Self Love from Head to Toe
A round-up of the best services for each body part so you can give your entire body some love from head to toe this February.
HEAD: SARANG HEAD SPA in Old Kensington for a scalp and hair treatment
The moment I stepped into this boutique Korean head spa on the edge of Fishtown in Philadelphia, I knew I was in the right place for the best treatment for my head. Sarang Head Spa offers an intimate spa setting for all things self care when it comes to Korean hair, scalp and facial skincare. The owner, Sonia, is specially trained in Korean head treatments and was actually heading to Korea later that very day to continue to refine her craft. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that Koreans do not play when it comes to skincare — and they take head care just as seriously.
The space felt intentional and serene — the kind of place where you instantly trust you’re in expert hands. And I was lucky enough to book a 90 minute custom scalp facial, the Mac Daddy of head care.
Think of a head spa as a facial for your scalp — starting with an in-depth analysis to see exactly what’s happening beneath all that hair. Before my treatment began, Sonia examined my scalp so she could then customize the service to address my specific needs, whether that be hair loss, dryness, excess oil, or irritation. I went in convinced I had a dry scalp, but I learned that my daily workouts (and all that sweating) were creating significant buildup at the roots — the kind that, left untreated, can eventually contribute to hair loss. I got a full education in scalp health before my hair got wet.
While each service is customized, you can expect a deep exfoliation to clear buildup and promote circulation, and the most heavenly scalp and neck massage with the best tools and products. This is the real reason you book a head spa, right?
And if that’s not enough, the 90 minute service also includes a mini facial with a cooling hydro jelly mask and a customized scalp bath (seen in the picture above). Unique to this head spa is the steam treatment that you sit with for about ten minutes (seen in the picture below). The Sarang Head Spa service really had all the elements of the gold-standard in facials but for your head.
You finish with a light blow dry after revisiting your new and improved scalp images to see the immediate changes from the treatment. I left feeling invigorated from the top down. And my hair never looked and felt better. Bonus, my hair and scalp can continue to look and feel amazing because I left with some coveted Korean hair care products— products that you can only get at Sarang in the US.
Ladies and actually guys, too (because the lead esthetician and co-owner of Wildflower Wellness has quite a few men on her schedule every week), you no longer need to travel to the city for the most comprehensive, most personalized face and skincare service. And that’s because veteran esthetician, Heather Champion, opened a gem of a spa in the suburbs a few years ago.
Wildflower Wellness is housed in the perfectly charming stone building nestled behind Main Line Dental Club in Paoli. Wildflower is a whole self care oasis, complete with a salon, a head spa, a stunning new massage room, a sauna for members, and even a consignment boutique.
The design of the spa is thoughtful and oozes tranquility and luxury with each transformative room. Even the changing room, with baskets to tote your stuff around, is adorable.
I was there for the renowned facial with the real “champion of skin”, Heather Champion. And somehow I managed to score a 90 minute facial with her — just a little FYI, Heather tends to go over the appointment time because she gives so much attention to each client. In other words, don’t schedule anything right after your facial.
The facials at Wildflower Wellness are results driven and customized for how that particular client appears on that particular day. For example, having a facial done in the winter versus the summer, is going to completely change Heather’s course of treatment for the same person. Makes total sense!
And we aren’t talking about just slapping on a bunch of moisturizers and serums (although there are some really good ones here, like Babor and Vivier). Heather has so many top of the line pieces of skincare equipment in her spa. And she formulates each appointment using as many of the tools available to her as are necessary.
Heather thought I could benefit from the Raja Medical Oxylight Facial which uses LED therapy, oxygen infusion, microcurrent lifting, lymphatic drainage, and diamond-tip exfoliation, all with zero downtime.
I mean, how cool is this piece of equipment. Throughout the whole treatment, Heather used the red and yellow lights on me to promote collagen production and lymphatic drainage. The facial also includes extractions, and I got a soothing hydrating gel mask.
All facials start and end with one of the best face and scalp massages to get the blood flowing. And a foot and hand massage is sandwiched in the middle of the facial. Heather used to do massages full time and you can tell. She even massaged my ears and my eyelids— places I didn't know needed massages, but oh, they do!
If you’d like to check out Wildflower Wellness, mention my name or this article and you’ll receive 15% off a custom facial.
BACK: STUDIO 22 in Kennett Square for a bacial
Did you know that your back can get the same luxurious skincare service as your face? And why not! The skin on the back is prone to similar problems, such as breakouts, build-up, aging, etc. So a “bacial” includes treatments like deep cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, a calming mask and massage.
