Last year’s poll results. THIH archive.
Last year, around the time we all collectively cursed the Groundhog, Claudia asked what your go-to place for nails is was the Hill. Back then, the clear winner was Eastern Market Nails, the friendly and sunny locale close to Tunnicliff’s and across from Eastern Market. A few places have since popped up or started offering full services on the Hill, such as Bravado, Patou, A-List and Spa on the Hill. I am particularly intrigued by Indigo Nail Stylist, located on 8th street SE, as well, and wonder whether I would ever be able to have fabulous nails for longer than ten minutes. Although when I got a gel manicure at Capitol Hill Nails and then banged my hand on a table not five minutes later, I got a glimpse of what a perfect life might be like: not one damaged nail, and the manicure lasted for almost three weeks (after which I had to get a crowbar to pry the remains off, because I didn’t want to be sweet-talked into getting another perfect manicure– talk about Groundhog Day).
Where you go depends a lot on location, really: after all, if you live just a short walk away from a place, you are bound to patron it more just for convenience’s sake. If you’ve ever tried to keep an appointment in a Georgetown salon or somewhere along K Street, you may know what I mean. However, if there are some services that are not offered at the place closest to your house, or perhaps they are not the best services, or not what you need, then where do you go? I unfortunately still cringe when I think of a couple of particularly bad bikini waxes I had at Eastern Market Nails, but I have enjoyed my manicures and pedicures there. I can’t say the same of a very overpriced pedicure I had at a spa in New York City, however, that became dull rather quickly and then would not come off for love or for money and lingered like a bad house guest for upwards of two months. I’ve been doing my own pedicures since that fiasco, thankyouverymuch. And I am still looking for a waxing place that is close, cheap, and not the stuff of nightmares.
So clearly, a girl cannot swear off spa services altogether: after all, it is summer and none of us is getting any younger. Bikini, leg, arm and other types of waxing need to happen for some of us more hirsute ladies (and gents!)– and while Brazilian waxes are something that only the more daring among us try, it’s still good to know a place close by. Facials are a way of life for some others, especially since DC is a devastatingly pore-clogging city. A massage here or there is also a lovely treat and a needful one thanks to all that computer time (#firstworldproblems), and one can’t always bug one’s really good friend who happens to be a really good massage therapist for a discounted massage here and there.
So let’s go, people on the Hill: tell us your favorite places to become an even-more-beautiful YOU, or share those off-Hill places you know about for summer-related salon services (please?). Share your secrets, or tell us of any place we may have missed.
Heads, shoulders, knees and toes will be ever so grateful.
I definitely want to know this. All I can tell you is where not to go.
I went to Georgetown Aveda thinking — it’s Aveda in Georgetown, it MUST be the best for everything spa. Boy was I wrong! I could get into details, but it boils down to a 30-minute wait past the appointment time and an exceptionally dirty waxing bed, spotted with globs of wax and strand of hair.
I just had my hair cut at Soleil 21, the spa/salon that recently opened on Barracks Row. I really loved my stylist and I think he did an excellent job. Plus, a women’s wash/cut/blowdry is only $35 which is pretty hard to beat in this neighborhood. The next time I need to get waxed I’ll do it there– it’s a little less expensive than Eastern Market Nails and I had such a good experience with their hair services.
Thanks, Caroline! Soleil 21 wasn’t even in my radar– what an oversight! Good to know that you had a great experience there 🙂