Beauty & Spas in Rotterdam

Riddled with mud, obstacles, and more mud, Tawasentha Mud Mania challenges racers to conquer a 4–5K course sprawled across Tawasentha Park and its surrounding territory. Along the route, muck-masked waves of participants run, climb, and crawl past a series of at least 13 obstacles, including a refreshing trudge through Normanskill Creek. Course marshals stationed throughout the course help keep feet pointed toward the finish line, where official timing distributes results to those who opt against strapping a lucky grandfather clock to their back. Afterward, a fire hose will be available to blast away layers of mud and reveal new layers of confidence, which can be showcased at a celebration complete with beach volleyball, music, and refreshments.

Fountain Laser's skilled professionals help visitors achieve stubble-less skin by zapping hair follicles during laser hair-removal treatments. An efficient and precise computer scanner moves the two-headed laser across targeted zones, incinerating unwanted hairs and alien spies disguised as unwanted hairs while simultaneously diminishing discomfort with a sapphire contact-chill plate. An in-office or over-the-phone consultation before treatment allows the staff to answer any client questions about the procedure, as well as tailor each treatment to individual needs.

The stylists at Reflections Salon tame tresses and dote upon digits, leaving a pampered parade of newly styled clients in their wake. Men's manes are tastefully trimmed, producing hairdos dapper and robust enough to suffice for a firm handshake. A warmly lit, inviting wood interior and cream-colored chairs snuggle guests into friendly comfort as they choose their follicles’ next form, be it long layers, a sassy bob, or a mohawk in honor of indigenous punk bands. Highlights further transform just-dyed and snipped hair so visitors can step out of the salon with a new and bold look. Those who indulge in the mani-pedi can count on a set of 20 expertly prettified fingers and toes, shaped and polished to perfection by nail gurus.

Believed to be the oldest continuously working barbershop in the Northeast, Wedgeway was established in 1912 to give hirsute gents a good cleaning-up. The shop still boasts many of its original accouterments, such as a working cash register, porcelain pedestal sinks, mirrors, bottles, and a beckoning storefront barber pole. Under the leadership of owner Richard DiCristofaro, part of the staff for nearly 50 years, well-trained coif croppers expertly carry out everything from the latest men's hairstyles to time-honored services such as straight-razor shaves with steamy hot towels, as well as facial and shoulder massages. Wedgeway always welcomes clients on a walk-in basis, in keeping with drop-in tonsorial tradition.

With an arsenal of traditional beds and sunless-tanning technology from Norvell, the solar skin soothers at Tropics Tanning Salon help build buttery brown skin tones. Choose from one of five different tanning-bed models, such as the Platinum X7 tanning bed ($33 for a three-session pack), featuring facial lamps, CountorPlus surfaces, and an mp3 hookup with surround sound to motivate your skin cells’ sizzling workout. Sun-stain seekers can also take advantage of the Norvell sunless-tanning-spray system ($25 for a single session), providing coppery skin coverage without the risk of UV rays and sandworms.

At Symetry Hair Design Studio, clients sip complimentary tea and coffee while surfing free WiFi to find examples of the cut they want. “I wanted the salon to be relaxing and inviting, and I think we’ve achieved that,” says owner Marilyn, whose 30 years of industry experience informs her leadership of the studio’s three other stylists, a trio that adds another 35 years of collective experience to the studio.During services, these stylists snip locks into classic styles or dabble in avant-garde ‘dos, employing Goldwell hair color to add blond highlights or tint hair the shade of lime that aliens interpret to mean “do not incinerate.” The studio’s aestheticians also wax away unwanted fuzz, and they brighten nails with OPI polish before formal arm-wrestling contests with the queen.