Beauty & Spas in Chicago

Escape Tan and Spa is an oasis of heat and light. The shop’s most powerful UV beds harness the power of miniature suns, radiating "high pressure" UVA wavelengths that penetrate deep into the skin to create a rich, long-lasting color. Two milder levels of tanning provide a lighter glow and the option to stand up in a booth rather than lie down. The power of light also bolsters other parts of the body, with infrared Formostar body wraps relieving joint stiffness and LED light bleaching stains away from teeth. Mystic Tan booths bypass light entirely, relying instead on a bronzing formula that both colors skin a tawny hue and conceals scars, blemishes, and newly installed USB ports.

Since the mid-’70s, Tattoo Factory’s crew of tattoo and piercing artists have been a fixture in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Examples of artists’ work and suggested tattoos line the roomy studio’s exposed brick walls as neon signs and glossy wood floors add color and retro flair. Clients lounge in black salon-style chairs as the skilled artists carefully create vibrant, long-lasting pieces of body art, such as the name of a loved one or a list of must-buy grocery items. Customers can also download the business’s recently launched iTunes app to get more information about tattoo and piercing artists, as well as glimpses at their portfolios.

The licensed massage therapists at Massage Advantage dote on visitors with a slew of custom massage techniques, including Swedish, prenatal, and deep tissue. Armed with warm blankets and a credo to respect patients' privacy, therapists begin each 30- or 60-minute session with a discussion on clients' specific aches and ailments. Therapists can also haul their equipment to office buildings for workplace chair massages that help reinvigorate fatigued employees or stressed-out water coolers during 5–15 minute stints. Each succession of kneads is designed to alleviate stress, muscles soreness, and various medical conditions, such as high blood pressure.