Beauty & Spas in North Adams

A wildly successful alternative to traditional day spas—its more than 300 locations blanket 36 states and half a dozen countries—Planet Beach is a futuristic relaxation station where state-of-the-art machines administer all the spa and tanning services. These friendly automatons sometimes replace familiar treatments, as in the Luminous facial, a light-based service that delivers blemish-busting results similar to those of a conventional facial. But other equipment maps out new spa territory entirely: the Hydro-Derma Fusion chamber moisturizes the whole body with nutrient-rich steam in order to offset the effects of a dry climate or a rear-end collision with a salt truck. Other machines whiten teeth, spray-tan skin, and massage muscles.

Planet Beach operates on a gym-style membership system, meaning that members purchase packages or pay flat monthly rates. As members spend more time at the spa, they get to know the helpful assistants who are always on hand to demonstrate how to use the equipment without activating its ability to cry.

A wildly successful alternative to traditional day spas—its more than 300 locations blanket 36 states and half a dozen countries—Planet Beach is a futuristic relaxation station where state-of-the-art machines administer all the spa and tanning services. These friendly automatons sometimes replace familiar treatments, as in the Luminous facial, a light-based service that delivers blemish-busting results similar to those of a conventional facial. But other equipment maps out new spa territory entirely: the Hydro-Derma Fusion chamber moisturizes the whole body with nutrient-rich steam in order to offset the effects of a dry climate or a rear-end collision with a salt truck. Other machines whiten teeth, spray-tan skin, and massage muscles.

Planet Beach operates on a gym-style membership system, meaning that members purchase packages or pay flat monthly rates. As members spend more time at the spa, they get to know the helpful assistants who are always on hand to demonstrate how to use the equipment without activating its ability to cry.

Within Sixsixty Salon, trained massage therapist Kimberly Joy Carey aims to relax clients and encourage holistic wellbeing with massage therapy. To do this, she customizes each session using Swedish techniques, stones cooled or heated in water, and trigger-point modalities. Each technique is designed to increase blood circulation, ease tension, and soothe achy muscles after sleepwalking into a staircase warehouse. Kimberly is also trained in the advanced technique of raindrop therapy, which brings harmony to the body by incorporating essential oil aromatherapy with a combination of Swedish massage and traditional Tibetan and Native American techniques.

La Dermique Skin Rejuvenation & Body Contouring Center’s board-certified surgeons, registered nurses, and master aestheticians keep their fingers on the pulse of emerging technologies they can potentially use in their minimally invasive treatments. Simple aesthetic procedures, such as microdermabrasion and photofacials, rejuvenate dull, aging skin, whereas Botox and dermal fillers temporarily remedy wrinkles for a smooth, supple complexion. Ultherapy, one of the center's newer treatments, sends sound waves below the skin’s surface to gently heat tissues and simulate the effects of a face-lift, all without incisions or cheek suspenders. La Dermique’s technicians also wield lasers, including Smartlipo Triplex technology, to permanently destroy fat and remove unwanted body hair and tattoos.

Caramel wood tones swirl throughout Body & Sol Tanning's studio, modeling the hues customers adopt during UV bed sessions and UV-free airbrush appointments. With three levels of solar-simulation chambers, tanners spend between 2–15 minutes absorbing healthy amounts of light from fresh bulbs. Specialized facial lamps ensure that features receive an even coat, and lotions by Synergy Tan and JWoww help to stimulate bronzing while basting bodies with additional moisture. Body & Sol Tanning also offers professional airbrushing appointments, during which a trained professional applies an even mist to eliminate pale complexions and regrets of napping outside underneath a hammock.

Born and raised on a farm in Hadley, massage therapist Heather Barstow uses the same hands that once worked the fields to plow away clumps of tension, pain, and anxiety with massages in various modalities. Skilled in Swedish, deep-tissue, and prenatal techniques, Heather tailors each session to her clients’ individual health issues; simply tell her what ails you during a pre-massage consultation, and she will make sure to focus her attention on areas with the highest concentration of tension or “Kick Me” signs.