Even spa skeptics can find their fix at Options Salon & Spa with a fully clothed chair massage ($1 per minute) that targets common sore points around the neck, shoulders and upper back. Always up for a new project, owner Kathy Wilson began Options as a hair salon with four chairs in a 500-square-foot-studio in 1996. Three years later, she upgraded to a fully functioning spa. By 2016, she added retail therapy to her repertoire with a boutique stocked with jewelry, decor and local threads by Plum City Designs. With all of these options, entering the 3,000-square-foot space for a massage or facial feels like passing through a bustling bazaar before finding a haven amid the liveliness. “It’s almost like a hidden secret back there,” says Wilson about the dim lounge that funnels into four facial and massage rooms. “It’s the matter of having that option of a high-energy salon atmosphere and then going back into a secluded area.” Customization carries into the details of each service, with manicures that feature a seasonal choice of scrubs ranging from mint to grapefruit scents and complimentary consultations that give clients a chance to work with a massage therapist on problem areas. “Hair can be anything you want,” says Wilson. “The whole service can be that way.” 21689 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, 440-331-0084, optionssalonspa.com
Try this: The 60-minute European stone therapy ($80) improves circulation and detoxifies the body through heat.
