For the last 10 years, Naperville police dispatcher Emily Taylor has been getting her hair done at Mario Tricoci Hair Salon and Day Spa, 1504 N. Naperville Road. So it wasn’t a surprise to see her Wednesday afternoon for her regularly scheduled monthly appointment.

What made this mid-week afternoon different was that so many of Taylor’s colleagues in law enforcement showed up with her.

Hair stylist Jennifer “Adrianna” Gennaro works on Elmhurst police officer Andrea Rider. Gennaro was inspired donates one day of service to woman officers of area police and fire departments.

“Mario Tricoci Gives Back in Style” was the salon’s way of saying thank you to the people who keep area residents safe. Police officers and firefighters from throughout the western suburbs were invited to enjoy complimentary services and drinks, refreshments and prize giveaways.

“The community’s given us so much, and you have to give back,” director of hair Anthony Muti said.

What Mario Tricoci gave back on this afternoon would have set regular customers back a pretty penny. For the women, there were haircuts, manicures, pedicures, facials and massages. Their male counterparts also enjoyed the same services — including the pedicures.

The day was the inspiration of hair stylists Jennifer Gennaro and Ashley Arlington. Both saw a documentary on A&E television about female police officers.

“That was the inspiration behind this whole day,” Gennaro said. “It showed them as mothers and everyday people. They put their lives on the line and protect us every day.”

And Naperville’s male population of law enforcement was not exactly shy about taking advantage of the services.

Patrol officer Vince Clark, a 16-year veteran of the department, showed up for a massage and a haircut. “I normally wouldn’t come here,” he said. “It’s different … and enlightening. Normally I’m sleeping during the day, since I work third shift. This is a treat.”

Officer Juan Leon, a 10-year veteran, admitted that pedicures were something in which he indulged once or twice a year, saying, “It’s soothing … you like to treat yourself a little.”

Some of the guys had to be cajoled a little to experience the pampering. Des Plaines firefighter David Bedrich originally planned on simply getting a haircut, but wound up with a massage and a pedicure. “They talked me into a few more things,” he said with a smile.

While some people might be surprised at the high number of men who turned out to a day spa thought to be the traditional province of women, Muti wouldn’t be one of them. “About 35 percent of our customers are men,” he said.

Judy Johnson, who runs the hair coloring department, thinks older men in particular are looking for an edge in their professional lives, which accounts for the high number of male customers coloring their hair. And simply being well turned out is a reward in itself. “They want to be polished and to look groomed,” she said.

Many of the participants saw the day as a special occasion.

“I probably wouldn’t do it normally,” said Andrea Rider, an Elmhurst police service officer. “It’s a treat.”

But others are regular customers. “Ashley saved me from a really bad haircut years ago,” said Tiffany Baker, a Darien/Woodridge firefighter.

Taylor sees the Mario Tricoci treatment as a way to cope with the stress of police work.

“Working in law enforcement has a way of de-feminizing you. This brings it back to you. I always walk out of here feeling like a superstar.”

Full Article and Credits

Chicago IL, Day Spa Illinois Day Spa, Mario Tricoci

Once upon a time, we paid people to cut, buff and paint our nails.

Once upon a time, we had people shape our unruly eyebrows and rub hot, smooth stones over our sore backs.

Once upon a time, we put time aside to have people rip hair off our legs with wax and wrap us in algae.

Those days, for many of us, are long gone.

Spas obviously want us back. And so, there are deals. Many end soon, so act fast if you’re yearning for pampering. Here are a few that caught our eye (framed, we admit, by slightly unruly brows):

 

212 Salon and Day Spa: 212’s “Quick Pick-Me-Up” is so tempting in the dead of winter, when our hair and nails are brittle and dull. For $100, you get a mani and pedi, protein conditioning treatment, shampoo and a blow-out.

 

 

Calla Lily:  Calla Lily, a spa that offers everything from seaweed body masks ($60) to Brazilian bikini waxes ($80 and up), will take 20 percent off any service through Saturday. Just print out the coupon on the Web site and book your indulgence.

 

 

 

 

Spa Space:  How about a 75-minute massage? Spa Space is offering its $150 Space Ritual Massage for $120. You need to buy a gift certificate for that massage specifically to get the discount (see the spa Web site for details).

