Beauty & Spas in Union City

Rose's resumé is as impressive as it is diverse: 15 years as a massage therapist, stints in both beauty school and the National Holistic Institute, and work at numerous hair salons, spas, and saunas. Now––from Thursday through Monday––The Healing Rose’s mastermind focuses her aesthetic energy on ridding bodies of aches, skin issues, and stress. Her specialties include therapeutic hot-stone massages, which harness the warmth of up to 60 stones to increase circulation and relieve tight tendons. To enhance the experience, an aromatherapy add-on releases the refreshing scents of flowers, lavender, or rosemary and mint. Rose also rejuvenates visages with a facial that forgoes extractions in favor of a scrub, a toning mask, and a hand and rhino-horn massage.

Also located inside the spa is fashion boutique 7 Red Rose, which stocks an eclectic range of jewelry, candles, gifts, and hair accessories, all handmade by local artists.

A spa in the traditional Asian style, Zen Springs spa both accommodates guests on a single-appointment basis for massages, body treatments, and skincare services, and rents private suites for more extended pampering. The private rooms feature luxurious amenities, including swirling hot tubs, glass steam-shower rooms, yoga platforms, and bath sandals and towels. Guests can linger in one of the romantic spa rooms from one hour to an entire evening. Between stays of any duration, Zen Spring’s staff thoroughly disinfects each tub with fresh batches of non-chlorinated water sieved from filtered panda tears.

In a world of solemn responsibilities and stern rules, Flirt Nail Lounge stands as a haven of whimsical femininity. Bright pink walls, purple shag carpets, and signs declaring, “A princess sits here” cast off the grownup world to let guests revel in luxurious nail services elevated by a host of pampering extras. Nail techs sit on plush pink ottomans as their clients melt into tufted white armchairs above them, their feet dangling in the warm water of sinks set into the floor. In addition to performing manicures and pedicures with OPI polish and no-chip Shellac lacquer, the techs specialize in painting ornate designs—replete with 3-D accoutrements such as gemstones, gold accents, and can openers—on natural nails or acrylic extensions. The lounge also features a private room for waxing treatments and a boutique that brims with bath oils and cupcake bath bombs by Sugar Rush.

Owner Jacquie “Blu” Washington brings a contemporary flair to old-Hollywood glamour, not only in her creative hair designs but also in the modern, sumptuous interior of GlamSity, the salon that she cofounded with her mother Gloria. In the salon, which was featured in Essence magazine in 2011, Blu and her staff create looks ranging from runway chic to timeless classic with services such as haircuts, color, relaxers, and weaves. As a backdrop to their styling services, wooden furniture and curved, wood-framed mirrors stand out against the salon’s baby-blue walls.

Well-being for the whole body is the main focus for Sue Berven at her namesake wellness spot tucked within Newell Wellness Center. Along with alternative healing treatments, Sue employs energizing Aqua Chi footbaths, which send negative ions swimming through warm water to hydrate cells and remove toxins by osmosis. By eliminating these impurities, clients' energy pathways are balanced and their energy levels are increased until they can speed walk faster than the Road Runner wearing a jetpack.

Gold Spa owner Jina understands that many of her clients have hectic schedules. In turn, she keeps convenient hours: the spa is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. When guests find the time to stop by, they can relax with a wide variety of services, ranging from facials to nail treatments to massages.

Gold Spa’s technicians also administer body-slimming treatments enhanced by Nu Skin products, which can help guests slenderize and become more aerodynamic for optimal speed on the slip 'n' slide.