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By Michael Pleasants
Manicures. Pedicures. Waxing.
Threading. Massages. These words, once the purview only of females,
over the past couple of decades have increasingly become part
of the vocabulary of modern day men. Where 50 years ago a man's
grooming regimen included only a haircut by a barber and a shave
either by that same barber or at home in the mirror, the end
of the first decade of the 21st century finds male grooming being
defined quite differently. While haircuts, barbers, and shaves
in the privacy of one's bathroom are still the most popular,
a whole host of services aimed specifically for men are increasingly
being produced by specialists of varying names and titles.
Chicago in recent years has seen
a boom in the number of salons that offer specialized grooming
and body work services designed for men. Some of these venues
are comprehensive day spa settings while others are specialty
shops looking to do just a few things expertly and really well.
Price points reflect many variables - including location, desired
clientele, and the expertise of the staff - but one constant
in this competitive arena amidst a slowdown in the economy is
a commitment to service and customer satisfaction.
DAY SPAS
 Sir Spa
5151 N. Clark St. 773.271.7000 www.sirspa.com
This distinctive full service day spa is located in Andersonville
and offers a wide range of services, including massages (deep
tissue, reflexology, Swedish, and hot stone), various facial
treatments and nail grooming. Not just adept at taking care
of the skin on your face, Sir Spa has specialized services for
the skin on your back and also has unique body treatments like
The Detox Mud Wrap and the Full Body Scrub. While also offering
an attractive list of amenities as well as trimming and hair
removal services, they won't manscape you below the waist. Sir
Spa also serves women well as couples and is open daily.
 Spacio
2706
N Halsted St 773.244.6500 www.spaciospa.com
This Lakeview day spa,
one of the first on the north side to cater to men as well as
women,
complements traditional spa services (massages, facials, manicures,
and pedicures) with medically based treatments, including microdermabrasion
and cosmetic injectables. Spacio also has a unique relationship
with Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Associates, allowing it to transcend
the usual spa experience. Thanks to their Injectable service
(Botox, Collagen and Restylane) you can get rid of the knots
in your muscles as well as the lines in your face. Spacio has
a full service hair salon on premises and features a complete
line of retail products including Kiehl's, Decleor, Bumble &
bumble, SkinCeuticals and Rejuvi in addition to their own Spacio
Brand
 Halo
(For Men)
www.halochicago.com
21 W. Elm St. 312.642.4256
654 W. Diversey Pkwy. 773.248.4256
1655 N. Damen Ave. 773.342.4256
Halo (For Men) has three
locations (Gold Coast, Lincoln Park & Bucktown) that each
offer men an ultimate escape while providing "a hip, guy-focused
and relaxing environment" where male urbanistas can comfortably
enjoy salon and spa services. Their signature service is called
"THE MAN," a package that combines a haircut, styling,
scalp massage, hand wax and massage, hot towel and facial toner,
cleanup shampoo and a free touch-up within two weeks. Other salon
services include hair coloring and the waxing of hair ALL over
your body. While all three locations offer salon services, only
the Halo on Elm Street has spa services such as massages of differing
types, facials, hot lather shaves of the face and skull, and
one-on-one private pilates & yoga-based classes. Want unlimited
services at Halo for a year at any of their locations? You'll
need to get a The Mile High for a cool $10,000.
HAIR & WHAT ELSE?
International Hair Salon Spa
6560 N. Sheridan
Rd., 2nd Floor 773.338.2503 www.internationalsalonspa.com
As more and more people who used to call the Lincoln Park and
Lakeview neighborhoods their home move the Far North Side of
the city, businesses catering to the sophisticated desires of
these residents are sprouting up throughout Rogers Park and finding
success. One of these businesses is International Hair Salon,
opened last year on the second floor of the building it occupies
on N. Sheridan Rd., between Loyola and Albion Avenues. (There's
free parking in the back of the building, a great amenity).
Open 10:30am-7pm, Tuesday through
Saturday, International offers the typical range of services
for both men and women, including wash & cuts (a barber takes
care of precision men's cuts while stylists take care of the
rest) as well as hair coloring. Additionally, they offer Threading,
an ancient method of hair removal that originated in India and
the Middle East. More precise than waxing, Threading is an excellent
option for those with sensitive skin conditions and for those
who use Retin-A, Accutane or similar products. Available only
for trimming up eyebrows or the upper lip, Threading costs a
mere $5. Not too far off on the calendar, International will
be adding nail grooming services, to include basic men's manicures
and pedicures, in the spring.
 Flashes
- Hair & Body Work
3740 N. Broadway
St. 773.472.3355 www.flashessalon.com
Serving the Lakeview neighborhood since 1983, Flashes moved beyond
just providing haircuts and now has added waxing (limited to
eyebrows, the lip, and men's back) along with body work to its
list of offerings. The body work services include Swedish, sports,
deep tissue, and Thai massages.
Robert Jeffrey Hair &
Skin Care Studio
www.robertjeffrey.com
3434 N. Halsted St. | 773.525.8800
1416 W. Fullerton St. | 773.477.1050
5142 N. Clark St. | 773.784.3300
7154 W. 183rd St. | 708.614.8244
Robert Jeffrey is a Lakeview-based
hair salon, popular with both men and women, that offers just
a little bit more at its four locations in Boystown, Lincoln
Park, Andersonville, and Tinley Park (in the southwest suburbs).
Widely known for their hair coloring expertise, all four locations
offer a wide range of services in this area. As its full name
suggests, Robert Jeffrey also offers skin care expertise, including
a variety of facials, microdermabrasion and make-up services
(ONLY available at its Halsted St. and Fullerton St. locations).
These two venues also offer hair waxing for just about every
part of the body (and that includes underarm, bikini, and Brazilian
waxes).
 Chicago
Male Salon
3418 N. Halsted
St. 773.281.6005 www.chicagomalesalon.com
At Chicago Male they say "It's a guy thing!" That's
exactly how it feels once you enter the Boystown salon with its
dark wood furniture and cobbled walls that evoke a modern barbershop.
A popular place known for its men's haircuts, Chicago Male also
offers various facials, manscaping via waxing and trimming, and
body work such as Hydrating Herbal Body Wrap and Double Decadent
Experience. This high-energy salon-spa appeals to customers of
all ages who come for their appointments as well as to shop the
high-end products that include Jack Black for Men, Osmotics,
John Allan for Men, and natural ingredient-based Anthony Logistics
For Men.
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