Park Ridge, IL Spa and Massage

Modeled after traditional Korean spas, King Spa & Sauna houses nine distinct therapy rooms, each of which specializes in treating a different form of ailment or anxiety. The Charcoal Room lines its walls with antibacterial briquettes, which can alleviate conditions such as eczema and undercooked pork sausage. The domed sauna in the Fire Sudatorium encircles entrants in the room's dry-heat and oak-tree aromatherapy, whereas the low temperature of the Ice Room encourages blood flow to the chilled parts of the body. In the heated Base Rock Room, slabs of siraka stone deploy infrared rays into prostrate patrons, inciting increased circulation and lymphatic drainage during a process that, like most mixed-martial-arts careers, typically doesn't last longer than two 15-minute sessions.

Seva—named for the Sanskrit root-word that means 'to serve selflessly'—grew from a single, simple location opened in 2008 to what is now a beautifying powerhouse with shops populating nine states. Owner Vas Maniatis stumbled upon the concept of owning an eyebrow-centric salon during a trip he took with his sweetheart-turned-wife to Chicago's Little India district on Devon Avenue. While his date indulged in a quick eyebrow threading, Vas marveled at "what looked like hands and arms and a spool of thread dancing to some peculiar rhythm." He quickly set in motion a plan to set up shop and expose the ancient hair removal technique to those living outside the Indian community.

Today, a menu of services ranges from traditional eyebrow and facial threading, to instantly-drying no chip manicures that stay flawless for up to 14 days of incessant thumb war tournaments. Additionally, aestheticians at Seva de-fuzz a variety of physical locales with warm wax such as legs and arms, as well as detox faces with anti-aging, express, and acne facials.

Sunshine pours in through the lofty front window, illuminating hardwood floors, shelves of advanced haircare products, and warm walls speckled with photographs. Seasoned stylist whisk about the room, administering professional haircuts, mani-pedis, and facials. The expert specialists have spent the last 20 years perfecting their craft, mastering European techniques for both skin and hair care.

The beauty professionals at Indira Salon and Spa foster serenity with eco-conscious Aveda products. As stylists trim, dye, and texture hair, aestheticians revive skin with Aveda's signature plant-based facials. The staff infuses each of their services with extra touches of luxury, such as soothing noses stressed by bickering eyebrows with aromatherapy during elemental massages and offering complimentary makeup touchups after waxing. Nail technicians lavish hands and feet with masques, steam towels, and massages during even their most basic manicures and pedicures, some of which also include foot reflexology or balms made from ginger, mango, cocoa, and lime.

The licensed massage therapists at Massage Advantage dote on visitors with a slew of custom massage techniques, including Swedish, prenatal, and deep tissue. Armed with warm blankets and a credo to respect patients' privacy, therapists begin each 30- or 60-minute session with a discussion on clients' specific aches and ailments. Therapists can also haul their equipment to office buildings for workplace chair massages that help reinvigorate fatigued employees or stressed-out water coolers during 5- to 15-minute stints. Each succession of kneads is designed to alleviate stress, muscles soreness, and various medical conditions, such as high blood pressure.

The licensed massage therapists at Massage Advantage dote on visitors with a slew of custom massage techniques, including Swedish, prenatal, and deep tissue. Armed with warm blankets and a credo to respect patients' privacy, therapists begin each 30- or 60-minute session with a discussion on clients' specific aches and ailments. Therapists can also haul their equipment to office buildings for workplace chair massages that help reinvigorate fatigued employees or stressed-out water coolers during 5–15 minute stints. Each succession of kneads is designed to alleviate stress, muscles soreness, and various medical conditions, such as high blood pressure.