By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Mar 31, 2010 at 1:01 PM

There's no better gift than the gift of personal services. Anytime of year, indulge mom, dad, significant other, friend or even yourself in a soothing, therapeutic massage from one of Milwaukee's finest salons and day spas.

While there, pamper yourself with a hair cut, manicure, pedicure or hydrotherapy treatment. Each salon and spa does it differently, so why not try them all?

Milwaukee's best salons and day spas are found all across the town. Here are some of the best ones:

Actaea Works, Ltd.
4001 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 962-9889
2173 S. Kinnickinic Ave.

actaea.com
Actaea Works has a simple mission: to meet the needs of its community, guests and talents, and to realize the shared vision of a beautiful, vitalized community. A full-service salon, day spa and gallery of art and design, Actaea Works offers a full range of relaxing services. Stop in for massage therapy, hydrotherapy or body treatments. If that's not enough, they also offer body works, including "baby works" for expecting mothers and a full range of skin care treatments. The spa also cuts, colors and texturizes hair, and provides complete waxing, cosmetic, and hand and foot services, as well.

Actaea is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Shorewood location is closed Sunday. The Bay View location is closed Monday.

Azana Salon & Spa
200 N. Moorland Rd., Brookfield, (262) 784-4700

azanaspa.com
The spa at Azana offers a wide range of massage services, including Swedish, pre-natal, hot stone, aromatherapy, oriental, deep tissue and sport massages, as well as couples massage perfect for two. Get a facial, herbal wraps or other treatments. Meanwhile, the salon serves up a full complement of hair, nail, waxing and makeup options.

Gift certificates are available as are salon and spa packages. Azana is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-9p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-7p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

East Town Spa
718 E. Wells St., (414) 271-4247

easttownspa.com
East Town Spa a full service salon that offers everything from a haircut to body treatments. And men, they have not forgotten about you. The men's spa selections range from hair coloring to waxing, facials and nails. East Town Spa is open Monday, 12-8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Erik of Norway Beauty Salon
1505 W. Mequon Rd., Mequon, (262) 241-5111
726 N. Milwaukee St.

erikofnorway.com
A fixture for four decades, the salon now has two locations and offers services such as aqua polish, aroma body wrap, customized body masque, back treatment, stone massage therapy and firmative action facials. The environment is natural and quiet, with a smoked glass door serving as transition between salon and spa. The floors, colors, tones and textures are designed to feel Zen-like. Clients begin their treatment by creating their spa formulas at the blending bar. You can personalize the types and intensities of aromas, grades of textures and blends.

GLOW Salon & Spa
765 N. Jackson St., (414) 727-4569

glowsalonandspa.com
Located in the heart of Downtown, GLOW is a full-service salon and spa that encourages checking your stress at the door. In addition to hair and skin treatments, the salon offers massage, nail treatments and novalash (that's a three-hour eyelash extension service.) Or maybe you're looking for airbrush tanning? They do that, too. The spa packages run from $100 for the Glowing Rejuvination, to $415 for the His & Her Wedding Special. GLOW is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Groom
330 E. St. Paul Ave., (414) 298-2076

groomformen.com
It's got class, it's got style, it's got moxy, and, most importantly, groom gives quality haircuts that make you look and feel great. The salon specializes in old-school techniques and ultra-modern, overtly urban and very cool results. The Groom experience will feature a long shampoo with a wonderful head massage, an herbal conditioning treatment, a personalized haircut, waxing and plucking, an electric clipping of your bushy eyebrows, a stern tongue-lashing about those sideburns that you haven't shaved in three months, an old-fashioned straight razor shave complete with a few slaps on the face and hot, moist towel wrappings.

