Lake Minnetonka Salon and Spa Services Under $100

Kids going back to school, temperatures dropping, pulling out those boots and sweaters; with all the transitions that fall brings, it’s easy for our bodies to get out of sync. But taking care of ourselves can help keep us on track. Book a unique salon or spa treatment to reset your body, mind and spirit – all without throwing your checkbook out of whack. Acupuncture If you think acupuncture is only about intimidating needles, think again. The ancient Chinese practice uses energy lines already moving through your body to help alleviate pain and restore well-being. By placing thin needles in strategic places, acupuncture can remedy nausea, menstrual cramps and headaches. Try it out at the Spa at the Marsh, where they’ve been providing professional acupuncture for more than 25 years. “According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture is effective for treating 28 conditions, including low-back and neck pain, arthritis, knee pain and sciatica,” says Kent Marsh, acupuncturist at the Marsh. Acupuncturists recommend a series of treatments in order to best reduce pain, but one session will still help promote health and reset your body’s energy. Multiple treatments can also reduce the side effects of medication, soothe indigestion, counteract side effects of radiation treatments, prevent migraines and boost weight loss goals. Initial 60-minute acupuncture consult and session: $100 ($85 for additional sessions; introductory five-session pricing also available) Spa at the Marsh // 15000 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka; 952.935.2202. Skin Therapy Switching from tank tops to sweaters isn’t the only precaution you need to take when protecting your skin from the impending winter chill. Just as you pack away your bikini in favor of jeans and fleece, you need to adjust your skin care regime in order to prevent excessive dryness and flakiness. Skin therapy like the Focus facial at Lili Salon Spa can help. The Focus facial is a medical-grade skin therapy experience that helps you leave your summer skin behind, getting you ready for a Minnesota winter. “The Focus facial is a great introduction to a skin analysis and treatment,” says Laura Bellendier, spa director and skin therapist at Lili. Dull, ruddy skin is replaced with glowing, more even-toned skin. The treatment can help reduce any age or sun spots you may have accrued over those fun-in-the-sun months and can also help treat acne or problem skin. With refined acids, the Focus facial promotes collagen growth by stimulating and gently removing the top layer of skin. The facial combats fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin younger- and more refreshed-looking. Bellendier also recommends investing in a serum for post-facial care, which can help prevent aging and correct spots in between facials. “Medical-grade serums are loaded with antioxidants that prepare, nourish and protect your skin,” she says. Focus facial: $52; with chemical peel addition: $82 Lili Salon Spa // 5757 Sanibel Dr. Ste. 1, Minnetonka; 952.935.5000. Hair Care Just like your skin, the weather can wreak havoc on your hair. Dryness, split ends, dull color—who needs that? Spice up your hair and restore it to its glossy summer glory days without chemicals, dyes or treatments. Impossible, you say? Christin Boecker, co-owner of Ovations Salon and Spa in Excelsior begs to differ. As a curly-haired maven, she says a cut can change the way you feel about your hair and your appearance. “I never liked my hair after coming out of a salon, not once, until I started my own salon,” she says. She chalks up the dislike to bad haircuts for her tightly wound tresses. Then she discovered the Ouidad (pronounced “we-dod”) curly hair cut. A trademarked cut and product line, the Ouidad system changed how Boecker—and most of her clients—think about their hair. What’s different about this cut is that it doesn’t focus on cutting layers or length off of hair. Instead, it works on the interior of the hair, getting it to lay on top of itself instead of stacking. For the curly-haired, this means less of a triangle shape to help promote uniform curls. Even though it’s best for the kinky-curly among us, Boecker says it works for all hair types. “Almost all of our clients see a big difference in the manageability of their hair after the Ouidad cut,” she says. Ouidad curly hair cut: $83 start, depending on the expertise of the stylist Ovations Salon & Spa // 2641 Highway 7, Excelsior; 952.474.8777. Hydrating Pedicure After a season of sandals and exposing toes to dirt, sand and sun, feet deserve a treat. Your feet are one of the most sensitive and absorbent areas of your body. In fact, Eastern medicine often recommends foot massage with health-boosting herbs and oils as a remedy to illnesses like the common cold. The rose clay hydrating pedicure at Excelsior Nails & Spa helps promote healthy toes, feet and legs with its more than eight-step process. First, feet are soaked in flower- and citrus-infused water to calm and soothe. Then nail shaping, cuticle conditioning and callous removal, plus a rub-down with fresh oranges (to help lift nail discoloration) further pamper your tootsies. The real powerhouse of this treatment is the rose clay, which is found in France and blended with sunflower and jojoba oils for deep hydration. “The rose clay offers an exfoliation with Dead Sea salts to expose healthy skin,” says Erica McNeary, technician at Excelsior Nails & Spa. “This allows the mask to penetrate into the superficial skin layers.” Top that off with a hot stone and warm lotion massage (and a complimentary smoothie!) and your feet will never complain again. 70-minute Hydrating Rose Clay Pedicure: $65 Excelsior Nails & Spa on the Bay // 21 Water St., Excelsior; 952.923.2462. Blowout Sometimes the best pick-me-up is assigning a professional to do something you normally do yourself—which is why blow-dry bars have been popping up practically everywhere in the last year. While the lake area boasts no exclusively blow-dry bars, you needn’t worry. Jon Charles Salon has you more than covered with its award-winning Euroshine blow dry and its exclusive complimentary Blow Dry Boot Camp. What makes Jon Charles’ blow-dries stand out from the rest is the technique and the tools, says Laney Forness, manager at the Wayzata location. “Jon Charles traveled the country researching the best blow-driers and brushes, so we only use the best,” she says. The salon stocks custom-made boar-bristle round brushes all the way from Spain. “The boar bristles help distribute your hair’s natural oils evenly, making hair softer and healthier,” Forness says. Some salons or dry bars use heat tools to finish off a blowout. Not Jon Charles’ stylists, all of whom are trained in the salon’s unique technique. “We use just a couple great products, a blow-drier and a round brush,” says Forness. Other tools can create uneven heat on the hair, causing it to fall limp sooner. Blowouts from Jon Charles last two to three days, which is a great reason to splurge for a night out. Euroshine blow dry: $30–$60 Blow Dry Boot Camp: Complimentary, every other Tuesday, 7 to 8 p.m. Jon Charles Salon // 1313 Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata, 952.767.9977.