Elizabeth Spa and Massage

Master stylist, educator, and platform artist Nina Grossman traveled the country before settling in Texas. Over the course of 16 years, she honed her skills from Alaska to New York, landing in Austin in 2007 to open Luxe A Boutique Salon. Throughout her career, Grossman has mentored up-and-coming beauty pros on the art of hair design as well as the importance of listening to clients' needs and reinterpretations of show-tune classics. She's gathered a team of master stylists and color specialists, makeup artists, and aestheticians to perform services that range from haircuts and highlights to peels and threading.

Her salon's exposed-brick walls and leather chairs lend it sophistication, and damask-like patterns juxtaposed with animal prints nod to both vintage and contemporary sensibilities. In a private, chocolate-toned skincare room, associates perform fragrant facials with Éminence Organic Skin Care products, soothing complexions in the way the floral artwork soothes the mind. Afterward, women can shop for apparel and accessories in the boutique area or head to the outdoor patio to relax before reemerging into the world.

Ornate, Victorian-style chairs and couches perch on rich hardwood floors in Temple of Beauty Salon & Spa’s waiting area, where customers relax as they prepare for hair, skin, and nail services. Inside the salon, tall mirrors flank hairstyling stations, and pedicure chairs cradle clients as their toes soften into delicious prunes. A staff of certified beauticians join owner Magda, also known as Maggie, who has more than 30 years of experience as a nail, threading, and waxing specialist, and stylist Sam, who has coiffed hair for more than 40 years. Temple of Beauty outfits customers with professional products from Morrocanoil, Matrix, Aveda, and Biosilk.

Dr. Wei Hai Li and his licensed aestheticians infuse holistic Chinese medicine into Spring Thyme Day Spa's skin-pampering and holistic-health therapies. Descended from a long line of acupuncturists, Dr. Li formalized family knowledge at Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine through degrees in acupuncture and herbal medicine. The doctor pours his near half-century of expertise into whipping up unique, herbal tonics for each recipient of his custom facial, and has developed a specialty in easing painful fibromyalgia and overcoming reproductive problems with acupuncture and condensation collected from Barry White LPs. The team of licensed massage therapists reaches beyond Swedish and deep-tissue bodywork with 15 modalities, including thai yoga, prenatal, and anma, an ancient Chinese technique that gave rise to Japanese shiatsu.