Groom's hours are Monday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Kohler Waters Spa
501 Highland Dr., Kohler, (866) 928-3777

destinationkohler.com/spa
Kohler Waters Spa, adjacent to The American Club, opened in 2000 and features 21 treatment rooms, a 96-degree central tiled pool with an eight-foot cascading wall of water, men's and women's lounge with private sauna and steam room, a boutique and a full-service finishing salon for hair styling, makeup and nail treatments. The spa offers a menu of 52 services with particular emphasis on therapeutic water treatments including bathing, body treatments, massages, and salon amenities. Signature treatment rooms include a Two-gether Room, Riverbath Room, s_k Room, Renaissance Bath room, Still Waters Room and the relaxation pool located in the central area of the spa.

The Kohler Waters Spa is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

 The Spa at Le Grande
8653 N. Port Washington Rd., (414) 352 6550

whitesagespa.com

The Spa at Le Grande is located in Fox Point and is truly a full-service spa, offering facial and body balance. Intimate, quiet and appealing, the mood is set with fresh flowers and soothing scents, quiet music and flickering candles. The body balance comes from a complete line of massages and body treatments, including Reiki massage and reflexology. The facial balance is a range of services, including facials, eye treatments and glycolic treatments.

The Spa also provides extra balance with manicure, waxing and makeup applications. Their most unique service is the couples massage, a relaxing and unique massage experience custom made for two, complete with flowers, chocolates and champagne. The Spa at Le Grande is open Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-5p.m.; Wednesday, 11 .m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Plum Day Spa
1028 E Juneau Ave., (414) 224-1074

theplumspa.com
Located within the historic Knickerbocker-on-the-lake Hotel, The Plum Day Spa offers professional skincare, body care and wellness classes, including massage therapy, specialized skin care, diva nail care and waxing. Another highlight are the spa parties, known her as "sparties." Invite up to 30 guests for any special occasion, from your sweet 16 birthday to your bachelorette party with the girls.

The Men's Room
4423 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 961-9019

mensroombarbershop.com
The Men's Room Barber Shop is one of a few male specific salons in the Milwaukee area. But don't look for the familiar rotating red and white candy cane striped barber poll -- this is a barber shop for the 21st century. If the name itself doesn't tell you that this place is all for guys, the pictograph of male symbol you find on the door of a public restroom should be your second big clue. You definitely feel like you are walking into a space designed for the contemporary male when you first enter The Men's Room. Once seated you will notice an unapologetically male magazine selection. No Elle or Martha Stewart here, guys. And there is always a bowl of snacks to munch on while you wait.

Unlike a traditional barber shop or local Supercuts that can have you sporting the latest buzz cut in a matter of minutes, Trish and the rest of the staff at The Men's Room try hard to make the whole experience relaxing and enjoyable. In today's hectic lifestyles of the busy man, 45 minutes at The Men's Room can be nearly as rejuvenating as a trip to the Spa for a good rub down. The Men's Room is open Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thurs., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Neroli
325 E. Chicago St., (414) 227-2888
1919 E. Kenilworth Pl.
3885 Brookfield Rd., Brookfield
5714 Bayshore Dr., Glendale

nerolispa.com
With its first location set in the heart of the Third Ward, Neroli is a full-service hair salon offering haircuts, perms, colorings and scalp and hair treatments. They also offer manicures, pedicures, makeup, facials, skin care treatments and waxings. But this is a haven for the entire body and no limb or body part is left out in the cold. Neroli also offers hydrotherapy, a whirlpool and steam room, a Vichy/Scotch shower, spa body treatments, massage therapy, bridal services and more.

Luxurious locker rooms are appointed with showers, robes, slippers and an assortment of products for your use. There are other special services for men and bridal parties. Corporate and group packages are available as are gift certificates. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Well Spa Milwaukee at the Pfister
424 E. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 277-9207

pfisterwellspa.com

Located in the lower level of this upscale Downtown hotel, Well Spa aims to nourish the mind, body and soul of its guests. And just how does it aim to achieve such a task? Let us count the ways: Pure Decadence is a package that includes a hydro-therapy bath, scrub, message and hairstyle, for one. Other packages include lunch and a drink in the luxurious Orchid Room. Of course, there are full salon services available as well. Well is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.