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QUALITIES OF LIFE

Love a bargain and a manicure? This is for you

By Jenny B. Davis
Special to the Tribune
Published November 6, 2005

This story contains corrected material, published Nov. 8, 2005.

We know you: You crave the Zen of a monthly massage, religiously ink in brow-shaping appointments and always opt for the paraffin upgrade on your weekly manicure.

This means a day spa membership might be just what the aesthetician ordered. Some of the city's newest beauty spots are willing to pile on the perks in exchange for customer loyalty--and a chunk of change.

Memberships are common at clubs that combine fitness facilities with wellness services, but true day spas--think beauty without brawn--don't often offer the chance to join, said Hannelore R. Leavy, executive director of the Day Spa Association in Union City, N.J. That's because spa goers in general tend to be a disloyal lot, and discounting the labor-intensive services can hurt a bottom line that's already low.

But Edgewater's Soothe Your Senses, which opened Tuesday at 6260 N. Broadway, is willing to try (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). Its three membership levels (beginning at $500; call 773-262-4246 for more information), reward those "who visit a spa more than twice a year and who want to make spa treatments a part of their total wellness program," said owner Gretchen Halpin.

Paybacks for prepayment include automatic upgrades, spa-wide discounts, invitations to members-only events and even a free set of nail-care tools.