 

 

 

Urban Spa Chic:  Never been to Urban Spa Chic? If your nails are a mess, this might be the time to change that. The spa is offering a $10 mani with a seasonal spa pedi ($48) for first-time clients on Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Affordable Spas, Chicago IL, Illinois Day Spa, Illinois Day Spas, Spa, Spa Day, Spa Experience

Have a Trump Kind of Christmas

Courtesy of Trump International Hotel & Tower

Everyone can appreciate gourmet holiday gifts, from apprentices to tycoons.

You probably don’t think to go to a hotel lobby to do your holiday shopping, but you might want to put it on your to-do list this year. The Trump International Hotel & Tower recently unveiled a “Holiday Desk” located in the property’s lobby. Special attaches will be on hand to help both hotel guests and others with any seasonal needs, from booking reservations and planning parties at the various venues within the Trump to buying gift cards and other specialty items for posh presents.

And, really, who does over-the-top luxury quite like the Trump empire? You’ll find the following wow-worthy gift ideas at the Trump Holiday Desk:

* For the gourmet, consider a holiday gift hamper, a wooden basket filled to the brim with artisan-made foie gras, truffles, olive oil, honeycomb, beer-and-black pepper mustard, salami and hot chocolate. The “luxury” edition is priced at $315, while the “prestige” is $450. (We’re pretty sure either one will please.)
* For the sweets lover, there’s the signature “bouche de Noel,” a traditional holiday cake created by Trump pastry chef Hichem Lahreche. Three flavors, including pear and chocolate and apple and caramel ($75 each), plus the “Ivanka” with sugar “diamonds” ($110), are available.
* Do-gooders will appreciate the sentiment of charitable giving at Trump, which has partnered with the Chicago Mercy Homes for Boys & Girls. A $25 commemorative glass ornament benefits the organization for troubled youth.
* Zen masters will flip over packages from the Spa at Trump, including a variety of spa treatments and one super deluxe version for someone who has been really, really good, which includes a 12-month membership to the Trump Health Club, plus a personal training session, spa treatment, age-health assessment, laundry service and logoed yoga pants and matching jacket, all for $4,000.

Chicago IL, Resort Spa, Spa Resort

 

This article is brought to you by Spavelous.com.

 http://www.spavelous.com

The notion of a quick spa treatment may sound contradictory — after all, doesn’t rushing the experience defeat the purpose? Indeed, a leisurely spa visit is the best kind, but what’s really important is taking time out. When your schedule doesn’t permit the luxury of an entire afternoon — or even a whole hour — the expanding array of express treatments promises rewarding results in 30 minutes or less. Read more…

California Spas, Chicago IL, Florida Resort Spas, Florida Spas, Miami Spas, Oregon Spas, Philadelphia Spa, Spa Treatments, Spas, Spas in DC

 

 

 

This article is brought to you by Spavelous.com.

Your face expresses sadness, joy and, on occasion, the cardinal skin sins: deadline-induced stress, too many late nights and long days spent sunbathing or, worse, sucking on cigarettes. Luckily, salvation can be attained in discreet, darkened rooms all around town, where you can mellow out as your skin woes are smoothed away by expert hands. Here, we’ve rounded up a few of the best spots to get some face time.

Chicago IL Spas/  Illinois Day Spas

Edgewater

 

Continuum Studio

 
At the Continuum Studio, the philosophy is this: “Bodywork is good health, not a luxury or a form of pampering.” Part of taking good care of the body is taking care of the face, and the studio’s signature Continuum Studio Facial Treatment is tailored specifically for each client’s face. At $80 for 60 minutes, the facial includes a thorough face mapping analysis followed by an exfoliation, a facial massage and a special treatment mask, a hydrating steam and more. The products used are all Dermalogica.

 

 

Grand Boulevard

 

Soul Salon Spa

4256 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL 60653 (773) 268-3390

Order a vitamin-filled smoothie at this Bronzeville spa before giving your face a little TLC. Its long list of facials run the gamut from relaxing Aromatherapy and Mud Therapy options to more intense treatments like Microdermabrasion with Facial and Glycolic Peel. You’ll pay more for more intense treatments, but those on a budget can swing by for a $50 30-minute mini facial.

 

 

Hyde Park

 

Bettye O Day Spa

 

Hyde Park’s Bettye O Day Spa offers an incredibly long list of tempting facials. The Signature Bettye O Facial, priced $75 for 60 minutes, is recommended for first-time clients; the personalized facial includes a cleanse, peel, honey and almond scrub, steam, facial massage, extraction and mask. If fine lines and tired skin are getting you down, opt for the Firming Facial or the Rejuventating Facial-Lift ($95-$110).

