Polished Day Spa, Houston

At Polished Day Spa, you are what you eat—or more specifically, your nails match what you drink. The staff's signature mani-pedis include a beverage that decides the treatment's theme. Polished manicures, for example, soften hands with a spirit-infused soak as you sip on a cocktail, whereas Shiny manicures derive their motif from choices such as oolong tea or orange juice. For an even more personal pampering, clients can reserve the private pedicure suite, thereby ensuring that small, sensitive documents stay hidden between their toes. They can also enlist the resident certified master pedicurist for a tailored treatment, including options for diabetic and geriatric clients.

The extensive mani-pedi menu is just one example of the spa's emphasis on sophisticated customization—similar choices abound for its waxing, skincare, and eyelash-extension services. Licensed aestheticians use either hard or soft wax for deft and gentle hair removal, allowing their steady clients to pick from several bikini-waxing styles. Facials are equally customizable to specific dermal conditions; the Get Even facial helps brighten and smooth the skin's texture with vitamin C, and a pomegranate exfoliating peel can fade surface damage with fruit antioxidants. Meanwhile, massage therapists alleviate aches with calming Swedish, deep-tissue, and hot-stone modalities.

The spa's setting mirrors the elegant simplicity of its services: a huge, wall-size mirror in a baroque frame presides over the reception space, and crisp white vessel sinks rest beneath cozy armchairs for pedicures.