When coming to college, we are forced to leave behind more than just our parents, siblings, bedrooms, friends and favorite stuffed animals — we are forced to leave behind our favorite salons. Many people have that go-to salon where all the technicians greet them by name and ask about all aspects of their life — which they’ve learned over months or years of pointless chatter while dealing with cuticles, massage oils, hair clippings and tweezers. Finding the perfect salon for each of your spa needs is a trial-and-error process that takes time and money, which are two things college students don’t have. Don't worry, Evanston has a variety of salons that offer all your specific spa necessities.
For a manicure: Treat Nail Lounge
Eco-friendly is all the rage nowadays, so why not expect your salon to be as caring about the environment as you? The Treat Nail Lounge’s primary concern is the “health and happiness of your hands and feet in an eco-friendly environment,” according to the salon’s mission statement. Rather than settle for a generic manicure, head over to Treat Nail Lounge: They incorporate natural nail polishes, fresh flowers, fruits, herbs and organic essential oils in many of their services. Their standard manicures include an essential oil soak, exfoliation, organic scrubs, natural mask and a finishing massage with organic cream for a mere $15.
Location: 2118 Central St.
Contact: 847-866-1305
For a pedicure: Serenity Nail Spa
The quality of the massage chair is a key factor when it comes to finding the perfect salon for a pedicure. Well don’t worry, because next time you’re looking for an affordable pedicure and soothing back massage, you can kick your feet up and relax at the Serenity Nail Spa. Though not a high-end salon, Serenity offers a clean environment, skilled and meticulous technicians, crackle nail polish and the latest from the OPI and Essie nail collections. The technicians at Serenity avoid sloppy rush jobs by giving each client a thorough, one-hour pedicure. The best deal is their mani/pedi combo for $35.
Location: 830 Davis St.
Contact: 847-864-1166
For a massage: Asha Salon Spa
Sometimes the effects of midterms and finals are more than just sleep deprivation and headaches. Often students feel that stress in their neck, shoulder and back muscles — especially after spending many nights hunched over library desks. Asha Salon Spa offers a basic back massage with an assortment of upgrades to target those aching muscles. Unfortunately, this relaxing experience can be a tad pricey at this high-end salon — but after spending hours studying you deserve to splurge a little. A massage will run anywhere from $50 (basic 30-minute massage) to $165 dollars (120-minute massage). A deep-tissue upgrade is $15.
Location: 1604 Sherman Ave.
Contact: 847-475-9300
For a wax: Antou Salon
For those of you who don’t enjoy having sticky hot liquid smeared on your face, check out the Antou Salon, which offers a variety of facial waxing techniques such as threading, wax and tweezing. And don’t worry, they don’t thread with their teeth. Aside from facial waxing, J. Antou performs underarm, full arm, leg, bikini, back and Brazilian waxing. Prices range from $10 to $60, yet the quality of the service makes the price worth it. But if the cost is still a concern, LivingSocial and Groupon often have specials on their sites.
Location: 625 Grove St.
Contact: 847-328-6877
For all coif needs: Salon Lamia
With a friendly staff that is skilled at coloring, styling and cutting all hair types, Salon Lamia is the place for any and all hair necessities. Lamia (the owner) and her stylists are always trying to help clients find flattering hairstyles and dyes while catering to the desires of their customers. Rather than shell off clients to any technician, customers are directed to stylists who are specialists in what the client desires. However, because of this desire to give clients a specialized experience, appointments may take up to two days to be booked. Clients can also purchase products from dozens of well-known hair care product lines such as Redken, CHI, American Crew and Agadir. A cut costs $60 for women and $34 for men. Hair color costs $65 for one color.
Location: 1513 Sherman Ave.
Contact: 847-424-8800
For a facial: Egéa
With the weather constantly changing and the stress of school, it isn’t uncommon for students to have a few annoying blemishes on their face that makeup won’t cover up. If you find yourself in this situation, stop wasting your money on cosmetics that just make the problem worse and check out the facials at Egéa Spa. Though the spa is a bit on the pricey side, customers get what they pay for — like a 24K gold facial for $128. Whether you have acne, dry or sensitive skin, Egéa has a facial for you. Each facial incorporates a skin analysis, consultation, deep cleansing, exfoliation, facial massage, gentle extractions, customized serums, masks and protective crèmes. Their signature facials cost $90 each.
Location: 1521 Sherman Ave.
Contact: 847-332-2772