Hong Kong's lovely ladies are usually busy working, shopping, dining out and hitting the city's high-octane nightlife scene—and then shopping some more—but when it's time to get gorgeous and feel good, these are their go-to places:
Hotel Spa: Chuan Spa at Langham Place
A calming, Kowloon-side retreat in the heart of this hectic city, set in the Langham Place hotel, 40 floors above the bustle of Mongkok and carefully designed in the style of a Chinese garden. Their contemporary treatments—more than 60 in total—draw on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine; try the "Chuan Awakening Treatment" for ultimate head to toe indulgence, or the “Jet-Lag Travel Recovery Treatment” to help you get over that long journey. The whole philosophy of the spa is based on the ancient Chinese concept of chuan, which means "flowing water," and each “Chuan journey” starts with a glass of five-element tea and the tri-bathing ritual.
555 Shanghai Street, Level 41, Langham Place Hotel | Hong Kong China
Hair Salon: Headquarters
Where local starlets go to have their tresses tamed. One of the best salons in Asia, for both classic and up-to-the-minute styles. Experienced stylists and cutters can work wonders with even the most stubborn hair, so stop here before a big date or day at the office. Just be aware, these are great cuts and they come with a big price tag.
Phone: +852 2868 9092
20 Queen's Road, Pacific House, Floor 11 | Hong Kong China
Facials, Waxing, Nailcare and Eyebrow Shaping: The Feel Good Factor
Hong Kong native
Judy Dunne, an Events Director for the
Creative Solutions Group, heads to this salon for all sorts of beauty treatments. "It's run by a lovely British lady but all the staff are Chinese and Nepalese. They stock plenty of good gossip and fashion magazines, and the salon is clean and right in Central," she says. "For a regular manicure and pedicure, the Feel Good Factor is HK's most popular and uses OPI products that I think last the longest. For facials and waxing I always go to Vicky and for eyebrow grooming and threading I ask for Punam or Radha." NB: In late September the salon will move into a brand new space at 2/F Winsome House, 73 Wyndham Street, so call ahead to confirm if they've moved to their new address.
1 Lyndhurst Terrace, G/F, Shop 4 & 5 | Hong Kong China
Shanghainese Pedicure: Mr. So at the Mandarin Oriental Salon
All longtime residents of Hong Kong know about Mr. So and his world-famous Shanghai style pedicures over at the Mandarin Oriental beauty salon. In fact the current Mr. So is Samuel, the son of the original pedicure master Mr. So Yan Ko who worked at the hotel before retiring in the 1990s. A Chinese medical procedure, the pedicure involves less stroking and more shaving than you might expect—dead or dry skin is removed from the foot with sharp blades before the feet are buffed and polished. Samuel can sort out all sorts of podiatry problems, from corns and calluses, ingrown toenails and hard skin. You'll walk out on new feet. This is a restorative must for high-heel devotees, especially in a walking city like Hong Kong.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 5 Connaught Road | Hong Kong China
Hotel Spa: Plateau at the Grand Hyatt
They're certainly not short on space in this 80,000-square-foot spa at the Grand Hyatt, adorned with fountains, pools and a cascading waterfall. You'll find an extensive range of spa treatments, including massages and reflexology available to visitors and guests alike. There's also a garden with a 164-foot-long swimming pool and a sauna with views over Hong Kong harbor. Spa guests can also use the hotel's fitness center, exercise studios, jogging track and tennis and squash courts. Breakfast, light meals and other refreshments are provided throughout the day in the leafy courtyard terrace, and the spa has 23 dedicated guestrooms and suites if one day just isn't enough. You'll leave feeling fit and fabulous...
1 Harbour Road, Grand Hyatt | Hong Kong China
Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Vicky at The Firm
"Vicky is one of Hong Kong's most popular hair stylists and makeup artists. She rocks!" says our HK insider, Judy, (who notes that this is a different Vicky from the one she likes over at the Feel Good Factor). The Firm is a sleek hair and beauty salon that now also offers skin and body care spa services, including hopi ear candling, reiki, and spray tanning, as well as men's facials, back waxing and even eyebrow grooming. You can also go there for Japanese hair-straightening treatments.
1501 The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street | Hong Kong China
Reflexology: Foot
"By far one of the best things about living in HK is virtually 24-hour access to foot massage," says Judy. "My place of choice is Foot, which has an easy to find location just at the bottom of the escalator in Central. Ask for Pen. They also do Chinese acupressure body massages (done without any oil). Try stopping by after a meal in Soho on your way home." Foot stays open until 2 a.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Don't want to walk home afterwards? They offer valet parking from 7 p.m. Kowloon-siders can visit their outpost in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Phone: +852 2997 7138
8/F Regent Centre, 88 Queens Road | Hong Kong China
Cosmetics and Perfumes: Lane Crawford
For the finest international makeup and skin care product lines, Judy shops at Lane Crawford, Hong Kong's renowned luxury goods department store. "They carry an excellent range of products, but they are more expensive than what they would cost in the United States. However, if you have forgotten something, Lane Crawford will have it."
International Financial Centre Mall, 8 Finance Street, Podium 3 | Hong Kong China
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