Charlotte Spa Guide: Top Places to Pamper Yourself
With the ever-present need for self-care and relaxation, Charlotte’s salon and spa scene is thriving. Whether you want to lounge by a pool, loosen up with a massage, or put your best face forward with a facial, these local spots have what you need.
by Abby Blanton
Mood House
Neighborhood: Dilworth
With an aim to provide a “Palm Springs vibe” in the heart of Charlotte, this studio offers massage (with four sensory “mood” experiences to enhance the massage experience), sauna services and a meditation room.
The Invigory
Neighborhood: South Charlotte
Offering treatments for everyone from recovering athletes to those looking for a little pick-me-up, Invigory has made sure to include everyone, including the dog. That’s right: they offer “Cryo Dawg” (cryotherapy) and “Salty Dawg” (dry-salt therapy) treatments for your pooch. In addition, humans can get their own cryotherapy and salt treatments, as well as compression therapy, infrared and IV therapies.
True REST Float Spa
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Relax and let the salt do the rest. Like something out of a sci-fi movie, True REST’S float therapy starts you off in a futuristic pod for a zero gravity, relaxing experience that will leave you feeling rejuvenated. You even have the option to float to the tune of relaxing music and multicolored lights.
Okra
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
This wellness center combines yoga, massage, and private healing sessions for a one-of-a-kind wellness experience. Their mission is to create a space that makes yoga and meditation approachable for all skill levels as well as offering a place to unwind.
Live Well Sauna + Salt
Area: Mooresville, NC
Located in the Lake Norman area, Live Well Sauna + Salt exudes the same tranquility as its surroundings, offering a space where both physical and mental well-being are tended to. They offer salt therapy, also known as halotherapy, which is known to improve breathing and soothe skin irritation. This spa offers infrared sauna therapy as well as the only dry-salt halotherapy cabins in the area. Interested in trying out CBD for your anxiety, inflammation, or to ease sleep? They can also help you navigate the world of CBD oil as well.
Restore Hyper Wellness and Cryotherapy
Neighborhood: Montford, South Charlotte
Looking to relieve inflammation and boost your metabolism? Try cryotherapy at Restore, with options ranging from full-body submersion to targeted treatments. The services at Restore are extensive. Ranging from cryotherapy to hyperbaric oxygen therapy to even allergy assessment and treatment, the services at Restore are meant to work together to deliver optimal performance and feeling to the body. Restore also offers IV therapy, stretch therapy and compression therapy.
Clean Your Dirty Face
Neighborhood: SouthPark
The goal of Clean Your Dirty Face is to provide an approachable, non-intimidating facial experience for anyone. Licensed estheticians create a personalized skin care experience that takes less than 30 minutes and help you develop a skin care routine using non-toxic, clean products from the Clean Your Dirty Face line.
Toccare Day Spa
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Toccare Day Spa specializes in customized, clean and green skin care and beauty treatments. Toccare's services (including facials, massages and hair removal) and products are a testament to their commitment to all-natural beauty and self-care.
Skin by Blair
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Charlotte-native Blair Hayes discovered her passion for aesthetics while pursuing a bachelor's degree in nutrition science and becoming a physician assistant. She specializes in skin treatments including Botox, Dysport, dermal filler, Aquagold, Kybella, PRP facials and microneedling as well as vein treatments. The Skin by Blair shop also carries specialty skin products, including several skin care products formulated by Blair herself.
Toska European Spa
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Owned by Toska Hustad, a skincare expert who has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston and more, this salon offers the height of luxury. Choose from an extensive menu of facials which promise to do everything from hydrate to giving you a red-carpet worthy glow.
Hydrate Medical
Neighborhood: Dilworth, Ballantyne, Lake Norman
“Revitalize, reenergize and recover” is the mantra at Hydrate Medical. IV hydration aka Drip Therapy is the new way to add that pep back in your step. Whether you’re suffering from a short-term hangover or hoping to get an energy or immune boost, the team at Hydrate can customize the hydration and medical grade vitamin treatment to your health goals.
OVME
Neighborhood: South End
Pronounced “of me,” this highly specialized spa provides comprehensive medical aesthetic care delivered by a team of medical doctors, physician assistants and medical aestheticians. OVME services include medical grade skin care like facials and RF microneedling; medical spa treatments including CoolSculpting and laser hair removal; cosmetic facial treatments such as Botox, Dysport and dermal fillers; and other health services including B-12 shots and IV hydration therapy.
Charlotte Traditional Healing
Neighborhood: SouthPark
With experience in no-needle acupuncture, reflexology and QiGong therapy, Yadi Alamin and Joi Abraham provide alternative therapy influenced by ancient Eastern medicine and modern science at Charlotte Traditional Healing. If you think that practice of reflexology is just for the feet, check out this facility for more than just a foot rub.
Kur Health Spa
Neighborhood: Montford
Holistic health and deep relaxation are two of the main tenets of Kur Health Spa. If the luxurious, state of the art infrared therapeutic suites (think of it as a modern take on saunas) aren’t your thing, the uber-relaxing lymphatic drainage massages may be your cup of tea. Kur also offers salt therapy and bio-electric magnetic therapy.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa
Neighborhood: Uptown
Spending the night at the swanky Ritz-Carlton in Uptown isn’t required in order to book a treatment at their hotel spa (although would be a staycation to remember). Arriving early to one of the many luxurious treatments will give you time to enjoy the salt room, relaxation area, pool or fitness center as well.
Palestra Boutique Spa
Neighborhood: Midtown
Short on time? Palestra offers express spa services, including waxing, brow tints and lash lifts. With a bit more time, you can enjoy a massage, hair removal or high-tech services like LED light therapy and microdermabrasion.
Piel Body Spa
Neighborhood: Midtown
With more than 15 years of experience as a massage therapist and esthetician, Kina Henderson, owner of Piel Body Spa, is committed to offering a truly customized experience for each client with a diverse offering of facials, massages and hair removal services. Piel Body Spa also offers private couples massage classes so you can learn some expert massage skills to take home.
Le Petit Spa
Neighborhood: South Park
A “Charlotte’s Best of the Best” winner for waxing and threading services, this Charlotte staple has expanded to a larger Ballantyne location. Here you’ll find facials, LED light therapy and peels in addition to their waxing, threading and tinting services.
The Spa at Ballantyne
Area: Ballantyne, NC
A one-stop shop for all of your spa needs, the Spa at Ballantyne Hotel offers an extensive list of services, including massage, facials, makeup and hair services, as well as manicures and pedicures. Visit the spa exclusively or combine with an overnight stay at the hotel for the ultimate staycation.
Article originally written by Abby Blanton. Updates by Kristen Moore.
