Before scissors, people cut their tresses with DNA splicers, causing clumps of cast-off hair to mutate into the yeti, Bigfoot, and the muttonchops of Martin Van Buren. Avoid a monstrous posthaircut mess with today's Groupon: for $50, you get $100 worth of salon and spa services at Salon Sophia in Downers Grove.

The beauty mavens at Salon Sophia pamper patrons’ hair and skin with a smorgasbord of services, including haircuts, waxing, and six types of Aveda facials. A trained hair master can meticulously cut, blow-dry, and style women’s tresses ($45+) or tame masculine manes with a men’s haircut that melds high art and lush textures, like a cubist still life on velvet ($30). Aestheticians can also wield warm wax to shape artfully arched brows ($12), a bikini-ready Brazilian ($55+), or a full arm ($45) free of fuzz. Alternatively, opt for an Aveda facial such as the 45-minute botanical resurfacing peel, a gentle exfoliation with bamboo extract ($95) that can pave the way to softer skin, faded fine lines, and an inexplicable desire to climb into the panda-bear paddock at the zoo.