 

 

Lakeview

 

Absolute Precision Skin Care by Kelly

1471 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60613 (773) 320-1376

Lakeview’s “upscale skin clinic,” located within Amber Electrolysis, offers facials, peels and micodermabrasions for men and women. The no-frills, results-oriented clinic carries out services with Dermalogica Products. Founder Kelly Mack recommends that all first-time customers try the Signature Facial ($75 for 60 minutes), as she finds that customers are oftentimes not exactly sure what they need. The treatment is tailored to each customer and includes cleansing, exfoliations, extractions and a skin mask.

 

 

Brilli Salon

3334 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60657 (773) 755-4247

Boasting a “luxurious yet friendly ambiance,” Lakeview’s Brilli Salon offers a menu of “result-oriented skin care.” The salon’s signature facial is the Lux Facial. Fork over $93 for an hour and 15 minutes devoted to your complexion; the service is tailored to meet each client’s skin needs. The usual elements of a top-notch facial (cleansing, exfoliation, extractions and massage) are carried out using similarly top-notch products from Epicurean and Jan Marini.

 

 

Fuga Italian Escape

3853 N. Southport Ave. Chicago, IL 60613 (773) 880-1280

 

When Antonio Favaro came to Chicago, he had a goal: to bring a piece of Italy to the Windy City. At his Lakeview salon, complimentary cappuccinos are part and parcel of every appointment, and the attention to detail and above-par service goes beyond the beverages. Get the Amalfi Glow, a 75-minute, $125 service referred to on the salon menu as “the creme de la creme of resurfacing treatments.” Leaving skin smoother and more hydrated, it uses a potion that incorporates retinol, enzymes and antioxidants.

 

 

Lincoln Park

 

Cleise Brazilian Day Spa

1841 N. Sheffield Ave. ,Chicago, IL 60614 (312) 440-1060

 

Brazilian native Cleise Gomes brings her country’s legendary beauty secrets and treatments to Lincoln Park with her much touted Cleise Day Spa. In Brazil, Gomes worked as a clinical aesthetician and specialized in acne. At her day spa, she expertly treats problem skin with an array of facials that begin with a thorough skin analysis. The 60-minute Sugar Loaf Facial reduces acne scars and treats wrinkles with the help of glycolic acid. Call for prices.

 

 

Logan Square

 

Spa Forever

1917 N. Damen Ave. Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 394-0000

 

Logan Square’s Spa Forever offers an unbeatable combination: luxury services and affordable prices. With advanced-treatment facials that are billed as “the perfect response to modern-day skin concerns for men and women,” the spa offers services like the signature Forever Facial. At $70 for 60 minutes, the facial is different each time as it’s tailored to fit the client’s age, sex and skin type. Though each facial is different, the goal is always the same: to make skin “cleaner and more radiant than ever.”

 

 

Loop

 

Spa Space

161 N. Canal St.  Chicago, IL 60606  (312) 466-9585

 

Natalie Tessler founded Spa Space with a clear goal in mind: She wanted to offer highly-effective, non “fluffy” treatments in an environment that is warm, inviting and decidedly non-sterile. A menu of facials includes the Vitamin C Booster Facial at $105 for one hour, which works for all skin types and involves cleansing, a firming mask and an infusion of nutrient-rich serums including vitamin B3 gel and vitamin C serum.

 

 

Lower West Side

 

Chocolate For Your Body

1743 S. Halsted St.  Chicago, IL 60608  (312) 226-0777

 

If you’re a girl who likes organic living and loves chocolate, the facials at Chocolate For Your Body are for you. Its Eminence Organics are handmade in Hungary, and include the 50- to 60-minute Antioxidant Chocolate Signature Facial. Priced at $125, it includes a cleanse, steam, massage, exfoliation, extraction, chocolate mousse hydration mask, antioxidant tonique, hot towel, antioxidant serum, antioxidant moisturizer and chocolate hand and foot scrub.

 

 

Near North Side

 

Bliss Spa

644 N. Lake Shore Dr.  Chicago, IL 60611  (312) 266-9216

 

After a night of hard-on-your-skin partying, book an appointment at the W Hotel’s posh pampering den. At Bliss Chicago, the Hangover Herbie soothes hurting clients with a 105-minute, $215 treatment. Promising “not a bit of poking, prodding or overly intensive pummeling,” the service includes the application of a purifying essential oil, a revitalizing mask, an oxygen spray and even a 15-minute foot massage.

