6 minute read
Book some "you" time for holiday pampering
BY CINDY GERLACH
Massages. Mimosas.
It’s a favorite moment from the Indiana-based sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” when narcissistic characters Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle excitedly describe their day of pampering: “The one day a year that’s all about us.”
And what’s not to like? Who doesn’t enjoy a day of pampering, of a little indulgence in some “me” time? Here’s what a day of such self-care might look like in Lafayette.
Get the spa treatment
A trip to the day spa for a massage is the perfect way to start a day of relaxation. Any sort of massage is likely to improve circulation, decrease muscle stiffness, reduce pain and soreness, and improve flexibility. And if you’ve never lay on a massage table with those skilled hands massaging your muscles, you are in for a huge treat.
There are any number of places to get full-body massages in town, including Innerwaves Massage Therapy, 2315 South St.; Myotherapy Massage Center, 1904 Main St.; Bliss Salon & Spa, 3730 Rome Dr.; or Big Rock Therapeutic Massage, 5000 Saddle Dr. Each of these will offer a massage customized to your needs – you can address specific muscle or pain issues or simply enjoy the therapy provided by their massage techniques.
Hair
A key way to feel your best is by updating your hair. Styles change; an outdated coiffure can drastically age you. Currently, lived-in hair is the trend, says Cari Araiza, stylist at Evan Todd Salon and Spa.
“Effortless texture and dimension is what seems to show up in most of the inspiration we see brought into the salon,” Araiza says. “Lived-in means adding a shadow root, or root tap — a darker base — to the root area. Adding dimensional lowlights also helps maintain the softness of this color trend.”
Haircuts, too, are loving similar concepts.
“Soft, airy layers, lots of volume and all the texture,” Araiza says. “The butterfly cut is a popular cutting technique that adds cascading wing-like framing layers. This type of cut is especially great on curly hair.”
Local salons can give you the updated look you crave. Try Shear Affects, 103 Farabee Dr. N; Executive Cutz, 2049 Veterans Memorial Parkway; KJ Nutt & Friends, 509 N. Fourth St.; or Evan Todd, 320 E. State St., West Lafayette.
Skin care
Proper skin care is essential to looking your best. Drinking water, avoiding the sun, and proper moisturizing are all easy ways to take care of your skin. But there are many other treatments out there that can help.
“Modern day self-care has taken a step into the digital era,” says Araiza. “Light therapy has helped introduce various wavelengths and colors to help all areas of skin care, from acne to wrinkles.”
Facial massage will stimulate your skin, leaving you feeling rejuvenated. And spas offer many other features, including: exfoliation, peels, masks, microneedling, collagen masks, eye treatments, waxing and dermaplaning.
If you’re needing eyebrow care, you can get them shaped, straightened and waxed; eyelashes can be lifted, curled and tinted.
You might be in the mood for waxing and hair removal — have your brows, bikini area, legs, stomach, arms or underarm area waxed by a professional. You’ll walk away feeling smooth and relaxed.
Or opt for a full-body treatment — full body exfoliation, skin detoxification, moisture infusion and tension relief. Treat yourself!
For any of these treatments — and many others — check out Honey Skin Social, 421 Main St.; Hubbard Esthetics, 1126 Kossuth St.; Essentially Aqua, 525 Main St.; Evan Todd, 320 E. State St., West Lafayette; Adorn Aesthetics, 2504 Veterans Memorial Parkway; and Pure Regenerative Medicine, 231 N. Second St.
Nails
Nothing says fabulous like manicured fingernails and toenails. And nails that are painted in a salon tend to last longer, resisting chips and scratches. Have your nails filled, filed and painted — nothing is too good for the holidays!
Greater Lafayette has dozens of nail salons, all of which offer multiple services. Visit Le Nails, 100 S. Creasy Lane; Sunny Nails, 2125 S. Fourth St.; or Lafayette Nail Spa, 141 N. Creasy Lane.
A little something extra
After a day of enjoying self-care, you might want to indulge just a bit more with a little extra splurge. Clothing? Jewelry? Perfume? Why not — it’s the ultimate in pampering. For fine jewelry, Stall & Kessler downtown on the courthouse square has an exquisite collection of fine jewelry. From rings to earrings, necklaces to bracelets, in gemstones of every style and color, it will have something that meets your fancy.
If it’s a watch you want, try Trifecta Watches, 602 Columbia St., which offers a dazzling array of designer watches. As Trifecta says, everyone should have three watches: “One to dress up, one to dress down, and one for sport.” From names such as Seiko, Bulova, Citizen, Garmin, Hamilton, Longines and Tissot, you’ll make your match.
Cheers!
And don’t forget that mimosa — or perhaps a glass of bubbly or a craft cocktail? Pop into Ritual Bar, 211 N. Second St., which features a menu full of fun cocktails. Or stop by the Cellar Wine Bistro, 1001 Main St., with its expansive collection of wines. ★
