Beauty & Spas in Council Bluffs

Tanning inevitably involves standing or lying still for an extended period of time. At 4 Seasons Tanning Salon, a licensed aesthetician and a team of expert body-bronzers take the boredom out of the tanning process with thoroughly engaging visits and modern technology. After individual consultations, staffers take guests on a tour of the premises, showing clients the many tanning machines and aftercare products that can help achieve their desired results. The salon’s UV beds each house a stereo system and input for iPods, so tanners can listen to their favorite music or sleep-inducing college lectures. The beds run the gamut from the eco-conscious Ultimate Envy 234 to the Velocity HP1000, whose open design allows for full-body coverage and cooling. For speedier sessions, the VersaSpa sunless-tanning booth sprays bodies with moisturizer and bronzing solution in approximately one-minute sessions.

Since she started doing hair more than two decades ago, Nichole Alner’s career has taken her places—such as Santa Barbara, where she trained as a color educator, and Paris, where she attended the L’Oréal Expo. Today, as the owner of Salon Aura, she’s curated an experienced staff to help her transform clients’ looks with hair, nail, and skin services, or help them relax with Swedish massages and seaweed body wraps in a private room. She’s stocked the styling stations with products from Kevin Murphy and Aquage, and during manicures and pedicures, nail technicians dip into bottles of OPI or CND Shellac polish. Vibrant artwork pops against the styling space’s blue and mocha walls, lit by modern track lighting in a lofted ceiling. Oversize, modern armchairs in the lobby give clients a comfy spot to wait or a space for impromptu rounds of musical chairs.

At his eponymous wellness clinic, Doctor of Chiropractic Earl Welbes encourages healthy weight loss and increased overall wellness through professionally administered medical therapies. Dr. Welbes’s treatments range from the high-tech to the holistic, targeting extra inches with everything from noninvasive LipoLasers to customized nutrition plans.

Founded in 2008 by two board-certified physicians, the team of medical professionals at Milan Laser Aesthetics beautifies bodies with the help of the same advanced cosmetic laser technology featured on The Doctors, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, and Nightline. In addition to hair-removal services powered by Candela lasers, the team also tackles other beautification projects. Their ReFirme laser skin tightening is a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment using elos technology to erase signs of aging, such as crows’ feet, under eye sagging, and smile lines. They also contour curves with the help of their Zerona device's cold laser system, which releases fat from fat cells without injuring surrounding tissue. The spa also offers Botox, Juvederm, and laser vein removal treatments.

Helmed by aesthetician-in-chief Jacklyn, JK Skincare & Spa refreshes exteriors with everything from glycolic peels and body waxes to Shellac manicures and permanent makeup. Under Jacklyn’s guidance, specialists restore epidermal sheen with facials and chemical peels, including diamond-peel microdermabrasion, which fights signs of aging such as wrinkles or mouths still frowning about Prohibition.

As soon as aching muscles come into play, the spa’s massage therapists take over, kneading bodies according to Swedish and deep-tissue modalities. When eye fringe needs spiffing up, the spa’s aestheticians break out Reese Robert lash extensions. JK Skincare & Spa also delves into the holistic realm with ear-candling treatments that draw out wax, dirt, and commercial jingles stuck in inner-ear canals.

Sarah Horwich doesn't think skincare should be a luxury. She thinks it's a necessity that should be accessible to the masses. At the same time, her customer-service-centered approach to aesthetics can make guests feel like royalty during their visits—like they're splashing around the queen's champagne hot tub. As a result, treatments such as her aromatherapy body wrap become equal parts beautification and relaxation. Sarah is also proficient in other services, including steamy facials and body waxing.