From 2006
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| Sometimes all you need to love life is someone to rub your feet. illustration by Cyrille Berger |
You know what they say about clay feet, so why are you limping around on overstressed, underdressed pedes? Whether you need serious buffing and deep moisturizing or you just want a relaxing route to a polish change, Dallas spas have pedi-pampering options galore. Here are seven of our favorites.
Organic Foot Ritual
$60 for 45 minutes
There’s just something about slipping your feet into water; somehow it’s good for the soul—or at the very least for tired, battered soles. Add an infusion of aromatherapy oils and a massage with hot stones and, in our book, you’re not far from a life-changing experience.
The organic foot ritual at Always at Peace is a sensual treat—the stone massage is one of the most deeply satisfying experiences we’ve ever had—but we must admit that the comfy leather recliners we were nestled in were a hit, too. Sinking into a butter-soft leather chair is a great way to get anyone ready to relax. We applaud the fact that this spa knows when and how to break the rules; this ritual could be accomplished with a standard pedicure chair, but the leather chairs are so much more homey. Always at Peace is perfectly set up to perform two or more foot rituals side-by-side, so this is a perfect way to spend time catching up with the friend(s) you’ve been missing for months. Always at Peace Day Spa
1715 H Ave., Plano
972-422-7322
www.alwaysatpeace.com
‘Heel’ Magnolias
$70 for 60 minutes
In terms of process, Bliss Spa’s “Heel” Magnolias is a standard pedicure. The secret to the success of this treatment—other than the careful and attentive pedicurist—is the magnolia-scented scrub and cream. Don’t worry: The magnolia essence is light enough to waft; you won’t be smothered by it. And after the exfoliating and moisturizing with the Magnolia Moisture Mousse, your legs and feet will feel fresh and perfectly feminine.
Two things worth noting: The nail stations are situated in the lobby, so shrinking violets might feel more comfortable changing out of their robes before any nail services. And the movie-while-you-mani remote is seriously complicated (we’ve mastered the three separate remotes necessary to watch TV at home, but we never did get this to work). So our advice is to listen to your manicurist explain the concept and list your options, tell her which one sounds good to you, and let her dial it up for you.
Bliss Spa
2440 Victory Park Ln., 16th Floor
214-953-6200
www.blissworld.com
Ice Cream Pedicure
$50 for 60 minutes
Labeling this merely a pedicure doesn’t seem fair; this is an experience. From the private nail room, with it’s throne-like white leather pedicure station, to the delectably fragrant products used to the expert service provided, Glow has designed the perfect foot treatment. As part of this signature service, we had our choice of chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry-scented products, starting with the fizzy, essential oil-soaked foot bath and running through the sherbet scrub all the way up to the moisturizing “marshmellow” masque for feet and legs and whipped moisturizing cream. Our feet and legs have never looked this good or felt this soft. We’re also in love with the décor and the truly delightful staff.
Glow Salon & Medical Spa
6440 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 100, Irving
214-466-1970
www.liveloveglow.com
Signature Caviar Pedikur
$95 for 60 minutes
We were insanely curious about the caviar pedicure at Tom Landry’s brand-new L Spa, which gave us visions of soaking our tootsies in a bath of beluga. Turns out this pedicure is akin to a facial for the feet, right down to the use of the same Kerstin Florian skincare products featured in L Spa facials. The caviar comes into play in the luxurious creams used to moisturize and soften skin; caviar, which is very rich in protein, increases hydration and elasticity.
Over the course of the pedicure, our feet, legs, hands, arms, and temples were treated to what can only be described as heaven. While our feet soaked in a state-of-the-art pipeless footbath (no bacteria here!), the technician used a combination of seven products to smooth, soften, and tighten the skin on calves and feet. All this plus a paraffin treatment for the feet and hands, during which our technician gave us an extremely relaxing lavender face-and-scalp massage. Now we know what that guy meant by “champagne wishes and caviar dreams.”
L Spa
Baylor Tom Landry Health & Wellness Center
411 N. Washington Ave.
214-820-8435
www.baylorhealth.com
Reflexology
$120 for 50 minutes
This is a surprisingly invigorating treatment for the girl who wishes the over-all-too-soon massage in the pedicure chair would last forever. First off, we should say that we were wowed by Relâche. The spa’s layout is incredible; we found showers, a steam room, and a sauna, but the kicker was the slumber room. (Who hasn’t felt like a snooze after a great spa treatment?)
Reflexology, we learned during our treatment, is based on the idea that points on your feet are connected to particular organs. When each of these points are massaged, toxins are released from the corresponding organ. The bottom line for us is that we discovered a reflexology treatment leaves us as relaxed as if we’d had a full body massage.
Relâche Spa at The Gaylord Texan Resort
1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine
817-778-1800
Cowboy Boogie
$75 for 50 minutes
When we arrived at the Spa at the Crescent, we were shown to a quiet, warm room where we could settle into a large massage chair. A glass of cool water and a cup of fruit were waiting by the side of the chair, along with a wide range of reading materials. While our toes enjoyed a thermal bath, a neck warmer loosened tired muscles. We’ll confess that we nearly drifted off to sleep during the Moor mud part of the pedicure; the rich mud being slathered onto tired legs was surprisingly meditative and relaxing. Heated booties encouraged the mineral mud to really sink in, leaving our feet remarkably soft. The refreshing scrub left our legs feeling tingly and invigorated, and the aromatherapy oil rubdown of feet, ankles, and calves was delightful. Once our nails were colored and top-coated, we were ready for anything.
The Spa at the Crescent
400 Crescent Court
214-871-3232
www.crescentcourt.com
After-Shopping Paradise
$65 for 60 minutes
NorthPark’s miles of new stores never seem to end—good for selection, but hard on feet. Spa Nordstrom to the rescue.
First, a warm neck pillow was placed around our shoulders, and we were treated to a bubbly footbath filled with moisture-rich, lavender-scented aromatherapy oil. A light grapefruit scrub served as a sweet-smelling exfoliant. Next, aromatherapy oils and Gehwol German lotions, which are some of the creamiest we’ve tried, were combined, and a much-needed foot and leg massage practically put us to sleep. But a sip of the fizzy Elixir Tonics Liquid Yoga refreshed us, and a paraffin treatment was a warm ending. The only drawback: Paradise doesn’t include a pedi, although one can be had for an additional charge.
Spa Nordstrom
8687 North Central Expy.
214-231-3910
