The best thing about the Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA is the facilities. You’re missing out if you don’t arrive 30 minutes early to enjoy the top-notch sauna and steam room and peer down on Shanghai from the 55th floor in the buff. It all serves to set the ... Read More
With nine branches spread all around town, Dragonfly Retreat is hands-down one of the most popular beauty salons and massage parlors in Shanghai. If you live in Jing’an like we do, try the lymphatic drainage aroma oil massage (RMB420 / 90 minutes) at the newly opened Jiaozhou Lu branch. The ... Read More
Our colorless, unruly locks were putting a damper on the arrival of summer. We are pretty picky when it comes to coloring our hair, and fortunately, I.D. Hair top stylist Terry Grau did not disappoint. Although the prices are a bit steep, the welcoming salon staff and laid back ... Read More
The 90-minute full body hot stone massage (RMB480) at Diva Life is the most relaxing that we’ve experienced in the city so far. The natural volcanic stones used here are pre-heated in water and massage oil in order to retain heat and release more healing minerals during the therapy ... Read More
From Lady Gaga to Hong Kong model Angelababy, celebrities around the world have all gone crazy for Minx nail stickers. Ride the wave and get yourself Minxed at the newly opened Doll Nail Lounge, the one and only nail salon in Shanghai we’ve found that offers sticker manicures using ... Read More
If you live in Gubei, Bamboo7 is a great choice for pampering, rest and relaxation. The prices are slightly steeper than those at other local massage joints—RMB98 for a one-hour foot or Chinese body massage and RMB188-388 for a one-hour oil massage—but it’s well worth it for ... Read More
If big city life has left you off balance, take a trip to Root Healing for TCM treatments. On our visit, we met with a certified TCM doctor (RMB200 for the first consultation) who advised us to try the meridian point massage (RMB420 for 60 minutes) and 25 minutes of ... Read More
Yongkang Lu is booming with pizzerias, bakeries, wine bars and other
trendy eateries. Amidst the gluttony, we managed to find Zhi Ru Chu Jian 指如初见, a great local manicure spot. This disco ballroom- themed
salon is owned by an incredibly friendly Sichuanese girl and currently
offers an amazing deal on ... Read More
Inspired by this spate of good weather, we decided to brighten up our dull locks with a visit to Benson Salon’s senior stylist, Marc Ouyang. After a style consultation and a refreshing cup of tea, we decided to go with the half head of blonde highlights (from RMB580) using ... Read More
Facials aren’t just for ladies. Vizcaya Spa offers a relaxing treatment designed to cleanse and revitalize men’s skin. Guests are welcomed into a fully equipped spa room with dimmed lights and soothing instrumental music. The beautician starts the 60-minute Pour Homme Men’s Facial (RMB490) with a thorough ... Read More
Next time you’ve had your share of shopping and dining at Tianzifang, switch it up at the newly opened Zen Massage and let their experienced technicians massage away fatigue and tension with the tranquil spa’s Zen Signature Massage (RMB398 / 90 minutes). The treatment uses healing essential oils combined ... Read More
The worst part about going for a lengthy hair treatment is the boredom that hits around minute 15, but FUR Salon remedies this with Wi-Fi and app-loaded iPads for every chair. We went to FUR for a perm, some highlights and a little trim to free us of four months ... Read More
Let master stylist Kenny Hsu take your locks through a hair time machine at TIGI. He does an assessment of your hair type then prescribes a type of dye that will turn your limp, mousy brown strands into a voluptuous chestnut bob (RMB1,100 for the haircut and a blow ... Read More
Gaze out over the peaceful streets of the former French Concession while sitting in the sun as your feet are pampered to perfection at Sense of Touch. Natural light and contemporary Moroccan design make you feel like an African princess as layers of dead skin are sloughed off heels, arches ... Read More
We often cake our face with chemical-based moisturizers when our skin feels dry from the cold weather. Stay natural this winter with an Anti-Oxidant Burst facial (RMB750 / 80 minutes) from Delicious!, a beauty studio that uses only herbal and fruit products. The treatment provides instant detoxification and anti-aging protection for ... Read More
While it is commonplace to let your nether regions go to seed during the heavily clad winter months, nothing says “hands off” quite like showing up to your tropical beach vacation with an ape-cape, so use the holidays to schedule a waxing session at Helen Nail Spa. Experts at getting ... Read More
Despite its name, Diva Life offers solid treatments for boys as well as girls. Their sports massage (RMB240), a 60-minute oil-less treatment designed to aid post-workout recovery, is a careful rub-down that covers the entire body and meticulously knocks out bodily kinks. It all ends with a head massage that ... Read More
SkinCity 5.5 is our go-to place for facials, and they just opened a new location in the former French Concession. We tried their signature diamond microdermabrasion treatment (RMB898) and 75 minutes later we emerged with the smoothest skin in memory. A facial cleansing preceded a thorough vacuuming of every ... Read More
Maria Wong offers the most luxurious manicures (RMB268) and pedicures (RMB468) in Shanghai, but the best part of the whole experience is browsing the hundreds of nail polishes at the beginning of the treatment. You’ll find every high-end brand here in every shade, including Chanel, YSL, Dior, Bobbie Brown ... Read More
If your lashes aren’t quite thick or long enough, then it might be time to experiment with extensions. To make your peepers pop, take a trip to the brow and lash experts over at Browhaus. On our visit, we opted for 100 mink lashes (RMB460) to be applied to ... Read More
Walk down the meandering pebble path, follow the flickering candlelight, and your mind is already in a peaceful and harmonious world. Then indulge in the Chuan Harmony (RMB680 for 60 minutes), the spa’s signature full body oil massage which uses traditional Chinese five-element essential oils. You’ll wake up ... Read More
If you find yourself stuck in the 'burbs this winter, head to Green Massage to relieve aching tendons and sore muscles with a 100-minute hot stone massage (RMB 498). The warming begins as you step in from the cold with a cup of tea and a steamy shower. Slip under ... Read More
To achieve alluring brunette locks like Angelina Jolie, we visited Tony Studio, a newly opened celebrity hair salon at Kerry Parkside. While we sat in one of the chic armchairs and enjoying the funky, futuristic décor, the executive hairstylist trimmed our messy, damaged locks into a stylish bob (RMB180), then ... Read More
Find the perfect ending for a day spent picking flowers, browsing artwork, drinking wine and dining on trendy Ferguson Lane with a 120-minute Sense of Renewal treatment (RMB990) at the brand new Sense of Touch Spa. Hailing from Hong Kong, the gorgeous Arabian-themed spa has received numerous international awards and ... Read More
Every princess, big and small, deserves to spoil herself now and then. In relaxing, light-filled Villy’s Nail Studio you can enjoy a manicure for RMB80 while your little princesses play grown-ups having their own miniature manicure (RMB50) or pedicure (RMB60). We enjoyed sipping on one of the Studio’s ... Read More