Beauty & Spas in Cedar Rapids

At Leh Massage Therapy, nationally licensed massage therapist Reginald Harrelson employs a distinctive fusion of Swedish and shiatsu techniques to relax tensed bodies amid lavender walls and potted palms. Harrelson uses smooth, gliding strokes to ease muscle tension and promote relaxation, easing overworked muscles and melting tension into a conveniently positioned bucket. For everyday aches and ongoing care, his therapeutic strokes can assist clients facing issues such as anxiety, depression, and relaxation deprivation.

Willow Day Spa owner Brooke Hodge has every corner of beauty covered. She is not only a licensed massage therapist and aesthetician but also a NovaLash eyelash extensionist and is trained in oncology spa treatments. Since opening the doors to Willow Day Spa, Brooke and her team of beauticians have relied on all-natural product lines, Tecniche and Pevonia, to gently yet effectively keep complexions looking young. The spa's aestheticians call upon seven different facial treatments, including LED light therapy and microdermabrasion, and remove unwanted hairs with antibacterial Nufree wax, which doesn’t irritate the skin by leaving behind a residue or its pager number. Cellulite and dehydration are banished with the help of mango-passion yogurt and green coffee-infused body treatments, and the menu's organic airbrush spray tan is designed to last for up to one week.

Brooke is able to help cancer patients and survivors maintain their appearance with oncology spa treatments that include reflexology and a facial. Her treatments combine the Morag Currin Method of Oncology Esthetics with fragrance-free Tecniche products. The beauty haven also outfits clients with a wide range of Raquel Welch and Eva Gabor wigs during private, complimentary consultations.

Using products from Redken, Pureology, and Surface, independent cosmetologists Brooke Engler and Lindsey Huelsenbeck revamp locks with a collection of services inside Studio 5 Salon. From full and partial highlights to trendy ombre or all-over color, the stylists add dimension and shine to each strand. Texturizing services provide permanent waves or smooth tresses that won't puff up at the first sign of moisture or a low-flying tiger shark, and special occasion updos ensure photo ops won't be ruined by limp or lifeless coifs. To complete head-to-toe transformations, the salon also provides facials and nail treatments, as well as waxing services for the face and body.

What do a mainframe programmer and a massage therapist have in common? Both break down complex puzzles into their elemental parts and work toward solutions methodically. But for Bruce Morgan of Bodyworks By Bruce, a former engineer, no matter how long he worked with a particularly confounding programming problem and no matter how technically rewarding the project was, the human element of building relationships was missing.

That difference is what drew him into massage therapy. Whereas programming works within defined parameters, Bruce never knows what sort of puzzle he's going to solve when presented with a client suffering from pain. Before sessions, he consults with all clients extensively to get to know them and their symptoms, and encourages them to give feedback during sessions so that he can customize his approach. Shoulder pain, for example, may be symptomatic of a person compensating for damage in the ankles, which is why Bruce routinely delivers full-body massages. His training specialized in myofascial release and cross-fiber friction, whose strokes alternate between going with and against the muscle grain, and he uses these techniques to target problem areas.

Each client enjoys warmth in the private treatment room, both from a table warmer and the sage green shade of the walls. A salt lamp lends the room a relaxing glow, and Bon Vital all-natural lotion keeps skin hydrated. To set the soundtrack for their session, clients can select from a range of light jazz, Native American music, or nature sounds, including a chorus of dolphins covering Barry White songs.

Licensed massage therapist Caitrin Rames, LMT, specializes in shiatsu bodywork, a form of massage that focuses on balancing the body's chi in order to treat internal ailments and imbalances. Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, shiatsu massage employs focused pressure along the body's meridians to heal backs strained from kneeling in rice paddies or from pole vaulting over the Great Wall. In addition to her flagship shiatsu technique, Caitrin also soothes muscles with cranial-sacral-release therapy and pregnancy massages for expectant mothers.

At Serendipity's Salon, a certified aesthetician pampers her clients with traditional spa services, including European facials with added arm and leg massages, deep chemical exfoliation, and waxing. The staff also specializes in eastern-influenced treatments, such as henna tattooing and threading services for eyebrows, faces, or stuffed animals tired of wearing the same old expression.