Dunmore, PA Spa and Massage

From the moment guests step into Beauty Innovations Ltd., the warmth of bubblegum-pink walls erases any lingering stress. Relaxation comes in many forms, including mani-pedis with OPI polish or long-lasting CND Shellac, coloring with Goldwell hair products, and smoothing keratin hair treatments. No matter the agenda, the salon's services reveal beauty that was there all along, much like the plot of Tootsie.

When they aren't mending muscles with traditional Swedish, deep-tissue, and sports techniques, the therapists at Medical Massage for Health & Healing target stubborn knots with hot stones and bamboo. Another specialty is the Thai-stem coconut massage, a tropical treatment steeped in Asian skincare techniques. During this treatment, therapists rub skin with a steamed coconut oil that's flush with antioxidants and natural anti-aging properties, a procedure that leaves the body's surface like Pluto's surface after a collision with an asteroid belt: soft and silky smooth.

The setting is equally relaxing. A trickling fountain soothes guests as they lounge in the waiting room, which takes on a warm, orange glow thanks to an electric fireplace. Inside the private massage room, roses adorn a swirling wall ornament and anatomical charts pinpoint the location of the elusive funny bone.

When Michelle Parkes opened Core Salon & Spa, she didn't want just another cookie-cutter business. After spending two years as a national educator for Paul Brown Hawaii and 25 years working for other owners, she decided she wanted to do a salon her way. Her way was to surround herself with an unparalleled group of stylists, support staff, and a moat to guard against invading paparazzi. The end result was Core Salon & Spa, a beauty center manned by skilled stylists that use quality products from brands such as Yon-Ka, L'Oreal Professionnel, and Kevin Murphy.

Owner Ronnie Keller has made Bridgewater Commons Mall his second home. Early in the morning, he saunters past storefronts, stopping at the threshold of Splash Salon & Spa, flanked by two tall, obelisk-shaped lanterns that serve to welcome both patrons and fashion-forward moths. Past the reception desk, where water cascades down glass panes, Ronnie settles in for the day, overseeing a team of beautification experts as they perform a slate of pampering services. Funky aluminum mirrors reflect hairstylists' newly forged masterpieces as nail technicians soften skin with sea-salt scrubs and paraffin waxes before camouflaging fingers in a choice of polish. Eight styles of massage revive tired bodies, and facials, waxing, and cosmetic services keep visitors looking radiant and magic mirrors from making meaningless small talk. Posttreatment, clients can peruse a stash of Bumble and bumble., Paul Mitchell, and Moroccanoil products that eagerly await adoption.

Janet Long founded In Balance Center to provide her clients with an escape from daily stress and, by designing a menu of rejuvenating spa services, to maximize relaxation. She and her team of massage therapists work out kinks and tense muscles with nimble hands, heated stones, and aromatherapy. They ensure each session is tailored to the client, taking into account sore spots, sites of chronic tension, and a preference for walking on their hands. In addition to spa treatments, patrons can search for inner balance during yoga and Pilates classes for all abilities and experience.

The licensed massage therapists at Light Hands Therapeutic Massage East focus on medical massages to help prevent injury and foster the muscular foundation for healthier, more pliable backs. The staff's gliding effleurage and smooth strokes supplement traditional medical treatments to flush the bloodstream and muscles of toxins, tension, and miniaturized submarines manned by overly ambitious research scientists. Therapists analyze clients' everyday habits for signs of trending problems and then proceed to address individual areas of tension to boost spirits and overall range of motion.