And I particularly love the spa at Studio 22 because Studio 22 is also the home to a large, fully stacked Pilates studio and a beautiful recovery room. You can seriously hang out at this place all day… at least this girl can!
So after a great Pilates class, I only had to walk a few feet to the spa at Studio 22. I got rid of my activewear and changed into a wrap before getting into the heated bed, belly down. The entire 60 minutes of this service was spent caring for my back. Not only was it deeply relaxing, I found the treatments to be very beneficial to the skin on my back that is usually drenched in sweat.
And no matter how you look at Studio 22— a fitness studio with a spa or a spa with fitness studio— IMO it’s a genius idea! If you want to check out the spa at Studio 22, mention my name or this article, and you’ll get 15% off any spa service.
Club House is all about top of the line skin and nail care. The first of its kind in the Philadelphia area, Club House is a waterless nail salon with zero fumes and the most clean and healthy nail experience ever.
For the best in hand care, I started with the LED Hand Mask, which uses advanced red-light therapy for your hands, targeting fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and age spots. This quick 10 minute treatment can be added to any service at Club House. And why not care for our hands like we do the rest of the body — especially because hands often show the most signs of aging.
The Reset Manicure might look like a regular manicure at first glance, but it’s all about the amazing products used at Club House. I mean the Earth Therapeutics exfoliation alone is just about the best you get. And I bet you never got a super concentrated, highly effective serum like the one from Skndustry applied to your hands at your typical nail salon? Or the richest, most emollient hand mask from Embryolisse?
But the star of the Reset Manicure is the active polish line from Manucurist, which nourishes and enhances your nails but goes on and looks like a polish. It’s top of the line nail care from France. This special manicure leaves your hands absolutely glowing from the inside out.
If you are serious about hand and nail care too, use code FITNESSFINDS and receive 10% off any service at the Club. And you’ll also get to enjoy a complimentary red light therapy hand mask with my code.
FEET: LAVENDER FOOT SPA in Northeast Philadelphia for a foot massage
I can’t remember the last time I received as many recommendations as I did for the Lavender Foot Spa. So of course I added it to my self love tour this year— even if I hate when people touch my feet. The things I do for you guys!
The Lavender Foot Spa is a gem hiding in plain site in the middle of a shopping center in Northeast Philly. Legend has it that the 50 minute foot spa service is only $43, and this urban myth is absolutely true! I had made an appointment a few weeks back, but I quickly realized this is very much a walk-in kind of place.
There is one service offered here— a foot massage. You do have to pick the type of foot soak (lavender, ginger or wormwood- I went with the namesake) and the length of time, which ranges from 30 to 90 minutes. I chose 50 minutes — a decision I would later regret because as it turns out, I do like having my feet rubbed… when done like this!
Although there is only one service offered here, it is so much more than just a foot massage. For starters, while your feet soak, your entire back, arms and neck are massaged. And this is not a quick, light touch situation. I’m talking about one of the best massages I’ve ever had.
After about 20 minutes on the upper body, you are turned around in your plush recliner to finish the remainder of the service with the feet and legs. And for someone who doesn’t love having their feet rubbed, this place changed my mind completely. They’re real pros here— the pressure was just right. And the tight soles of my feet really benefited from this treatment.
Unfortunately, 50 minutes just wasn’t enough time. So next time, I’m booking the Lavender Foot Spa for the maximum 90 minutes.
This last service benefits the spiritual body. Think of it as an energetic massage. To become enlightened and free of tensions that are holding you back, a session at Joy is on the best things you can do for your spiritual self.
Joy DeCaro is a certified integrated energy healer. Integrated energy therapy is a healing modality of the heart that uses practices like reiki and sound bath to free your spiritual self of negative emotions and replace them with the positive emotions of the heart.
Joy sees clients who are ready to level up in their total body healing. Her goal is to “unstuck” her clients. Each session looks different depending on the client’s needs and Joy’s special intuition.
My session included reiki, healing sound bowls, crystals and card readings. I was truly shocked by what came up during our time together. And I felt a sense of calm and peace for days following our session.
Joy offers one on one sessions in her studio in Bucks County. She also offers healing in group settings, as well as other specialized offerings like acupuncture, yoga and meditation. Book a session using code FITNESSFINDSONTHEMAINLINE and get $50 off your session.
Self-care isn’t just a luxury — it’s an investment in feeling like your best self from head to toe. Whether it’s a nourishing facial, a tension-melting massage, or a fresh coat of polish, these little moments of professional care give you space to breathe, reset and glow a little brighter. When you care for yourself from head to toe, you’re building a love story with the one person who will always be with you: you.
happy valentine’s day.