Best of Citysearch: Spa & Beauty

200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60601 (map)

MASSAGE: A hot stone massage from this subterranean pampering nook inside the Fairmont hotel is my ritual for coping with the stiff shoulders and neck and tweaked-out lower back that a Chicago winter never fails to deliver. Under the firm, measured strokes of smooth, warmth-radiating river rocks, those aches and pains meet their match, and I'm once again able to contemplate emerging into the frigid elements.

401 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

FACIAL: I've never been one for facials. After a few hours, my skin always returns defiantly to its default state of mediocrity. But when a friend saw me after a recent antioxidant-rich Ultimate Urban Facial with esthetician Monica Mackie, all she could say was, "You're glowing!" And you know what? That glow lasted for days. It's official: I'm a convert.

2503 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 (map)

BIKINI WAX: Let's get real: No one but no one actually enjoys having hair ripped out of their body. That's why I love this waxing-focused salon, which takes a dreaded chore and turns it into a pampering experience, complete with sleek, spa-like decor, no-nonsense technicians who work blessedly fast and retail offerings like lingerie and luxurious products for soothing post-waxing skin. So they can't do much about the yelp factor--that's what Tylenol is for.

1655 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (map)

MEN'S GROOMING: When it comes to luxurious, man-specific salon and spa services, this local mini-chain has the market all-but-cornered. While guys can choose from soothing facials, massages and nail treatments with non-threatening names like The Drink, The Face and The Multitasker, even just-the-basics dudes get a dose of pampering. The basic haircut includes a scalp massage, paraffin wax hand conditioner and hand massage.