Elmhurst, IL Beauty and Salons

Master stylists and new talent alike work between the walls of Aqua Salon, a chic hair and makeup haven on the far north side. The professionals overhaul drab styles, drawing on bottles of Pureology, Redken, and MoroccanOil as they cut and color strands. Clients on a budget or intrigued by the word “new” might want to consider a session with one of Aqua Salon’s new talent members, when available; these professionals in the making offer haircuts, blowouts, and highlights at a discounted rate. After sitting still in the styling chair, guests can get up and head to the makeup station for a makeover sponsored by vitamin-enriched Glo Minerals cosmetics.

Inside Ultimate Exposure Tanning Centers' 34 Chicagoland locations, a full lineup of UV- and spray-tanning equipment infuse skin with a healthy summer glow year-round. Individual sessions in the automated spray-tanning booths—such as VersaSpa—or UV beds gild bodysuits for nights on the town, and unlimited monthly packages fashion a continuous golden hue previously only available to sunbathing satellites. The salon stocks a variety of tan-accelerating lotions from Swedish Beauty, Australian Gold, and Designer Skin, which deepen bronze hues and moisturize skin to fashion a long-lasting radiance.

At Sweet & Sassy, a candy-colored salon and spa that frequently hosts beauty parties, experienced pulchritude practitioners pamper toddlers to tweens with myriad services. Little women relax after long days crunching numbers at the lemonade stand amid walls awash in purples, pinks, limes, and oranges. An ear-piercing throne, an accessories boutique, and a celebration area complete with globe lights, a reflective disco ball, and a fashion runway make up Sweet & Sassy’s diva-friendly atmosphere.

Board-certified general and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Demetrios Katsaros—who trained at the Cleveland Clinic, the Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center—oversees a team of surgeons, cosmetologists, dieticians, and stylists at ShapeMedUSA. From among their myriad treatments, the mommy makeover restores women's prepregnancy physiques by combining a tummy tuck and liposuction with a breast lift or augmentation. The slate of less-invasive procedures, such as Botox injections and chemical peels, works to subtly enhance beauty and restore youthful hair-twirling habits.

From mending battle wounds to performing breast enhancement, Dr. Taek Kim has had a long and storied career. After graduating from medical school in Seoul, South Korea, the young Dr. Kim became a captain in the South Korean armed forces and flew the skies as a flight surgeon for Korean and American troops. He relocated to the United States, where he performed more than 8,000 surgeries and began specializing in cosmetic procedures. Today, as the founder and medical director of Renaissance Cosmetic Laser, Dr. Kim uses his years of experience to help both men and women enhance their appearance with services ranging from water-assisted liposuction to wrinkle-smoothing injections. Light technology also takes a polishing role in his service repertoire via laser spider-vein therapy, IPL photofacials, and procedures to install theater spotlights on a client's favorite features. When Dr. Kim isn't highlighting natural beauty, he channels his impressive resumé and renowned skills as a surgeon into mentoring young physicians as a faculty member of Hinsdale Hospital's residency program.

With its glossy black tiles and ornate furnishings, the interior of Total Image combines the relaxing atmosphere of a contemporary salon with classic baroque styling. This balance between old-fashioned and modern elegance finds a worthy counterpart in the salon’s UV-free tanning and cosmetic services, which aim to imbue skin with a timeless beauty. The staff of experienced beauticians approaches each 15-minute spray-tan application with an uncommon concern for detail, evenly covering the skin with a DHA-based solution derived from sugar and beets. Across the salon, a dedicated team of makeup artists summons pink lips, tinted lashes, and cherry-red tic-tac-toe boards on forearms.