Tampa Beauty and Salons

A wildly successful alternative to traditional day spas—its more than 300 locations blanket 36 states and half a dozen countries—Planet Beach Contempo Spa 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.

Helmed by Dr. Eddie A. Ariss, Fresh Vitality's team of med-spa specialists coddles clients with a diverse slate of image-enhancing services. With a background in anti-aging, bariatric, and aesthetic medicine, Dr. Ariss individually assesses each client before advising a treatment plan and personal theme song. Ariss and his practitioners then tend to silhouettes with procedures ranging from medical weight loss and hormone therapy to massage.

Helena Sheeley has been beautifying clients for more than 16 years, developing a special passion for manicures and pedicures. Her signature cookie-dough pedicures treat feet to a sweet rubdown that includes a soak in a milk bath and a snack of milk and cookies. Clients emerge from appointments with stunning pink-and-white acrylics, bold designs, or basic but beautiful nails. Helena coats nails in OPI polish or Shellac gel shades, which last up to 14 days without chipping due to daily activities or temp jobs at the Scratch-'n'-Sniff factory.

SolarTan bronzes physiques with spray tanning, UV tanning, or tan cocktails that combine the two. Custom spray tans mist patrons in formulae from Mystic HD and Infinity Sun, and UV beds—crafted by Italian brand Sportarredo—brown skin more evenly than sunbathing or sticking your arm into a paper bag. Clients seeking to intensify their glows can shop shelves for tanning lotions, crafted by brands such as Australian Gold, Caribbean Gold, and Swedish Beauty.

Strawberry margarita, key lime pie, and morning coffee—at In'Dulgence Nail Spa, the nail technicians serve these sweet treats to feet in a soothing array of spa pedicures. They also tend to hands with acrylics, gel fills, and CND products, including shellac polish, which stays chip-free for up to two weeks. Many of the manicures and pedicures harness the restorative powers of essential oils, and technicians can add-on extras including exfoliating scrubs and paraffin treatments. Though they're mostly focused on hands and feet, the staff also waxes away unwanted hair from faces, bodies, and overgrown bear-skin rugs.