Beauty & Spas in West Des Moines

Technicians at the family-owned Soleil Tan Spa undergo rigorous training and education. They have to familiarize themselves with some of the most advanced, fastest acting tanning equipment in the industry, which has delivered more than 400,000 tans across the company's three locations.

The 1,000- and 600-watt high-pressure lamps of the German-made UWE P90 Level 5 bed, for example, begin to build deep color during speedy 12-minute sessions. The device's air-conditioning system and fans keep guests comfortable while aromatherapy and music streaming from the MP3-player port soothe the senses. The spa's high-tech spray-tanning options include Mystic Tan booths and Norvell airbrush tans, which can quickly prepare skin to attend a special event or enjoy a beach vacation.

Imagine Hair Studio owner Tamara possesses not one, but four certifications in salon services. The one from Great Lengths speaks to her ability as a hair-extension specialist, which explains why the studio can provide extensions of so many different kinds, from 100% human hair to flashy jewel colors to Swarovski-crystal strands. As a certified 3D Lashes eyelash-extension technician, Tamara also fortifies clients’ existing lashes with thick sets of faux strands. Like a moving script about a wisecracking meatball sub, her expertise attracts the attention of performers and models; Ke$ha, Felicia King, and Alexandria Dycus have entrusted their looks to Tamara.

With more than 13 years of snipping experience under her comb-filled belt, stylist Nicki Owens revamps tired looks with salon services ranging from cuts and highlights to facial waxing. She also reshapes the movements of hair itself, smoothing out frizz with relaxers or increasing functionality through perms. Nicki stays ready to adjust styles throughout the day, often scheduling appointments in the evening to accommodate work schedules or fear of the sun.

The aestheticians at Skin FX Spa believe the best way to achieve healthy, beautiful skin is to nourish it with healthy, natural ingredients. That's why all of their skincare treatments are built around the use of organic herbal products free of parabens, silicone, and formaldehyde. Manufactured in Iowa using solar energy and secret formulas whispered from the corn, the eco-friendly tonics are blended into skin-quenching facials, resurfacing peels, and exfoliating sugar scrubs. The spa can also usher in smoother skin by waxing or threading away unwanted hairs or with diamond microdermabrasion, which stimulates collagen and healthy tissue production to improve skin tone and elasticity.

It took Misty Hansen some time to discover her calling—she spent a number of years working various customer-service jobs—but in 2007 she discovered how to make the most of her innate abilities. During that year, she completed massage school, became a licensed massage therapist, and opened Massages By Misty, named the Best Day Spa, Best Massage Therapist, and Best Business in Norwalk by the Indianola Record Herald in 2012. Since day one, she's been happily busy treating an array of clients, some of them referred by chiropractors. As a survivor of multiple car accidents throughout her life, she knows massage therapy's effectiveness in relieving people of pain and helping them recover from stress and injury.

Massages By Misty's treatment room features a heated massage table draped with luxurious sheets where guests enjoy treatments ranging from ancient Asian ashiatsu massages to rejuvenating body wraps. Misty asks clients to fill out a questionnaire so she can customize each session to focus on problem regions and avoid jacket pockets full of loose change.

Since 2008, the deft employees at Perfect Brow Bars have been manicuring arches with ancient Asian threading techniques. Stationed in malls throughout the central U.S., they welcome guests to stores and kiosks where string and manual finesse, rather than wax or tweezers, uproot unwanted facial hair. The method twists thread along the strands to methodically pull them from follicles with minimal discomfort. This approach reduces the risk of redness and ingrown hairs while forcing former unibrows to become wistful pen pals. Staff members can clear brows, sideburns, chins, and other facial zones of bothersome fuzz for a neatly groomed look.