 

 

Christopher Charles Anti-Aging Skincare Spa

 

A facial at Christopher Charles Anti-Aging Day Spa might just come with its own rousing soundtrack, if you choose correctly. The Sea Creations Choreographed Facial, priced $240 for 90 minutes, features an application of anti-aging skincare serum, moisturizer, eye cream and masks. As music from artists like Nelly, Gwen Stefani and Sarah McLachlan plays, an aesthetician massages the neck, face, arms and feet in rhythm.

 

Face & Facial Co.

 

Mila Bravi’s Face & Facial has cared for celebrities like Oprah, Cindy Crawford and Goldie Hawn, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get an appointment. According to her website, Bravi has been named by “Vogue” and “Harper’s Bazaar” as one of the “country’s best facialists”; “I agree!” says one long-time client. A one-hour facial with resistive skin treatment costs $88; hydrating and anti-aging treatments can be added on.

 

 

Joseph Michael’s Salon and Spa

 

Joseph Michael’s Salon and Spa promises to “seduce you” with an array of services aimed at putting a beautiful spin on hair, skin and nails. Joseph Michael’s Signature Micro-Current Facial has been featured on Oprah, and its effects are said to simulate a non-surgical face lift. The 75-minute, $200 service uses micro-current frequencies to infuse the tissue with droplets of oxygen. Skin is oxygenated, cell performance is enhanced, and what’s in it for you? Fewer lines and wrinkles.

 

 

exhale spa

 

Exhale Spa allows city-dwellers to take a deep breath and indulge in soul-cleaning activities like yoga classes and spa services. Created just for men in search of a little pampering, the Gentleman’s Facial, at $165 for 60 minutes, involves exfoliation with a topical peel that aims to prevent ingrown hair and make shaving an irritation-free endeavor. The facial is rounded out with a scalp, face, shoulder and neck massage.

 

 

Near West Side

 

Kaya Day Spa

112 N. May St. Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 243-5292

 

Kaya Day Spa is named after a Japanese tree that resists stress in spite of environmental hazards. The people of Kaya Day Spa aim to create an “experience that invigorates and restores balance and energy to the body, mind and soul.” Amongst the spa’s array of facials is the Lavender Fields Facial ($160 for 90 minutes), which incorporates lavender essential oils. The cleansing, exfoliating and extracting is complemented by a hand and arm massage; guests are also treated to a shoulder. neck and face massage.

 

 

Samone Spa Bar

915 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 421-2112

 

If too many cocktails have left your skin a little ragged, trade that next martini for a “facial cocktail” at Samone Spa Bar. The $100 Four-Layer Facial uses “layer upon layer of pure, fresh European seaweed” to improve your skin’s quality. An energy seaweed mask is followed by a mineral-rich thermal mask. If you’re looking for intense moisturization, try the $75 Hydra-Dew Facial.

 

 

Spa 32

832 W. Adams St. Chicago, IL 60607 (312)432-1132

 

Greektown’s Spa32 is a “unique blend of medicine and beauty.” The spa offers everything from dentistry to chiropractic care and has a great list of facial services to boot. All facials are custom-designed, and can’t-go-wrong options include the 75-minute Stone Facial, which is designed to “unlock the body’s natural healing energies” through the use of gently-heated stones. Call for prices.

 

West Town

Ruby Room

 

Division Street’s “Spa for the Spirit” specializes in all things healing and good-vibe inducing. At the on-site Rejuvenation Spa, facials are carried out with holistic, natural methods designed to improve skin’s general “performance.” The Ruby Deluxe, at $175 for 90 minutes, includes a massage, enzyme treatment, oxygen boost and the Arcona Crystal Eyes Therapy, a Ruby Room exclusive. The facial is billed as an “absolute must before any special occasion.”

 

 

Spa Soak

1733 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 395-9000

 

Using an all-natural line of skin and body care products that are whipped up onsite, the skin experts at Bucktown’s Spa Soak deliver personalized skin treatments. A menu of Soak Your Face facials features the Essential Facial. For $80 and one hour of your time, your face will be given some personalized TLC with cleansing, exfoliation, massage, serums and masks that contain additives thrown in just for your skin type. The result is a glowing, nutrient-infused complexion.

 

REVIEW THESE SPAS NOW

 

 

SPA OWNERS DO YOU WANT TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SPA REFERRALS?

 

OWNERS SHOWCASE YOUR SPA WITH SPAVELOUS!

 

Chicago IL, Day Spa, Spa Day, Spas