with a results-driven approach. Their trained staff of therapists and aestheticians helped a great deal in this mission, calling upon years of experience to develop a range of treatments to beautify and relax the body. Though the Marine Mud mask still serves as an ever-popular anchor, the spa’s menu now encompasses exfoliating facials, waxing treatments, and massage therapy. Should stresses prove insusceptible to the therapists’ targeted strokes and whispered rumors that your shoulders are haunted, the spa’s packages grant up to a half-day of relaxation with multiple treatments.

Amore Day Spa’s owner Kelly Kim spent years honing her craft by working as a licensed aesthetician and product specialist before opening her own day spa in 2011. Born and raised in South Korea, she spent the first eight years of her career traveling between her home country and Seattle, making her particularly well-suited to address the needs of other busy women who often forget to make time for themselves. Together with her staff, Kelly doles out relaxation in the form of everything from tailored hot-stone massages to whole-body steam treatments that leave skin feeling soft and polished with help from salt or sugar scrubs. She can also cut down morning makeup routines with permanent eyeliner or employ full-body waxing services to trim seconds off long commutes by playground slide.

The licensed massage therapists and aestheticians at My Day Tan & Spa beckon bodies into a soothing oasis, where wall lamps line dark apricot walls and lead to private, dimly lit spa rooms. Deep-tissue kneads and fluid Swedish strokes dissipate stress caused from unresolved tickle fights, and aestheticians tackle surface problems with facials targeted to treat acne or aging. Four levels of tanning beds compete with Mystic spray-tan booths to give skin a sun-smacked glow. After their spa treatment, clients can peruse the spa’s boutique of purses, clothing, and lotions.

The tight-knit posse of stylists and aestheticians at Hi-Lites Aveda Salon spike every service with an extra dose of relaxation. Aveda's Pure Plant Essental Aromas send all-natural smells wafting through the air as clients weigh which complimentary spa extra will best suit their styling or waxing session: hand or neck massage, steam-towel treatment, or five-minute makeup application? Candlelight flickers in the secluded Hair Spa, where each snipping starts with a neck massage and a spell in a full-body massage chair that loosens up tense muscles and over-tight neck bolts.

Certified as Master Trainers by the State of California, the salon's owners mold their protégées in-house to ensure a shared camaraderie and uniform standard of quality. Hi-Lites' professional ethic includes eschewing tips and bribes to surreptitiously chop a political opponent's locks, with the team favoring higher wages and the simple rewards of satisfied customers.

Kristi Harris, a licensed aesthetician and permanent cosmetic technician, developed a passion for combating skin issues after an aesthetician alleviated Kristi’s own skin problems as a teenager. Inside Advanced Skin Care and Permanent Cosmetics, she tends to faces using Image Skincare products and buffs away retired skin cells with a microdermabrasion wand or extra-fine sandpaper. She also applies permanent brows, eyeliner, and lips for a more refreshed visage 24 hours a day.